that inspired generations of travellers and successfully apply it online. He says the deals,
recommendations and booking aspects of travel have been successfully migrated online, but little time or investment has been committed to longer-form content. “We have the edge of being
new,” he says. “Everyone has an expectation about what they will find on an Expedia or a
Booking.com. “For us that expectation is not
there yet, so we have the freedom to experiment and offer something that was perhaps not there six months ago. “It’s a lot harder for our rivals to go the other way and start adding that inspirational content.” Naudts concedes there is always the risk that users consume Culture Trip’s content and then disappear to book on an agent website having had their fill of free inspiration. But he believes by offering comprehensive, engaging content, Culture Trip can become a ‘world in your pocket’, akin to how the Apple iPod offered a world of music in your pocket. “People knock on our door all the time for content that helps them travel and explore the world around them, and they knock very hard. The question is, what’s behind that door? “That’s why being innovative
with illustration and other formats creates an element of delight and surprise that will further increase that demand to come back.” When Gates made his “content
is king” comment, he based it on the observation that the web would give everyone with a PC and a modem the power to become publishers. But what he cannot have
foreseen was that the sheer scale of content on the web would require producers to be given a stage on which to perform and an audience to perform to. Content’s crown is secure, but
if Culture Trip can give the king a new palace, expect its name to rank alongside the very biggest in online travel.
13 September 2018
travelweekly.co.uk 87
Travolution European Summit: Lee Hayhurst previews event
Summit speakers to shed light on emerging trends
The expected impact on travel of emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence will be put under the spotlight at this month’s Travolution European Summit. Travel Weekly’s sister title for the digital travel sector will host its annual conference at a new venue this year: The Brewery, near the Barbican in central London. Around 350 delegates are
expected to attend the summit on September 26 to hear presentations by senior executives from three of the world’s biggest travel corporations: Expedia, IAG and Carnival Corporation. They will talk about the importance of innovation, partnerships and new technology in their businesses and the wider travel sector. Panel sessions will turn the
focus on the practical applications of new technologies, with speakers from Thomas Cook, IBM and blockchain start-up Travel Ledger, among others. Offstage, headline sponsor Amadeus, the leading European GDS and technology developer, will be showcasing some of its
latest systems. Travolution editor Lee Hayhurst
said: “There is so much happening in the world of technology and the digital economy that there is always huge value in coming
“There is always huge value in coming together to debate the challenges and the possibilities”
together as a sector to debate the challenges, discuss the possibilities and be inspired by some of the leaders in their various fields. This year’s summit provides just such an opportunity.”
TRAVOLUTION EUROPEAN SUMMIT
Delegate places for the Travolution Summit are on sale now,
priced £399. Go to: travolution
summit.co.uk
KEY SESSIONS AT SUMMIT
Innovating through growth: Using blockchain to optimise processes and transactions in travel Blockchain, the emerging distributed ledger technology, remains unproven. This session will hear from experts who will shed light on the technology’s likely applications in travel and what travel firms can expect. SPEAKERS w Alexandra Limerick, head of international solutions, Wex
w Khalid Ladha, director strategic alliances, BlockX Labs
w Roberto De Re, founder, Travel Ledger
Headline Sponsor
Artificial intelligence in travel: The art of the possible What do the new industry buzzwords – AI, machine learning, internet of everything, chatbots, cryptocurrency – mean for travel businesses? A panel of experts will share their views on how travel businesses can turn the buzzwords of the day into actionable next steps. SPEAKERS w Sharon Moore, technical leader for travel and transportation, IBM
w Sara Pavan, head of innovation partnership program, Amadeus Explore
Sponsors
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