Greg Schulze on Global Growth and the Future of Travel Tech: “The Work is Never Done”

As we move into the second half of November and the last few weeks of the year, it seems like the topic of change everywhere. More specifically, the ability to stay agile and change with the times.?

For instance, Greg Schulze ’s journey at Expedia Group has spanned nearly two decades, but his enthusiasm remains higher than ever as he steps into the role of Chief Commercial Officer with an eye on global expansion. “It’s an exciting time for Expedia, for our industry”, said Schulze at WiT Singapore. Backed by Expedia’s strong Q3 results, with B2B revenue growing 18%, he’s ready to set new ambitions.

“In my simple mind, I think the world has basically a third of travel demand in Asia Pacific, a third in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and a third in the Americas,” Schulze explains, adding that his team has a strategy tailored for each. His vision? Strengthen local partnerships and build a powerful network, like their recent expansion into Saudi Arabia and the UAE. “The Middle East can become a significant market for us,” Schulze says, with confidence in the region’s potential.

“We’re making the app faster and adding new features to streamline shopping,” said Schulze. His goal? Elevate Expedia from a booking platform to a trusted travel companion that helps travellers plan inspired journeys.

Speaking of goals, visions and change, in the heart of Cape Town, Travelstart CEO stephan ekbergh is cultivating creativity with Innovation City, host of next year’s WiT Africa. Far from a typical coworking space, Innovation City Cape Town blends the grit of New York’s CBGB, the edge of Berlin’s underground, and the glamour of Studio 54. “We called it Innovation City as a nod to Sound City studios,” Ekbergh says. The vibrant hub is Ekbergh’s answer to fostering a culture of innovation and supporting Africa’s rising generation of disruptors.

Every detail, from the music to the bar and even the “no a**hole” policy, reflects Ekbergh’s vision for a culture-first workspace. “We’re a club for the dreamers, the givers, and those who see possibility,” says Ekbergh. True to club tradition, a bouncer curates entry to ensure a vibe of inclusivity and creativity.

“Any venture is always about making people dance,” he says, a nod to his DJ roots. Ready to visit? Mark your calendar and get your tickets for WiT Africa 2025.

We’ve also started rolling out our WiT Studio sessions this week, filmed on-site at WiT Singapore 2024, featuring exclusive interviews with travel and hospitality leaders. Michael Cawley , Non-Executive Director of Ryanair - Europe's Favourite Airline , shared his candid views on Europe’s political climate and its impact on aviation while sat across from aviation expert and T2Impact, LLC Principal, Timothy O'Neil-Dunne . Reflecting on the challenges of running an airline amid geopolitical instability, Cawley stated, “Business thrives in certainty,” pointing out how weak leadership in key countries threatens growth.

Turning his focus to Ireland, Cawley highlighted how government policies are hindering growth in both aviation and technology sectors. “The Minister for Transport has refused to increase generating capacity,” he noted, referencing the energy policies limiting Ireland’s potential to host data centers for tech giants. Such restrictions, he warned, could stifle future economic growth as companies face an energy bottleneck.

However, in the face of so much change, Cawley remains pragmatic yet optimistic. And why wouldn’t he be? Despite a “saturation point” being declared in 2000, Ryanair is projected to serve 200 million passengers this year.

For more industry insights and thought-provoking discussions, join us at WiT Seoul (Nov 26 - 27) and WiT Africa (Mar 12 – 13). Get your tickets now.

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

Have a great weekend, everyone!