Webmaster Access 2017 Kicks Off in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands—Stephanie Bedard made the overseas trip to Webmaster Access with a few different goals in mind.

The Business Development Manager for the Quebec-based CPA network, CrakRevenue, said first and foremost this week is about raising awareness about her platform.

“We definitely want to get more affiliates on board, so meeting new people,” Bedard told AVN Thursday afternoon at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, the site of the 13th annual conference. “So we’re looking for new traffic types, new geos, and as far as advertisers go, we’re looking to do new deals and payout bumps with the advertisers we already know.”

Just one year into her post with CrakRevenue, Bedard said, “I love it. I wouldn’t change it.” Prior to joining the company, she worked on a physician’s phone app that was used to manage his hospital and clinic schedule.

“It was pretty neat but I needed a new challenge,” Bedard explained. “It’s rare to find a good marketing job in Quebec City where I’m from. When I heard what was the company and what they do, what their business was, I was really interested to know more and to learn and to work there.”

Known for providing traffic monetization and online marketing solutions, CrakRevenue on Thursday announced the release of its “Native Ads Generator” that gives their affiliates the ability to create custom native ads that will adapt to the look and style of their website.

Dozens of blue-chip tech companies will be unveiling their latest developments this weekend as the longest running webmaster show in adult entertainment begins in earnest on Friday and continues through Sunday in the heart of the historic city.

Presented by iMonetizeIt, TopOffers and Aurora Global, Webmaster Access this afternoon will feature the first of six Speed Networking sessions over the next three days, followed by the highly anticipated Meet Market. One of the centerpieces of the show, the Meet Market brings together 50-plus sponsors in the Eastwood Restaurant, where attendees can make the rounds getting to know representatives from each company face to face. Later this evening, the annual GFY Party will go off at the luxurious rooftop Sky Lounge on the 11th floor of the property.

As registration got underway the early arrivals poured into the DoubleTree from all over the world. Jessie Chan, the community manager for Kinkoid—whose official title is Queen Support—flew in from Sofia, Bulgaria.

“We’re here to promote our games and our platforms,” Chan, the former art student who has been with Kinkoid for three years, told AVN.

Kinkoid is the company behind the adult game HentaiHeroes, which went from 0 to 1.5 million players in less than a year. This year Kinkoid is releasing a new game called GayHarem and the launching the affiliate platform, GamingAdult.

Chan mapped out her game-plan for the show, concluding, “I would like to learn new things. I would like to help the company and I would like to meet some new people."

Meanwhile, Remi St. Maur, the chief business development officer and partner at TrafficStars, said the gathering for him is “all about networking.”

“And I’m looking for affiliates and media buyers. That’s my target,” St. Maur, who is from Montreal, said as he picked up his show badge and greeted old friends.

Armed with more than seven years experience in the online advertising industry, St. Maur will be a featured speaker on two different seminars this Sunday—“Mobile for Newbies” at 2 p.m. and “Titans of Traffic” at 3. 

He’ll be promoting his new publishers and new technical features on TrafficStars through the weekend.

On Thursday night attendees got warmed up at the Welcome Party at the one-of-a-kind VR Cinema, which featured walls adorned with classic movie posters altered to include VR goggles. The unique venue, located about 20 yards away from the WMA host hotel, started off as a pop-up concept that toured through Europe before opening its first permanent location in early 2016.

Amsterdam is also the home of the founders of VR Cinema: Samhoud Media, a Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality company that has since expanded with new locations in China, Finland and Romania. 

Sponsored by Epoch, Gamma Entertainment and Stripchat, the Welcome Party rolled out the red carpet for attendees, keeping them well-fueled with an open bar and gourmet hor’d'oeuvres such as teriyaki chicken, meatballs, shrimp and veggie balls. A light rain fell on the comfortable 60-degree evening as the party buzzed into the 11 o’clock hour.

Perhaps it was CrakRevenue’s Stephanie Bedard who summed up Thursday’s upbeat mood best.

“The city is beautiful,” Bedard said. “We walked around today and it’s amazing.”

Photo of the Jasmin models by Mari Blue/ShootXEvents.