Opinion Unite to advance more-connected cities
C
ities are hubs of activity that attract both national and international visitors. Whether for business, vacations or to enjoy the
sport, art and cultural experiences they offer, people across the globe are making use of increasingly connected and convenient travel options to flock to urban centres. Cities are also the catalysts for
sustainable change but face the challenge of complex demands with limited resources. It takes courageous leadership and bold vision to look beyond current election cycles and quick implementations and to partner with like-minded organisations from the public and private sectors. Mastercard is committed to doing well by doing good, meaning that when the private sector and emerging technology is doing their best work it will have a meaningful impact on people’s lives, improve everyday
experiences and drive economic growth. Technology and insights have an ability
to deliver seamless travel experiences and smarter destinations – to future-proof the tourism industry as a whole. There is a lot of talk about ‘smart’, whether ‘smart cities’, ‘smart tourism’ or ‘smart solutions’. We have all read articles and attended events promising to deliver the latest ‘smart’ answer. I have long argued that what is truly smart is our ability to come together, recognising that when private, public and academic partners come together we form a ‘superpower’ with the ability to truly advance sustainable and inclusive growth. This is an approach Mastercard is pioneering through City Possible. As we come together to advance
more-connected travel experiences and accelerate the tourism industry, three themes stand out:
Putting people first Mastercard is working across the tourism industry, delivering operational efficiencies and insight-driven destinations. Common across all our interactions is a
focus on the human experience – whether travel agents, hotel owners or holidaymakers, a focus on people is key. We’re putting our attention on what people need in their lives, and how to make technology and data insights work to achieve those goals.
Miguel Gamino Jr, executive vice-president global cities, Mastercard
12 | Travel Weekly Europe Report 2018
Accelerating progress through shared learning As players across the tourism industry, we should not waste time, money and resource by redoing the same thing. We need to cut through the siloes and come together in order to make destinations meet the ever-increasing expectations of travellers. Through Mastercard’s interactions with
cities across the globe, we strive to unite the private and public sector in a new model of partnership that we call City Possible, working together and drawing on our strengths to address the real challenges destinations face.
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