Zito will offer his unparalleled expertise and knowledge on Travel Tech’s Advocate Member Meet-Up, which is being offered this month for free to industry members
Join Matt Zito of TSi and the Travel Technology Association team next week at its monthly Advocate Member Meet-Up held online. All interested travel tech start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses are welcome to join this meeting for free. It will take place on Tuesday, January 28th, at 11:00 am ET/8:00 am PT.
Attendance at these monthly meet-ups is one of the many benefits that Travel Tech offers through its Advocate Membership program. Every month, Advocate members will learn practical business advice from travel tech industry leaders, have opportunities to discuss industry issues and build community with leaders like you and get information about public policies directly impacting travel tech start-ups and SMBs.
January Advocate Member Meet-Up Agenda
“I welcome all travel tech start-ups and SMBs to come to our January Advocate Member Meet-Up for free and check out the benefits we offer,” said Laura Chadwick, president & CEO of the Travel Technology Association. “As a non-profit, we are dedicated to helping the travel technology industry members, small and large, thrive.”
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents the leading innovators in travel technology, including online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), the voice of the travel technology industry and advocate for public policy that promotes transparency, competition, and innovation, wrote a letter of support for the nomination of former Congressman Sean Duffy as the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Today, the U.S. Commerce Committee held a nomination hearing where Congressman Duffy testified and answered questions from committee members.
Read Travel Tech’s full letter of support:
January 15, 2025
The Honorable Ted Cruz, Chair
The Honorable Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), I am pleased to express our support for the confirmation of former Congressman Sean Duffy as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. His record of public service and work to foster economic growth and modernize regulatory frameworks reflect a commitment to principles vital to a thriving and innovative transportation ecosystem.
Travel Tech is the voice of the travel technology industry, advocating for public policy that promotes innovation, transparency, and competition in the travel marketplace and empowers traveler choice. We represent the leading innovators in travel technology, including Online Travel Agencies (“OTAs”) and metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, travel management companies (“TMCs”), and Global Distribution Systems (“GDSs”). Travel Tech’s members connect millions of travelers to air transportation through cutting-edge platforms and services that depend on a fair and adaptable regulatory environment.
Mr. Duffy’s experience navigating complex policy challenges, exemplified during his service in Congress, gives us confidence that he will prioritize these shared goals. His leadership on regulatory reform demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of balancing innovation with accountability, creating an environment where businesses can thrive and consumers are protected. As the travel technology sector and the broader technology industry tackle issues such as data privacy, AI integration, and support for competition, we look forward to collaborating with the Department to drive meaningful progress.
We are confident that Mr. Duffy’s leadership will bring a thoughtful and balanced approach to these challenges and opportunities. Travel Tech looks forward to working with the Department to advance policies that sustain competition and improve the travel experience for millions of consumers.
Sincerely,
Laura Chadwick
President & CEO
cc: Members of the Senate Commerce Committee
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents the leading innovators in travel technology, including online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
As part of Travel Tech’s expanded Advocate membership program, Zito will offer practical business advice and resources to help travel tech start-ups succeed
Wednesday, January 8, 2024 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) announced a new partnership with Matt Zito, Managing Partner at TSi, to provide practical business advice and resources to travel tech start-ups through Travel Tech’s newly-expanded Advocate membership program. Travel Tech’s Advocate membership provides programming, community, and advocacy benefits to start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses.
Matt Zito, known as a “super-connector” in the travel industry, is a seasoned M&A broker, travel tech CEO coach, and startup advisor. With decades of experience as a founder, investor, and dealmaker, Matt will offer his unparalleled expertise and knowledge to Travel Tech Advocate members on the association’s monthly Advocate Member Community Calls and at Travel Tech’s inaugural Start-Up Summit on May 7th in Washington, DC. Additionally, Advocate members will receive free access to TSi’s four-week Travel Tech Start-Up Acceleration Program (a $800 value).
“I am excited to partner with Travel Tech on its expanded Advocate membership program,” said Matt Zito, Managing Partner at TSi. “Having built and supported travel startups, I look forward to providing Travel Tech’s Advocate members with the resources they need to succeed and scale their businesses.”
“Travel Tech is thrilled to collaborate with Matt Zito, a leader in the travel tech industry, to enhance our support for travel startups and SMBs. This partnership will provide essential tools and resources to our growing community of Advocate members, empowering them to succeed,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association. “This collaboration highlights our commitment to fostering innovation and delivering unmatched support for the next generation of travel innovators.”
Learn more about Travel Tech’s Advocate Membership by registering for the first monthly Advocate Membership call.
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes transparency, competition and innovation. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
December 21, 2024 – Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association, released the following statement regarding the removal of the Hotel Fees Transparency Act (S.2498) along with other commerce-related bills from the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress late Friday night:
“Travel Tech is disappointed that Congress did not include the Hotel Fees Transparency Act in the final version of its Continuing Resolution, missing an opportunity to deliver meaningful consumer protections and provide consistency for both intermediaries and hotels navigating disparate state requirements.
“This bipartisan, carefully negotiated proposal is an important opportunity to establish a national standard for mandatory hotel fee transparency, ensuring consumers receive clear and upfront information about mandatory fees. Its exclusion delays meaningful progress for travelers and the broader travel industry.
