Eyefortravel, which publishes research, news and events for the online travel industry, has announced the launch of the School of Mobile to educate the travel industry about the methods and opportunities to turn mobile devices into the next marketing and distribution channel for hotels, air and rail tickets and holiday products.
Initial research indicated that 30% of the travel industry (from a sample of over 900 travel company executives) will be investing in mobile for the first time in 2009. Almost three quarters of respondents said they believe that mobile will become an increasingly important element of their digital strategies.
In response Eyefortravel has allocated 45,000 to produce three pieces of original research to educate the industry as to how to spend their money for maximum returns. The three reports will cover:

• The current use of mobile technology by the industry, and identifying the mobile markets globally
• What the industry is aspiring to do with mobile
• Consumer behaviour, future trends and new, applicable technologies

Contributing travel companies include Accor Hotels, Octopus Travel, Intercontinental Hotels, Virgin Airlines, Easyjet, SAS, Hilton, Starwood, Zuji and Travelocity. The reports will be distributed for free to over 10,000 senior travel industry decision makers and sold to suppliers of technology and solutions.
The first report will be ready at the end of February. You can sign up for your issue here.
If you work in the travel industry and would like to contribute contact Eyefortravel Managing Director Tim Gunstone on: [email protected]