Virtuoso launches first Travel Tech Summit

Virtuoso, a US-based global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, is hosting its inaugural Travel Tech Summit during the Virtuoso Travel Week event on 14 August. The summit will consist of three components:

1. A ‘Big Ideas Session’ where speakers will address the industry’s tech strategies that are driving the industry forward.
2. A ‘VC Panel’ centred on the innovations and longer-term opportunities that investors are seeking and funding.
3. A ‘Startup Showcase’ will feature companies that focus on obstacles the travel industry is currently facing.

Virtuoso chairman and CEO, Matthew Upchurch, said: “This Travel Tech Summit is our next step in furthering innovation and ensuring that travel technology benefits our agencies, advisors and the partners who work with us.” “We believe in fostering technology that enhances the value of human connection.” The network has announced that the sessions will begin with a broad overview addressing five key themes: the optimisation of everything; financialisation of travel and how it leads to better consumer experiences; the role of creators and influencers; aggregation and super apps; and emerging technologies focused on the Metaverse and Web3. Following this, the Big Ideas speakers will discuss each category in more depth before the venture capitalist panel joins the discussion with their perspective as investors. The Startup Showcase will feature five new companies that are developing solutions to ease travel industry pain points and are demonstrating real-world applications. “After attending so many industry events, both open and closed, it seemed to me there was no home for innovators focused on luxury travel and the advisor-agency model,” said Gilad Berenstein, Virtuoso board member. “The goal of this summit is to bring together some of the top minds in the industry, from the largest innovators, to those funding development, to the entrepreneurs and start-ups bringing these visions to life.”

The speakers

The line-up for the Las Vegas event has been announced: Big Ideas Speakers:

• Khalid Meniri – CEO and Founder, Selfbook
• Ethan Hawkes – Head of Strategic Partnerships, Hopper
• Karen Bolda – Senior Vice President of Partner Products, Expedia Group
• Travis McElfresh – Senior Vice President of Product, Virtuoso

VC Panel:

• Gaurav Tuli – Managing Director, F-Prime Capital Partners
• Chris Hemmeter – Managing Director, Thayer Ventures
• Chantal Noble Haldorsen – Early Stage VC Lead, Certares
• Cara Whitehill – Founder and Managing Director, Unlock Advisors

Startup Showcase:

• Grace McBride – Founder and CEO, Lucia
• Gary Kohn – Co-Founder, Luxury Travel Hackers
• Alex Jara – CEO, Deal Engine
• West Askew – Founder and CEO, Thatch
• Irving Betesh – CEO and Co-Founder, Sion