“Preventing a government shutdown is essential, and we acknowledge Congress’s efforts in achieving that critical goal. However, the need for federal leadership on price transparency remains. Travel Tech will continue to advocate for this legislation in the new Congress.”
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), the voice of the travel technology industry and advocate for public policy that promotes transparency, competition, and innovation, submitted a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) responding to certain claims included in Airlines for America’s (A4A) comments on the Family Seating Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Travel Tech’s letter emphasizes that ticket agents already perform essential roles in collecting and transmitting passenger information and existing industry processes are designed to meet these needs effectively.
“Ticket agents are committed to supporting families and providing airlines with the necessary information to facilitate seat assignments,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of Travel Tech. “A4A’s proposals overlook the effective processes already in place and would create redundant and unnecessary burdens on ticket agents.”
Travel Tech’s letter details how ticket agents provide passenger information required for compliance with the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight Program and Customs and Border Control’s (CBP) Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) as well as IATA Resolution 830d.
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents the leading innovators in travel technology, including online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Association to provide programming, other benefits to help travel tech start-ups and SMBs build their businesses
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 — This week at the Phocuswright Conference, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) announced the expansion of its Advocate membership program to provide direct support for start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as the next-generation of travel tech innovators.
Travel Tech’s Advocate membership program, first announced last year, has been expanded to create a comprehensive support program for travel tech industry start-ups and SMBs to help these companies grow. Benefits include:
“Travel Tech was founded to support innovative travel tech companies of all sizes, big and small,” said Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of Travel Tech. “We’re excited to introduce our new expanded Advocate membership program to help the next generation of travel tech innovators build and scale their businesses.”
In May 2025, Travel Tech will convene its first-ever Start-Up Summit in Washington, DC, bringing together travel tech start-ups, expert travel tech entrepreneurs, and industry leaders for an opportunity to learn about building their travel tech businesses and network with other travel tech innovators. Following the Summit, Travel Tech will host its second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase on Capitol Hill, allowing policymakers and their staff the opportunity to interact with Travel Tech member companies and learn about their work to make the travel experience more transparent, competitive, and innovative.
Are you a travel tech start-up or small business? Click here to learn more about Travel Tech’s Expanded Advocate membership program.
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), the voice of the travel technology industry and advocate for public policy that promotes transparency, competition, and innovation, moderated the second annual Soapbox Industry Debate at the Phocuswright Conference in Phoenix, AZ.
This year’s debate focused on the impact of the recent U.S. election on the travel tech industry. Travel Tech President & CEO Laura Chadwick was joined by representatives from Travel Tech member companies, including Lara Tennyson, Head of US Federal Affairs at Booking Holdings; Emmett O’Keefe, Director of Federal & State Government Relations at Sabre; and Jason Scism, Founder and CEO of DreamGuest.
Panelists and audience members discussed what a Trump presidency and Republican-controlled Congress could mean for several critical policy issues impacting the travel tech industry, including AI regulation on the federal and state levels, price transparency laws, prospects for national data privacy laws, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recently-issued Ancillary and Refund rules, greater support for start-ups, and more.
“With the 2024 election behind us, we’ve seen a shift of the political landscape in Washington,” said Laura Chadwick. “As the second Trump Administration and Republican-controlled Congress prepare to get underway, travel technology companies should be optimistic about the industry’s future.”
Relatedly, Phocuswire recently published an op-ed by Laura Chadwick about the reasons why the travel technology industry should be optimistic about Donald Trump’s presidential reelection and Republicans’ full control of Congress.
“I am encouraged by President Trump’s promise to ‘unleash the full potential of American industry and American innovation,’” Chadwick writes. “As an industry consisting entirely of innovators, both small and large, we have an excellent opportunity to shape and benefit from the Trump Administration’s pro-innovation policies.”
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes transparency, competition and innovation. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024—This week, Bethany Reitsma, Senior Manager of Industry Relations at the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), participated in the Young Leaders Summit at the Phocuswright Conference in Phoenix, AZ. Identified as one of a small group of rising leaders shaping the future of the travel industry, Bethany joined 26 other future leaders for programming over the course of two-days at the summit.
The Young Leaders Summit brings together the industry’s best and brightest leaders aged 35 and under to participate in interactive sessions and roundtable discussions designed to bring together the future generation of the travel industry to connect, debate, and collaborate with other rising stars.
“I’m honored to have been selected to participate in Phocuswright’s Young Leaders Summit and to represent Travel Tech among a group of fellow rising leaders,” said Bethany Reitsma. “I’m looking forward to using this experience to strengthen my leadership skills and support Travel Tech’s members.”
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) empowers traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes marketplace transparency and competition. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, small, and midsize businesses to leading online travel agencies, metasearch engines, short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems, and travel management companies.
To schedule an interview with a Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Bradford Williamson of Glen Echo Group at 202.870.3234 or bwilliamson@glenechogroup.com.
Monday, April 28, 2025 — Today, Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association, released a statement on the passage of H.R.1479, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025 in the House. “Travel Tech applauds the House for passing H.R. 1479, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025, which will require consumers to […]
