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The Digital Travel Summit (DTS) is just weeks away...
... so we quizzed three key figures from the speaker line-up on the hot topics facing their sectors, plus asked them what kind of subjects they’ll be tackling themselves in their own panel and debate sessions.
Click here to read an interview with the summit’s conference director Susie Benaim, and to read TTG Media’s special show preview supplement, click here
Kim Matlock is vice-president of digital strategy, Wyndham Vacation Ownership
What theme are you talking about at DTS?
I’ll be speaking about how virtual reality can improve both customer acquisition and the in-stay experience, to successfully curate the holiday vision and add value throughout the complete customer journey. I’m so enamoured with the evolution of mixed reality driving the future of travel and travel marketing. Millennials and Gen Z-ers live in and expect an immersive experience whether physically or digitally when they travel.
What do you think is the biggest challenge, from a digital perspective, that the hotel sector faces?
From a practical viewpoint, hoteliers don’t want to invest in the infrastructure and technology expected by current consumers. Those that don’t will experience digital Darwinism: adapt or die. I would say, invest or die.
"I’m so enamoured with the evolution of mixed reality driving the future of travel and travel marketing"
What other key issues should delegates focus on at DTS?
Loyalty is not dead. Delivering outstanding products, service and experiences will still garner loyalty from the most demanding of consumers. Focus on the best practices from those who have tried, failed and succeeded on changing their direction based on feedback. Matlock will speaking at 2.20pm and 4pm on June 28
Elliott Pritchard is online marketing director, Avis Budget Group International
As a moderator at DTS, what do you enjoy most about chairing the sessions?
The chance to ask the difficult questions or to cover the topics that you know are frustrating everyone back at their office. It’s great to have a forum where digital experts across the travel sector come together; there’s only one conference where I’ve learnt both about probabilistic cross-device attribution and that in-flight crisp sandwiches are a thing.
What do you think is the biggest challenge, from a digital perspective, that the car hire sector faces?
The advent of autonomous vehicles will radically impact car hire, car sharing and ride hailing, which means huge change and also huge opportunity for anyone in that space. It also means I’ll be able to take up knitting while driving to work, so it’s a win-win.
"There’s only one conference where I’ve learnt both about probabilistic cross-device attribution and that in-flight crisp sandwiches are a thing"
What other key issues should delegates focus on at DTS?
I’ll be keen to hear what Google’s move into package holidays could mean for the industry, how Ryanair’s new digital direction is performing and how virtual assistants will change the way we research travel. That and getting the gossip in the coffee breaks of course. Pritchard will be moderating various interviews and discussions on June 27 and 28
Richard Rosenburg is senior director, technology, Hotels.com
What theme are you talking about at DTS?
I am taking part in a debate on how best to source technology resource. To me, this is key, as it is your technical resource that is going to deliver your product, so getting that right is absolutely critical.
What do you think is the biggest challenge, from a digital perspective, that the European travel sector faces?
At Hotels.com, we very much think of ourselves from a global perspective, so we look at the European travel sector as part of that global picture. In the hotel selling business, there are many challenges, but the biggest is the increased competition, either from other OTAs, from individual hotels themselves, or from vacation rental sites.
"I would be interested to learn how the Internet of Things is going to affect the travel industry as well as how new conversational devices, such as Alexa, can be used"
What other key issues should delegates focus on at DTS?
How to deliver a mobile-first, personalised experience to their customers that delivers a fast experience whatever the customer’s bandwidth. From an infrastructure point of view, like a number of companies, at Hotels.com we are embracing new cloud technologies, and are excited at the opportunities this may bring. Looking forward, from a customer innovation point of view, I would be interested to learn how the Internet of Things is going to affect the travel industry as well as how new conversational devices, such as Alexa, can be used.
