Wednesday, May 28, 2025 — In just over a year, cities across the United States will welcome millions of fans, athletes, and tourists for one of the world’s largest sporting events—the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As the excitement builds, travel technology is set to play a critical role in shaping how visitors experience this global celebration—from booking flights and finding places to stay, to navigating cities and discovering local attractions.
At Travel Tech’s second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase, CEO Laura Chadwick hosted a timely conversation on this very topic. The panel, titled “From Stadium to Stay: Building a Better Travel Experience to Support Mega Sports Events,” brought together industry leaders to explore how travel technology is helping cities prepare for the World Cup and enhance the overall travel experience.
Panelists included:
The discussion highlighted how platforms like Airbnb and Tripadvisor will assist fans and consumers, host cities, and local communities in supporting the massive influx of travelers expected in 2026. From providing a wide array of lodging options to protecting consumers and promoting local experiences, panelists emphasized the vital role of travel tech in managing large-scale tourism.
Meg Kane discussed how Philadelphia is preparing to welcome global visitors, with a focus on safety, transportation, and accessibility. She described the event as “the ultimate American road trip,” noting that fans will want to travel between host cities—and travel tech will be key to making that seamless.
Nathan Rotman shared that “host cities are planning ahead to ensure there’s enough accommodation supply — that means working with short-term rental platforms, hoteliers, and other travel providers to create a great experience for guests.”
Becky Foley added that platforms like Tripadvisor don’t just connect travelers to experiences—they also play a critical role in consumer protection. She explained how Tripadvisor ensures the accuracy of listings and reviews, helping to combat fraud and build trust between travelers and businesses.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the travel tech industry will continue to be a powerful partner in delivering a safe, seamless, and unforgettable experience for visitors—and a lasting economic impact for host cities.
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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, May 21, 2025 – Travel tech entrepreneur Matt Zito, Managing Partner at TSi, and venture fund investor Cara Whitehill, Vice President, Thayer Ventures shared the key qualities they look for in start-up leaders at Travel Tech’s recent Start-Up Summit.
Whether you’re launching your MVP or navigating your first raise, don’t miss out on their valuable insights, like “Trust Comes First,” “Misconception: It’s All About Revenue” and more!
Fill out the form below for exclusive access to these Top 7 Tips from Matt and Cara that you won’t want to miss:
Interested in more resources like this, including free-access to Matt Zito’s 4-Week Acceleration Program for travel start-ups, and joining our growing community of travel tech start-ups? Join Travel Tech Today as an Advocate Member
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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.
Thursday, May 8, 2025 — Yesterday, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) hosted its inaugural Start-Up Summit and second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase. The events brought together Travel Tech member companies, policymakers, early-stage start-ups, and experts to highlight the industry’s ongoing work to make the travel experience more transparent, competitive, and innovative for consumers.
The day kicked off with Travel Tech’s inaugural Start-Up Summit. Attendees heard from various experts. Wright Ricketts, Legislative Director for Rep. David Kustoff (TN-08) discussed H.R. 1199, the Small Business Investment Act of 2025 and how it will help attract more investment in start-ups. Matthew Stevens, Deputy Associate Administrator of the Small Business Administration’s Office of Investment and Innovation highlighted the many resources the agency offers through its local partners and programs. Matt Zito, Managing Partner at TSi, Cara Whitehill, Vice President at Thayer Investment Partners, and Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp shared strategies for scaling startups, with a focus on maximizing angel investment and preparing for venture capital.
Ten travel technology start-ups, including BLCK, InterLnkd, Legaroo, Runway Health, Inc., Sevenly Travel, Solutionz Group LLC, SparrowBid, Tern, and WalknTours were given the opportunity to pitch the audience on their innovative products and companies.
That evening, more than 150 people joined Travel Tech and its members for the second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase, including Members of Congress and their staff.
“The Travel Tech Association was founded in 1999 to support the original innovators in travel technology—many of whom are now household names,” said Laura Chadwick. “We were proud to bring together both these pioneers and the newest generation of innovators in D.C. to highlight the intersection of travel, technology, and policy.”
