September 3, 2018 TnH Global 1

AI, biometrics and blockchain to dominate discussion at ITB Asia 2018

ITB Asia will focus on the interdependence of travel and technology this year, under the overarching conference theme of “Travel Reimagined”. Key leaders in travel and tech will provide profound insights on the major trends provoking disruption across the travel industry whilst analysing how companies are innovating to stay ahead. Hosted at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands, the conference will take place from 17 – 19 October 2018.

Impressive growth in the travel industry has been a result of travel tech start-ups launching and the speed of innovation in travel technology. According to ‘The State of Travel Start-ups 2017’, there were 1,497 digital startups around the globe which attracted nearly $62 billion in funding, almost double from the previous year.[1] Technology in travel is thus growing fast and rapidly changing the way in which we travel. Taking 8% of global travel tech share, China has accounted for over a quarter of funding to the travel tech industry since 2013.[2] In light of this, ITB Asia will be hosting a series of talks on travel technologies which will take place at the Travel & Tech Hub, allowing delegates to immerse in the game-changing technology that is progressing travel, meetings and business.

Speakers from leading tech firms will demonstrate how emerging and innovative tech can offer meaningful connections between travel brands and customers for true ROI. At ITB Asia 2018, delegates will gain insights into what the future holds for the leisure, the MICE and corporate travel sectors and the industry’s biggest challenges that can effectively be resolved through new tech.

Top technology and travel companies across the globe, including Booking.com, Egencia, Fliggy, Hotelbeds Group, KAYAK, Microsoft, Sabre, SITA, Skyscanner, Tencent, Travelport and Tujia will be joining the show with senior representatives, from Vice President to C-Level, on the stage talking about which technologies will truly transform travel. The show’s agenda will be dominated by discussions from AI to virtual reality (VR), biometrics, blockchain and robotics utilising case study examples and practical application in travel management, business travel, hotel operations, travel photography, and dining experience etc.

Launching the new MICE Tech Showcase, the conference will feature innovations that will help solve today’s complex issues in the MICE industry.

This year, ITB Asia is proud to join hands with Asian Development Bank with the Mekong Innovative Start-up Tourism (MIST), Innovel Travel Tech, Skift and Troovo as the representative. Skift will be hosting a session at the Knowledge Theatre on ‘Post Experience Economy: Innovators At The Edge of Travel’. This new term, the ‘Post Experience Economy’ will look at the travel economy where everyone is already marketing experiences and smart innovators are thinking about the post-experience economy.