TravelTech Show data reveals cost and time taken to implement new solutions are biggest challenges for travel technology buyers

Resources required to implement new technology platforms and maintaining customer satisfaction rank highest as challenges for the year ahead. 

• The Gadget Show’s Jason Bradbury and Google’s Susie Vowinkel confirmed as keynote speakers for 2024 edition of TravelTech Show
• Visitor registration is now openahead of the show taking place 19-20 June 2024 at ExCeL London

With just one month to go until TravelTech Show opens its doors on 19 June, organisers of this year’s show have released further findings from its research, highlighting the challenges felt by buyers.

Over a third (34 per cent) stated that both implementation time for new solutions or platforms and balancing budgets in line with the cost of new technology, are their biggest challenges over the next 12 months. These were closely followed by 29 per cent who stated that for them the biggest challenges were customer retention and improving the customer experience.

The news comes as TravelTech Show also announces further details on speakers and content for this year’s revitalised programme which includes more opportunities to learn about the latest trends and developments across the sector, gain valuable insight and advice from expert speakers and meet the newest suppliers and solutions.

The keynote speakers for 2024 are Jason Bradbury, former host of The Gadget Show opening the show on 19 June with his take on where AI will take us in the next decade, and Susie Vowinkel, managing director of travel for Google, who will be sharing the latest insights on travel from the search engine giant to kick off day two on 20 June.

In addition to the keynote speeches, this year’s show sees the return of the Expert Advice Hub, which will enable buyers to pre-book appointments with an industry expert and gain invaluable advice on topics including marketing and sales strategy, winning and keeping news customers funding strategies and emerging tech, to name just a few.

Ahead of the show, visitors are also encouraged to cast their vote for the winner of this year’s Trailblazer Awards. Pitches from all 10 finalists are available to view now on the TravelTech Show website, where visitors can also vote ahead of the closing date of 31^st May. Each finalist is under 40 months old and will also take part in a Trailblazer Panel at the show to present their solution and showcase how their technology is working to transform the travel industry, before the winner is announced on 20 June.

Commenting on the latest results of the survey and the programme for this year’s show, Nimet Sayeed, Event Manager, TravelTech Show said, “The pace of travel technology development, whilst exciting, can present challenges for travel companies and buyers if not effectively planned and managed. Any significant change in operating systems requires time and money as well as the right and best-fit implementation with existing solutions, which can seem a daunting prospect. Reassuringly the wealth of solutions and integrations available to streamline both operations and the customer journey mean it doesn’t have to be.

“Likewise, the ever-increasing advance of online adoption means operators are in a better qualified position than ever before to understand and engage with customers to ensure that not only are they enhancing the customer experience, but also critically, retaining them to secure sustainable profitability.

“In building the programme for this year’s TravelTech Show we have worked to ensure that not only do we have market leading experts available to listen to across the panel and speaker sessions, but there are a number of ways for buyers and suppliers to meet and engage face to face to learn more about the answers available to the challenges of implementation, cost, customer management and more.”

100 travel and travel technology company representatives took part in the survey in April 2024.

TravelTech Show takes place from 19 – 20 June 2024 at ExCeL, London.

Please note: TravelTech Show is free to attend for travel technology specialists involved in or responsible for the technology within their travel business and consultants who help travel businesses select technology solutions. Suppliers must purchase a visitor pass if they wish to attend. TravelTech Show has the final right to accept or deny any registration.”