Travel Tech CEO Laura Chadwick moderated a conversation on sports tourism and the role of travel technology platforms in enhancing fans’ travel experiences. The panel included Meg Kane, CEO of the Philadelphia World Cup Host Committee; Becky Foley, Vice President and Head of Trust & Safety at Tripadvisor; and Nathan Rotman, Director, North American Policy Strategy at Airbnb.
Brandon Palumbo, Travel Tech’s Director of Policy and Government Relations, led a discussion on how public policy can address startups’ needs, joined by Cara Whitehill (Thayer Investment Partners), Tomasz Pawliszyn (AirHelp), and Branda Fan (Nowy).
Later in the evening, Travel Tech, joined by Chase Travel Group, presented Travel Tech’s Innovation Leadership Award to Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) for their leadership in championing innovation in the travel industry.
This year’s Policy & Innovation Showcase was sponsored by Airbnb, Amadeus, Booking Holdings, Chase Travel Group, Sabre, Travelport, Tripadvisor, and Viator.
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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, April 23, 2025 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, will spotlight the newest generation of travel tech startups—from game-changing AI-powered trip planners to social travel platforms—at its second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase on May 7th on Capitol Hill.
Attendees will hear from industry experts, interact with Travel Tech member companies, and learn about the Association’s work to make travel more transparent, competitive, and innovative for consumers. This year, Travel Tech is excited to feature numerous travel technology start-ups, including BLCK, Group Travel Odyssey, InterLnkd, Legaroo, Levee, Mobi, NaviSavi Inc., Nowy, Runway Health, Inc., SevenlyTravel, Solutionz Group LLC, SparrowBid, Tern, Travogram and Walkntours.
“Travel Tech is committed to championing innovation, and a key part of that mission is supporting the next generation of travel technology startups as they grow and scale,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association. “We’re proud to spotlight these trailblazers and provide a platform to share their groundbreaking work.”
The Showcase will also feature two panel discussions, including a panel on the unique challenges facing travel tech start-ups titled “Navigating the Unique Needs of Travel Tech Startups.” The panel will focus on the hurdles that start-ups face in scaling and growing their business, from accessing capital to navigating the complex tax and regulatory landscapes. Panelists include Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp; Branda Fan, Founder and CEO of Nowy; and Cara Whitehill, Vice President at Thayer Investment Partners, with Brandon Palumbo, Director of Policy and Government Relations of Travel Tech as moderator.
Learn more about the Policy & Innovation Showcase and RSVP here:
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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.
Panels will focus on public policies needed to support tourism and major sporting events and the newest generation of travel tech innovators
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, announced the panel discussions they will hold at their second annual Policy and Innovation Showcase on Wednesday, May 7th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Cannon Caucus Room.
“We are excited to offer two panel discussions at Travel Tech’s Policy & Innovation Showcase this year. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics on the horizon, we’ll discuss preparations for these events and how policymakers can support their success,” said Laura Chadwick, president & CEO. “Attendees will learn from our second panel about public policies needed to support travel tech start-ups.”
First Panel (5:10 to 5:30 pm):
“From Stadium to Stay: Building a Better Travel Experience to Support Mega Sports Events,” will examine the role of travel technology platforms in facilitating sports tourism, key lessons from prior global sporting events, the importance of having a variety of travel and lodging options and strategies to enhance visitor experiences while safeguarding consumers from fraud. Panelists include:
Second Panel (5:35 to 5:55 pm):
“Navigating the Unique Needs of Travel Tech Startups,” will focus on unique needs and challenges facing travel tech startups—from accessing capital to navigating the complex tax and regulatory landscapes. Panelists include:
Learn more about Travel Tech’s Policy & Innovation Showcase at https://traveltech.org/policy-innovation-showcase/
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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, March 26, 2025 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, is excited to announce it will host the inaugural Start-Up Summit and second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
“These events provide an opportunity for Travel Tech to bring together industry leaders, start-ups, and policymakers, to highlight innovation in travel tech and public policies that benefit the industry,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association.
