YNOT EUROPE – The inaugural Online Dating Summit, scheduled to take place March 2-5 in Barcelona, will feature addresses and panel discussions led by technology and marketing experts from both mainstream and the casual dating industry, including a representative from Yahoo.

Among the confirmed participants are Yahoo’s Esther Camanes, who will address how dating sites can work with search engines.

The dating industry notables expected to attend include Plenty of Fish Chief Executive Officer Markus Frind; Lorenz Bogeart, CEO and co-founder of Twoo; Peter Symons of Twoo; Dr. Robert Wuttke, CEO and founder of be2; Martin Bysh, co-founder of Smooch; Gloria Diez, chief operating officer for Mamboo; Elizabeth Wasserman, founder and CEO of Mate1; Tanya Fathers, CEO and co-founder of DatingFactory, and Ross Williams and Steve Pammenter, co-founders of White Label Dating.

Heiko Kasper plans to attend on behalf of advertising network SponsorMob, and Dr. Jon Dodd from behavioral research firm Bunnyfoot, along with Alex Parish and Julian Keenaghan, co-founders of music-oriented social network Tastebuds.fm, will be present, as well.

According to ODS organizers, the speakers will lead a host of panels and seminars addressing topics that include:

• Strategies on How to Use Facebook, Twitter & Co.
• Offline Advertising for Online Dating – Does It Work?
• Traffic Tracking – Know Your Customer and Convert Him Into Cash.
• How to Make Money with Your Mobile Dating Traffic: Alternatives to Google AdWords.
• How to use Performance Networks to Add More Affiliates to Your Program.

“It is more than encouraging that the crème de la crème of the dating industry is already finding their way to Barcelona for the inaugural Online Dating Summit,” said co-founder Andreas Bischoff. “We expect to be adding to the already impressive line-up in the coming weeks.”

To encourage attendees and exhibitors, ODS plans to give away a diamond sponsorship package on Feb. 10. Valued at 10,000 euros, the package includes a booth at the show, advertising exposure and invitations to hospitality events. More information about the sponsorship is available in the summit’s marketing brochure (PDF).

Only those who register to attend the conference by Feb.10 will be eligible for the giveaway. Corporate attendees may register here; affiliates may register free of charge here.

More information about the summit is available at OnlineDatingSummit.com.