We are the Next Generation: An out-the-door review of WiT Singapore 2024

What a rush this week has been! We ran WiT Singapore 2024 and ushered in the Next Generation with more than 400 delegates from around the world, half of whom were first-timers, matching the percentage of first-time speakers.

Perhaps it was this mix that gave the event a truly Next Generation feel – a blending of ages, backgrounds and experience in the melting pot that is WiT.

Not to brag, but we think our event delivered an electric three-day experience, with attendees still buzzing from the array of insights shared during the event, and our lead article this week is a review of their reviews on LinkedIn.

A central theme of the event was the rapid growth in the APAC region, with forecasts predicting 51 million new travellers in the next few years. Hermione Joye , Sector Lead at 谷歌 APAC, echoed this excitement, stating, “The region is set to explode with a projected $140 billion market increase by 2028.”

AI was also a central theme, referred to as the glue and how it will drive tech stacks in future, if not already.

The human element was also played up strongly, particularly by CEO of Travelstart , stephan ekbergh who, in his presentation, “Dance To Innovation”, called on the WiT tribe to be “anti-establishment, do it yourself, rebellion to everything”.

We also awarded the People’s Choice Award to both Nowadays (YC S23) and Hotel Treats winners in the Phocuswright / Web In Travel Global Startup Pitch Seedup and Scaleup categories respectively. ?

Meanwhile, Agoda ’s Chief Technology Officer, Idan Zalzberg , shared a different perspective on data usage during his WiT Singapore session, suggesting that companies should focus more on the “science” behind the data rather than being driven by the data itself. “Data is not the end, it’s the means,” Zalzberg said, highlighting how the company uses data not just to analyze clicks but to shape meaningful customer experiences.

Agoda’s growth in data usage has been significant, growing from a platform with 300 gigabytes of data to today’s 40 petabytes. Yet, Zalzberg emphasized that this wealth of information can be a “booby trap” if not used correctly. The company is now diving deeper into “intimate details” of what they’re selling, driven by user input and AI advancements that have revealed gaps in their knowledge.

Chief Product Officer, Ittai Chorev , added that data is critical in product development, helping define success metrics and shaping new tools. He shared how their focus on the right data, applied intentionally, is pushing Agoda beyond surface-level insights to create better, more targeted customer experiences.

We’ll be sharing more insights from the event over the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

For more industry insights and thought-provoking discussions, join us at WiT Seoul: Next Generation (Nov 26 - 27). Get your tickets now.

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

Have a great weekend, everyone!