Travel Tech’s new Start-Up Summit welcomes select pre-seed and seed start-ups to Washington, DC for the opportunity to learn from and network with other travel technology entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The event will feature lighting pitches from travel technology start-ups, including Sevenly Travel, SparrowBid, and Walkntours and informational sessions with travel tech experts like Matt Zito, Managing Director at TSi, covering a range of topics, including strategies and tips on preparing for and maximizing angel investors and venture investments, seeking funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and how to advocate for public policies that support entrepreneurs. The Summit will take place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on May 7, 2025.
Following the Start-Up Summit, Travel Tech will host its second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase on Capitol Hill. During this widely-attended event, attendees will hear from industry experts, interact with Travel Tech member companies, and learn about the Association’s work to make travel more transparent, competitive, and innovative for consumers. The showcase will feature two panel discussions, one on the power of sports tourism ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics and another on how public policy can support travel tech innovation and growth. Travel Tech will also present Travel Tech’s Innovation Leadership Award to select members of Congress. The Policy & Innovation Showcase will take place from 5 pm – 7 pm in the Cannon Caucus Room.
Sponsors of the events include Airbnb, Amadeus, Booking Holdings, Chase Travel Group, Sabre, Travelport, and Tripadvisor.
To learn more about the inaugural Start-Up Summit, please contact Bethany Reitsma, Senior Manager of Industry Relations, at breitsma@traveltech.org. To register for the second annual Policy & Innovation Showcase, please click here:
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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.
Episodes will provide analysis and insights about public policy issues impacting the travel technology industry
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, launched its new “Passport Podcast.” Hosted by Travel Tech President and CEO Laura Chadwick and featuring an industry expert each month, the podcast will explore the top news stories at the intersection of travel, technology, and public policy. The Passport Podcast is a companion to Travel Tech’s weekly Passport Newsletter.
“I am pleased to announce the launch of Travel Tech’s new Passport Podcast. Every month, I’ll be joined by an industry expert to discuss how larger debates on tech policy and beyond could impact the travel tech industry,” said Chadwick. “Together, we will help our listeners understand what is happening in Washington, DC and state houses across the country and what it means for their companies.”
On the inaugural episode of the “Passport Podcast” released today, Laura Chadwick sits down with Brandon Palumbo, Travel Tech’s Director of Policy and Government Relations, to discuss the new Trump administration and its potential impact on the travel technology industry, focusing on AI regulation, airline competition, and antitrust enforcement. The first episode is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Carroll Rheem, Founder and CEO of Iolite group and former Director of Research at Phocuswright, will join Laura on the April 2025 episode of the “Passport Podcast.” Rheem will also share her recent research on consumer adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) for travel planning.
Want to stay up-to-date every week on current and emerging policy issues facing the travel tech industry? Subscribe to Travel Tech’s weekly Passport Newsletter at traveltech.org/subscribe.
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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, February 26, 2025 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, announced its new Innovation Advisory Council. This group will advise the association on its efforts to support travel tech start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) through its Advocate membership level and annual events.
The Innovation Advisory Council brings together leading travel tech industry experts and entrepreneurs who work regularly with travel tech start-ups and SMBs. The Council will provide guidance and input on how Travel Tech can meet the needs of travel tech start-ups and SMBs as they work to launch and scale their businesses. Their combined experience will be an invaluable resource to Travel Tech and its Advocate members.
Members of Travel Tech’s Innovation Advisory Council include:
Travel Tech’s Advocate membership program, centered around its three pillars of community, programming, and advocacy, empowers start-ups and small and medium sized travel tech companies with the expertise, resources, and network they need to thrive.
“I’m thrilled to work with Travel Tech’s Innovation Advisory Council members,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of Travel Tech. “Their collective knowledge and expertise will supercharge Travel Tech’s efforts to support the next generation of travel innovators.”
Are you a travel tech start-up or small business? Click here to learn more and join Travel Tech’s 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, February 19, 2025 —Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, hosted a webinar for congressional staff members on how generative AI travel tools can improve the travel planning experience.
