Of bomb cyclones, flight disruptions and super agents

It’s hard to believe that we’re at the end of 2024, having just concluded our last event of the year, WiT Seoul, this week. Check out our socials for coverage of the event, with more to come on our website in the coming weeks.

Here’s something thought-provoking - do you ever ask yourself if we’re prioritising the right challenges in travel??

Amid the AI buzz, Erik Blachford , a pioneer of online travel and former CEO of Expedia Group , raised a critical point at The Phocuswright Conference:?climate change cannot be sidelined. Reflecting on rising global temperatures and stricter regulations like Europe’s Green Claims Regulations, he noted that “we’re going to go through the 1.5-degree rise in temperature.” This will push the travel industry to rethink its practices, from carbon reporting to shifting consumer behaviours.

Blachford’s solution? Nature-based experiences. His investments in outdoor-focused businesses like Hipcamp stem from a belief that “going out in nature is the best way to understand what you are going to lose.” However, he acknowledged that AI could play a pivotal role in addressing climate challenges. “Over the next five years, we will see the release of super intelligence... I’m hopeful AI will model the climate systems in ways we can’t,” he said.

In other words, climate change could be the biggest disrupter the industry has ever seen. Which is why on the entrepreneurial front, Robert Rosenstein , co-founder of Agoda , and Steve Hafner , co-founder of KAYAK , highlighted the enduring principles of building resilient startups amidst disruption. Rosenstein emphasised solving “real problems” over chasing trends, while Hafner focused on assembling smart teams and fostering innovation. As Hafner remarked, “My superpower isn’t hiring; it’s creating an environment where smart people thrive.”

Meanwhile, with air travel in Asia Pacific projected to add 2.5 billion passengers by 2040, managing growth sustainably is a pressing challenge. Digital identity, such as International Air Transport Association (IATA) ’s OneID program, has a singular ambition:?seamless travel powered by biometrics?and secure data-sharing. Recent trials between Hong Kong and Tokyo showcased its potential, with IATA’s Nick Careen affirming, “A seamless fully digital travel experience powered by digital identity and biometrics has moved from theory to proven reality.”

Yet hurdles remain. Vinoop Goel , IATA’s Regional Director, underscored the complexity of achieving global interoperability: “Digital identity and biometrics are going to solve the problem of proving your identity multiple times, but technical and regulatory challenges must be overcome.”

The urgency is particularly clear in high-growth markets like China and India, where passenger demand is surging. Chee Teong Ooi , CEO of Travix International, noted, “India’s middle-income group is projected to grow 50% by 2030. This rise in affluence will drive significant outbound travel.” However, as Ooi pointed out, physical airport expansions can only go so far. Technologies like OneID are critical to easing friction and accommodating this explosive growth.

But, can there be such a thing as an over-reliance on data, especially in an era of innovation and expansion? Agoda ’s Chief Technology Officer, Idan Zalzberg , said the company fosters a?scientific approach and steers away from being “data-driven”.

Running up to 1,000 experiments at a time while maintaining a clear focus on learning, Zalzberg noted, “The real challenge isn’t scaling experiments; it’s avoiding getting overwhelmed by the data.” Zalzberg emphasised that creativity remains central to Agoda’s vision: “We want people to imagine. Data is a facilitator for that, not a hurdle.”

For more stories from travel and tech in Asia, visit?www.webintravel.com.

Have a great weekend, everyone!