Phocuswright Europe, in its eleventh year, gathered 600 European travel leaders for elevated content and unprecedented networking. Over two days (15-17 May), more than 40 speakers from Europe’s leading travel companies presented fresh insight into the unique challenges of the European travel market. Attendees witnessed the latest Battleground and Launch competitions, where startups and established companies competed to win the EMEA Travel Innovator of the Year and the coveted People’s Choice awards. Phocuswright analysts also presented their latest findings on consumer adoption of digital assistants and the state of European startups.
Vital to the success of the event was the diverse group of 600 attendees, hailing from 39 countries and representing over 250 companies. Among them, 47% were C-Level executives, 38% were tech providers, and 14% represented OTAs. Each provided valuable insights and inspiration for moving the industry forward.
Center Stage provided fresh inspiration through keynotes, executive interviews and roundtables with European and global travel leaders from AccorHotels, Lufthansa, Airbnb, Facebook, Booking.com, Google, Hotelbeds Group, Skyscanner and more. Tech-focused debate and discussions included leadership from Winding Tree, Amadeus, Hopper, GetYourGuide and more. On Thursday, Web in Travel conducted its second “WIT Europe” programme, providing an insider perspective on navigating and succeeding in the APAC market.
The Young Leaders Summit, comprised of 23 rising stars under the age of 35, met to create a community of young leadership and to receive mentorship from industry luminaries. The program is dedicated to bringing like-minded young leaders ascending at their respective companies, representing a mix of startups and global companies.
Battleground and Launch Winners
Phocuswright brings the travel industry’s latest wave of innovation to the stage at multiple events across the globe. At Phocuswright Europe, innovators battled for a shot at being crowned the EMEA Travel Innovator of the Year or winning the People’s Choice Award.
BATTLEGROUND EMEA TRAVEL INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Winner: Situm
Runner-Up: Stasher
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Battleground: Stasher
Launch: Amadeus
Follow PhocusWire’s coverage of the event at phocuswire.com. The editorial team conducted interviews with innovators and speakers and recorded segments for The PundIT Show at the PhocusWire Studio, presented by Amadeus. Exclusive interviews and panels will premier soon at phocuswire.com.
2018 Phocuswright Conference Theme Unveiled
Travel’s giants have unprecedented might, but the powerful know this paradox best: scaling is hard; evolving is harder. Size encumbers, speed wins and the Next Big Thing often comes from unseen origins.
Join us November 13 – 15 in Los Angeles, California as we delve into the Power Paradox with nearly 2,000 travel industry players. We’ll take an uncompromising look at the tension between size and speed, between power and agility, between domination and innovation – and how, in an era of concentrated might, travel’s overlords and upstarts seek to harness them to survive. Early-bird registration is available now.