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:
Cara Whitehill, Vice President, Thayer Investment Partners
Kerri Zeil, Startup Advisor at Growth Advisors International Network (GAIN)
Matt Zito, Managing Partner, TSi
Miriam Moscovici, Vice President Partnerships & Research, BCD Travel
Roman Townsend, Managing Director, Belvera Partners
Steve Reynolds, Chief Strategy Officer, Emburse
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.
###
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.”
###
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.
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 29, 2025 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, welcomed three new start-ups to its recently expanded Advocate Membership program: Mobi, Snowflake, and Hightouch.
Mobi, Snowflake, and Hightouch are part of the newest generation of travel technology innovators. They harness the power of AI and other advanced technologies to support travel service providers and their customers.
“At Travel Tech, we are committed to supporting the newest generation of travel technology leaders,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association. “Our Advocate membership program provides start-ups and SMBs with the resources, connections, and advocacy they need to thrive. We’re thrilled to welcome Mobi, Snowflake, and Hightouch to our growing community and assist them as they shape the future of travel technology.”
Travel Tech’s expanded Advocate membership program offers direct and comprehensive support to the next generation of travel tech innovators. Benefits include monthly educational webinars led by travel tech industry experts, opportunities to network with and connect to other travel tech start-ups and SMBs, a subscription to Travel Tech’s monthly Innovation Policy Newsletter, and participation in Travel Tech events.
Interested in joining the growing Travel Tech community? Click here to learn more.
###
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.
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
11:00 – 11:05 AM: Introductions
11:05 – 11:30: Matt Zito Presentation: Top 2025 New Year’s Resolutions for Travel Tech Start-Ups and SMBs
11:30 – 11:50: Community Discussion: We’ll Kickoff with Your Resolutions and See Where the Conversation Takes us!
11:50 AM – 12:00 PM: Public Policy Update
“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.”
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 22, 2025 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (“Travel Tech”) announced its pro-innovation public policy priorities to support the growth and success of travel tech start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). As the travel technology industry’s voice in Washington, DC, Travel Tech will advocate for the passage of legislation that allows travel tech start-ups and SMBs to retain more of their earnings, have greater access to capital, and compete in the A.I. marketplace.
Laura Chadwick, Travel Tech’s president & CEO, stated, “With the inauguration of President Trump earlier this week and the start of a new Congress, Travel Tech is well-positioned to deliver public policy results that directly help the newest generation of travel tech innovators thrive.”
Travel Tech has recently announced an expansion of its Advocate membership benefits focused on start-ups and SMBs. It now provides access to practical business advice programming and opportunities to build community with other leaders and get involved with the association’s advocacy efforts, and more. Next week, Travel Tech’s monthly Advocate Member Meet-Up will feature Matt Zito, Managing Partner at TSi for programming on the “Top New Year Resolutions for Travel Tech Start-Ups.” Travel tech companies are invited to participate in this meeting for free: Register Here.
Travel Tech’s Pro-Innovation Public Policy Priorities to Support Travel Tech Start-Ups and SMBs
Priority One:
Support an extension of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions that allow travel tech start-ups and SMBs to retain more of their earnings, which can then be reinvested into companies’ expansion, product development, hiring, or other key initiatives.
In 2025, President Trump and congressional leaders plan to use the reconciliation process to extend many parts of the TCJA. Travel Tech supports the following provisions:
Qualified Business Income Deduction: Allows pass-through entities to deduct up to 20% of taxable income.
Bonus Depreciation: Enables immediate expensing of capital investments, allowing startups to reinvest quickly.
R&D Expensing: Permits the immediate deductibility of R&D expenses, replacing current law requiring a 5-year amortization
Priority Two:
Advocate for legislation that expands travel tech innovators’ access to capital, simplifies federal programs, and protects key pathways for startup and SMB growth, such as:
Expanding Investor Access: Reduce barriers to funding and create new opportunities to secure essential resources for growth.
Federal Support: Simplify and modernize the federal grant and loan programs to make them more accessible to startups.
M&A Pathways: Protecting mergers and acquisitions as viable exit strategies is critical for fostering innovation and market competition.
Priority Three:
Urge the adoption of policies that empower travel tech startups to innovate, compete, and thrive in the A.I. marketplace.
One national standard: Avoid a patchwork of state laws regulating the use of A.I., which will only hinder.
Pro-Competition Policies: A.I. regulations must be balanced, mitigating risks while supporting innovation and fair competition.
Innovation Safeguards: Preserve IP frameworks and liability protections to foster A.I. R&D and reduce legal barriers.
###
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.
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.
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:
Monthly educational webinars, led by travel tech industry experts, on topics such as funding, business development, media strategy, and more.
Monthly “Community Calls” and online membership platform to bring together travel tech start-ups and SMBs for networking and connecting.
Subscription to Travel Tech’s monthly Innovation Policy Newsletter and opportunities to advocate for pro-travel technology policy issues, like access to capital, tax reform, and others.
“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.
###
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 Techmember 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.”
###
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.”
###
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.
Travel Tech’s Bethany Reitsma Participates in the Young Leaders Summit at The Phocuswright Conference
Monday, September 8, 2025 — Today, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), a non-profit dedicated to promoting and protecting the travel technology industry, submitted comments in response to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) request for information (RFI) on its FY 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. Travel Tech’s comments encourage the DOT to adopt strategies to increase competition […]
