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.
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.
January 30, 2025 – Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of the Travel Technology Association, released the following statement in support of Michael Kratsios’ nomination to be the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy:
“Travel Tech joined with other tech leaders and organizations on a letter urging the Senate to confirm Michael Kratsios as director of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.”
“Throughout his career, Michael Kratsios has championed innovation, fostered emerging technologies, and advanced policies that empower start-ups and entrepreneurs. His leadership in AI technologies and other critical sectors has helped build a regulatory environment where innovation thrives.”
“We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm his nomination and look forward to working together to promote innovation and ensure a fair and dynamic marketplace in the travel technology ecosystem.”
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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, 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.
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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.
Tuesday, January 7, 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, filed comments in response to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) joint request for information (RFI) on Competition in Air Transportation.
In its comments, Travel Tech details how the services its members and other intermediaries provide are essential to promoting airline price competition to benefit consumers. It also discusses current airline practices and policies about what pricing information can or cannot be conveyed to intermediaries, undermining price transparency. Travel Tech calls on the DOT and DOJ to address practices in the industry that result in a distorted marketplace.
“Ensuring transparency and competition in the travel industry is essential for empowering consumer choice and maintaining a fair marketplace,” said Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of Travel Tech. “Travel Tech encourages DOT and DOJ to maintain and enhance measures that support transparency across all sales channels to ensure consumers have access to full information about fare options and services.”
Travel Tech’s comments also address the impact of airline consolidation over the last two decades, which has resulted in far fewer airline choices in smaller cities. With no alternatives, the single airline is free to charge consumers more for the price of a ticket on a specific route while also negating the need for price comparison tools.
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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.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), the voice of the travel technology industry advocating for public policy that empowers consumer choice through marketplace transparency and competition, has hired Brandon Palumbo as its new Director of Policy and Government Relations. In this role, Palumbo will support the association’s work with the federal government.
Palumbo joins Travel Tech from Michael Best Strategies, where he worked on government relations, policy research and legislative affairs. Prior to his work at Michael Best Strategies, he served as a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) and previously for U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA).
“I am pleased to welcome Brandon to the Travel Tech Association,” said Laura Chadwick, President and CEO of Travel Tech. “Brandon will bring a depth of experience, passion for policy expertise, and understanding of tech policy issues impacting traveler choice to the role.”
“I’m excited to join Travel Tech to support its mission of empowering traveler choice,” said Brandon Palumbo. “I’m looking forward to applying my eight years of experience on and off Capitol Hill to support both policymakers and 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.
On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) hosted grassroots advocacy expert Amy Showalter to explain how travel tech industry members can reach policymakers and advocate for public policies to support their companies and the industry as a whole.
As discussed in the webinar, all companies – both large and small – can champion priorities and support Travel Tech’s efforts to ensure legislation and policies support our industry.
Below are the top five key takeaways from Showalter’s presentation:
Policymakers want and need to hear from experts who have information earned through on-the-ground experience. Travel tech industry members know their business better than elected officials and should use that knowledge to their advantage.
“There is a need for people like travel tech industry members doing the hard work, knowing what it is like to live these regulations and legislation on a day-to-day basis,” said Showalter. “The need for you to communicate the reality of that to legislators is important so they, number one, understand it and number two, can eventually support you.”
Legislators can’t take into account your company’s point of view of pending public policies unless you – or your trade association – are interacting with them. To legislators, “no news” means “good news”; they will assume everything is working well in the travel tech industry. If you don’t engage with policymakers, there won’t be any movement on the issues the industry is collectively championing.
Lawmakers are reactive by nature, and who they see is who they remember. If there is a serious problem, you don’t want that to be the first time they’re interacting with you and the organization you represent. It’s important to proactively develop relationships with lawmakers and their staff.
“Provide consistently reliable information,” said Showalter when discussing the most effective lobbying activities that shape congressional members’ and staff decisions. “You don’t always have to say what they want to hear, but back it up with evidence and data. Be consistent. Be reliable. Be somebody they can count on.”
Humans understand stories, and there are scientific reasons that stories resonate. When advocating for your business in front of policymakers, think about your story.
“Is there a personal angle to this legislation that you can communicate? Lawmakers remember and want good stories,” Showalter said.
Companies are the travel tech industry’s best advocates, and the Travel Technology Association supports its member companies’ engagement with policymakers. Travel Tech’s new Advocate membership has several benefits, including education, public policy intelligence sharing, newsletter access, and the ability to promote company services and products in front of policymakers, including an upcoming Capitol Hill event in May.
For more information or questions about member benefits, visit our Join Us page.
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 […]
