NEWS TRAVEL FORWARD


results of its Hotel Parity Report plus the top five undercutting wholesalers.


KEYNOTE: Generation Alpha: How the World’s Youngest Generation Is Already Influencing Travel 11:00-11:30 TF Keynote Theatre How will the tech-savvy Generation Alpha transform the travel industry? New custom research from Expedia Group Media Solutions examines Gen Alpha’s influence on family travel decisions, from destination selection to trip activities.


Blockchain: Tales from the Trough of Disillusionment 17:00-17:30


TF Conference Theatre 2 In just a couple of years blockchain went from being an obscure geeky toy to the technology cure-it-all, to the biggest scam in history. Where are we now? What have we learnt? Maksim Izmaylov (pictured above) talks about WindingTree’s experience working with the technology, debunks some myths, takes apart some travel blockchain ideas and shows how to distil the reality from the hype.


DAY 2 TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER


The Continuing Battle Around Rate Parity 10:30-11:00 Product Showcase


This session will look at the causes of rate disparity and what it means for Europe, while OTA Insight’s co-founder Gino Engels will reveal the


Decoding the “Guestprint” 11:15-11:45 Product Showcase This session with Cendyn chief marketing officer Michael Bennett will cover the seven keys to designing acquisition and engagement programmes that treat your guests as individuals, not a marketing segment.


KEYNOTE: Customer- centricity and Personalisation in the Hospitality Industry 11:30-12:00 TF Keynote Theatre Accor’s senior vice-president of its Innovation Lab, Frederic Fontaine (inset), will explore the key shifts driving change across the


industry and show how


organisations can drive sustainable transformation through usage-driven exploration.


Panel: Evolving to Create the Best Customer Service Experience 12:00-12:30 TF Keynote Theatre An explosion of new digital channels has opened up


exciting new ways to engage with audiences and amplify brand messages. We discuss how to make space and stand out from the crowd.


Panel: Brand Loyalty and the Longer Tail of Travel 12:30-13:00 TF Keynote Theatre This panel session featuring Criteo and Inn&Out Performance will consider the steps organisations are taking to ensure longer-term loyalty, customer retention and brand stickiness by building a comprehensive view of customer data.


Startup Competition – Heat 3 13:30-14:30 Startup Showcase The hottest startups in travel technology pitch products and innovations to the Travel Forward Judging Panel.


Delivering a Scalable Platform for Business Growth 13:45-14:15


TF Conference Theatre 2 Hazleena Hashim of Natural


Habitat Adventures shares the challenges and lessons learnt as it scaled its business, requiring not only a technology refresh but also an approach based on buy-in, trust and an open mind.


Creating a Chatbot Strategy, for China and Beyond 13:45-14:15 TF Keynote Theatre OpenJaw’s David Curran will look at the five principles of chatbot strategy, from understanding intent to tailoring the conversation, using the Chinese market to illustrate how to apply these principles in the real world, learning lessons to be applied across geographies, audiences and use cases.


Why the Hotel Industry Is Failing to Produce Billion-dollar Applications 14:15-14:45 Product Showcase SiteMinder’s chief growth officer, Dai Williams, unveils the next evolution in SiteMinder’s tech stack and


Delegates can learn about creating a chatbot strategy in a session on Day 2 OCTOBER 2019 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT PREVIEW 27


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