Shining a light on ‘frictionless travel’ at WTM London

Technology Track sessions at this year’s World Travel Market London will focus on how sellers and suppliers of travel can address the ongoing headaches travellers face when they search, shop, book and pay for their trip.

The sessions are timetabled across the three days of this year’s event, with the Technology Summit taking place on Tues., Nov. 5.

The program forming this part of the Technology Track has been organized by WTM’s recently appointed technology advisor Timothy O’Neil-Dunne, currently principal at T2Impact, an analysis and consulting firm that specializes 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 AI and loyalty schemes.

There will also be quick-fire sessions looking at the specific customer experience dynamics in play by region, and also by vertical and the sessions conclude with a panel discussion which 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 the afternoon of Nov. 5.

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

He continued: “I will be addressing the ‘apocalyptic inefficiency,’ as I see it, across the industry and explore the tech we need to tackle this. I’m assembling panelists and speakers from established and emerging travel companies, not all of whom will agree with me, or each other. It’s shaping up to be interesting, interactive and informative.”

WTM London 2024 takes place from Nov. 5 to Nov. 7 at ExCeL London and more information is available at https://www.wtm.com/london/en-gb.html .