Thursday, November 16th, 2023 — The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), the voice of the travel technology industry and advocate for public policy that supports a competitive and transparent marketplace, led an interactive panel discussion focused on “Responsible AI: Is Regulation the Answer and How Far Should It Go?” at the recent Phocuswright Conference held in Hollywood, FL.
Robert Cole, CEO, RockCheetah, Sundar Narasimhan, SVP, President of Sabre Labs & Product Strategy, Sabre, and Lara Tennyson, Head of US Federal Affairs, Booking Holdings joined Laura Chadwick, President & CEO of Travel Tech on the panel.
“Since the debut of ChatGPT over a year ago, policymakers in Washington, DC have grappled with what, if anything, government should do to regulate the use of AI, which will undoubtedly impact both large and small travel tech companies,” said Chadwick. The innovative travel technology industry has long employed AI and machine learning to support and streamline their companies’ or clients’ business functions. Recently, industry members have developed and debuted new tools to empower traveler choice.
Panelists and audience members at the Phocuswright session shared their concerns about the consequences of overregulation and how important it is to have travel innovators as part of the policymaking process. They also agreed that the travel tech industry should come together to promote the responsible use of AI in travel.
“We heard important feedback at this session to guide Travel Tech’s advocacy with members of Congress and the Biden Administration,” said Chadwick. “This is the essence of the work we do at Travel Tech to support the industry on this topic and many others. I strongly encourage others to reach out to the association and share their points of view.”
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.
