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 Tripshepherd 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.