Panelists included Lara Tennyson, Head of US Federal Affairs at Bookings Holdings; Carroll Rheem, Founder and CEO of Iolite Group and member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Travel and Tourism Advisory Board; and Mayank Makkar, Founder of Rivi. The discussion was moderated by Travel Tech President and CEO Laura Chadwick.
The panelists discussed how various AI travel tools can be used to personalize destination recommendations and streamline the planning and booking process. The panelists also presented research on the use of generative AI in travel planning and activities, highlighting that a majority of consumers use AI for a variety of travel related activities: comparing and choosing destinations, researching flights, exploring short-term rental options, and more.
“We spend so much money and our precious time off, we want to make sure we’re going to have the best vacation possible,” said Carroll Rheem of Iolite Group. “AI can provide a great amount of comfort, especially knowing how much data and information it can pour through on your behalf to alleviate some of that feeling like shopping for travel can be a chore.”
The webinar also highlighted data from Travel Tech’s recent partnership with Capitol CNCT to explore the travel habits of congressional staff. The survey found that two-thirds of congressional staff take at least half of their paid time-off, and despite growing interest in AI, only 12.5% of congressional staff currently use AI tools to plan their vacations.
“Looking at some of the different Gen AI tools, one of the key benefits is time efficiency,” said Lara Tennyson of Booking Holdings on the benefits of using AI with travel. “You can use that AI chat planner to help you figure out where you’d like to travel and when you’d like to travel, and hopefully save yourself time and some of the work that you would have put in before having to go to various websites.”
“I believe AI is one of those technologies that will be integrated into almost every touch point in travel or any other industry,” said Mayank Makkar, Founder of Rivi. “So I feel for the next few years, you’re going to see that almost everything that we do, and not just in travel planning, but actually during the trip, going to an airport, or whatever touch points that we have in our overall travel journey, we’ll have AI making things simpler.”
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The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) is a non-profit empowering traveler choice by advocating for public policy that promotes transparency, competition and innovation. Travel Tech represents travel technology innovators ranging from dynamic startups, and 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.
Friday, February 7, 2025 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative emphasizing the impacts of Global Digital Services Taxes (DSTs) on travel technology companies and the travel industry at large.
Travel Tech’s letter urges the Trump Administration to leverage all available tools to counteract DSTs, which unfairly target travel tech companies utilizing “digital interfaces” such as online travel agencies (OTAs), short-term rental platforms, global distribution systems (GDSs), and travel management companies. This letter follows an earlier letter sent by Travel Tech to the former U.S. Trade Representative in response to Canada implementing the DST last year.
“Our members are at the forefront of digital innovation in travel, connecting consumers with travel service suppliers,” stated Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of Travel Tech. “The unequal impact of DSTs on travel marketplaces threatens to undermine transparency and distort competition in the travel industry, ultimately harming consumers.”
In its letter, Travel Tech highlights how DSTs disproportionately impact travel technology companies by taxing revenue rather than net income, disregarding differences in business models and cost structures. Travel Tech members typically operate on slim profit margins, facilitating transactions between service providers and consumers, as well as service provider-to-service provider or B2B transactions – without retaining the majority of revenue. This tax model risks pushing many companies from profitability into loss, undermining their ability to compete globally.
Travel Tech also highlights the risk of double taxation, where multiple jurisdictions impose taxes on the same revenue streams, creating confusion and inefficiency. Furthermore, the introduction of DSTs requires new tools and metrics to track and calculate taxes based on user location – information that may not be easily accessible for B2B travel technology providers and may conflict with existing data protection standards. This not only burdens the companies themselves but also trickles down to consumers, who face higher costs for travel services as companies attempt to absorb these taxes.
Read Travel Tech’s full letter here:
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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, May 28, 2025 — In just over a year, cities across the United States will welcome millions of fans, athletes, and tourists for one of the world’s largest sporting events—the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As the excitement builds, travel technology is set to play a critical role in shaping how visitors experience this global […]
