- Chidozie Uzoezie
Biometrics and Blockchain to Dominate Discussions at ITB Asia

This year, ITB Asia will focus on the interdependence of travel and technology this year, under the overarching conference theme of “Travel Reimagined”. Key leaders in travel and tech will provide profound insights on the major trends provoking disruption across the travel industry whilst analysing how companies are innovating to stay ahead. Speakers from leading tech firms will demonstrate how emerging and innovative tech can offer meaningful connections between travel brands and customers for true ROI. At ITB Asia 2018, delegates will gain insights into what the future holds for the leisure, the MICE and corporate travel sectors and the industry’s biggest challenges that can effectively be resolved through new tech. Top technology and travel companies across the globe, including Booking.com, Egencia, Fliggy, Hotelbeds Group, KAYAK, Microsoft, Sabre, SITA, Skyscanner, Tencent, Travelport and Tujia will be joining the show to discuss which technologies will truly transform travel. The show’s agenda will be dominated by discussions from AI to virtual reality (VR), biometrics, blockchain and robotics utilising case study examples and practical application in travel management, business travel, hotel operations, travel photography, and dining experience etc. Launching the new MICE Tech Showcase, the conference will feature innovations that will help solve today’s complex issues in the MICE industry. This year, ITB Asia is joining hands with Asian Development Bank with the Mekong Innovative Start-up Tourism (MIST), Innovel Travel Tech, Skift and Troovo as the representative. Skift will be hosting a session at the Knowledge Theatre on ‘Post Experience Economy: Innovators At The Edge of Travel’. This new term, the ‘Post Experience Economy’ will look at the travel economy where everyone is already marketing experiences and smart innovators are thinking about the post-experience economy. As a partner at the MICE & Corporate Hub, Troovo, a leading Robotic Process Automation solutions provider, will join ITB Asia to tackle the positive impact of virtualisation and robotics for the travel industry. ITB Asia is Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show. The 2018 edition will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from 17 - 19 October 2018. The annual three-day B2B trade show and convention will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. For more information on ITB Asia 2018, visit www.itb-asia.com.