At the upcoming World Travel Market that takes place from November 6-8 in London, the organisers will launch the first Technology Summit, with over 10 sessions with high-profile speakers from companies like Amadeus, Trip.com Group, TUI, Sabre and Hotelbeds.

Visitors to World Travel Market, a leading global travel and tourism industry show, that is being held from November 6-8 at London ExCel Centre will see the inaugural edition of WTM’s technology show, Travel Technology Conference Track that will run across all three days of the show and will uncover the most important issues facing the sector, ranging from the ethics of AI, smart tourism, and virtual reality.

According to a press statement issued by WTM London, on November 7 afternoon, on the Elevate Stage, the first Technology Summit will be held, where WTM welcomes keynote speaker Bon Sian Chai, Managing Director and Vice President, International Markets, Trip.com Group, who will discuss Reimagining the Future of Travel & Hospitality with Technology.

The statement adds that as artificial intelligence increases its impact across the travel and tourism ecosystem, Pieter Jordaan, Group Chief Information Officer, TUI, Andrew Owen Jones, Managing Director, Smartseer and Frank Trampert, Senior Vice President, Global Managing Director, Community Sales, Sabre Hospitality uncover where AI already has influence and the potential for future applications.

Over the three days of the show, many more sessions exploring various facets of the interjection of technology and travel would be organised.

Another session on technology for smart cities presented in association with the World Tourism Cities Foundation, will look at technology’s role in allowing cities to develop a tourism industry without impacting their inhabitants’ quality, says the statement.

The organisers say that as part of its ongoing commitment to the travel start-up community, WTM will host its second WTM Start Up Pitch Battle for which the prize is a free exhibition stand at WTM London 2024 and exposure to WTM’s expansive network – including all PR opportunities at the show and an interview with the winner.

“Today, technology underpins much of the world and is a key pillar for the travel sector. This year, we reflect the prevalence of tech by launching the Technology Summit on our main stage for the first time and intertwining the fundamentals of technology across all three days of the show,’’ says Brooke Gilbertson, International Conference Manager of WTM London.