WTM focus on tech challenges

The Technology Track sessions at this year’s World Travel Market London, spread over three days, is set to shine a spotlight on the persistent challenges that travellers face when searching, shopping, booking, and paying for their journeys.

TT Bureau

The Technology Track sessions at this year’s World Travel Market London – to be held at ExCeL London from 5-7 November – will focus on how sellers and suppliers of travel can address the ongoing problems travellers face when they search, shop, book, and pay for their trips. At this year’s event, technology sessions are scheduled across the three days, with the Technology Summit taking place from 10 am to 1.15 pm on the opening day (Tuesday, 5 November) on the Purple Stage.

The programme for this part of the Technology Track has been planned by WTM’s recently appointed technology advisor Timothy O’Neil-Dunne, currently Principal at T2Impact, an analysis and consulting firm that specialises in aviation, travel, and leisure.

The session includes a fireside chat with Alfonso Paredes, President of Expedia Group’s Private Label Solutions business. He is responsible for the B2B side of the business, which gives companies the ability to sell travel via access to Expedia Group’s technology and supply.

Paredes will lead a session centred on the importance of the customer’s digital experience and offer his view on user challenges and the future intersection between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and loyalty schemes. There will also be quick-fire sessions examining the specific customer experience dynamics by region and by vertical, concluding with a panel discussion that promises a no-holds-barred debate around how effectively, or not, the industry engages with the traveller. The Tech Track also features a start-up competition, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

O’Neil-Dunne said, “I’m delighted that WTM London has given me the opportunity to try something different, and we have decided to tackle head-on one of my industry bugbears; despite all this tech, why do sellers and suppliers make it so difficult for the traveller to find what they want, buy our products, and experience what we offer.”