Traveling Post-COVID: Adapting Strategies for a New Travel Economy

May 04 - 05, 2021 | 12:00pm ET

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The Event Destination For 
Digital Travel Leaders

The impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry was swift. But there are opportunities for travel and hospitality group leaders who can make sense of changes and innovate for a more resilient future. How will your business plan support business continuity and profitability as traveler expectations evolve? Join us for our virtual event and discover why your industry peers are hopeful about the future of travel.

Digital Travel features a series of 30-minute online fireside chats, case studies and panel discussions with the world’s biggest and most innovative companies in travel. We'll discuss the outlook for the travel industry, how to address travelers’ changing needs, preparing your team members for new customer conversations and much more!

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New Insights, Instant Takeaways


The Digital Travel Virtual Event is an online forum mirroring our in-person events. We’re bringing you exclusive knowledge from top-notch industry leaders at the touch of a button.

Here's what you get when you attend:

A Head Start Against Your Competition

Learn from multiple, live conversations so you gain unbiased perspectives on what's working right now, and will be in the future. Every single session is totally free. This is major value at zero cost.

Trusted Content For The Industry, By The Industry

Hear from your industry peers about their recent successes, as well as solution providers about the leading tools driving the industry forward. If you can't make all of the sessions, no biggie. Everyone registered gets a copy of the on-demand sessions.

Interact Live – Just Like At One Of Our Conferences

Live chat, virtual Q&A, and more encourage involvement (almost like our conferences). Ask questions, jot down notes, and get ready to implement takeaways.

Our Speakers

Debbie Johnsen

Debbie Johnsen

VP of Marketing

Eurocapital Properties, The Watergate Hotel

Philippe Garnier

Philippe Garnier

VP Omni-channel commerce

IHG Hotels & Resorts

Perrin Doniger

Perrin Doniger

Director, Digital Audience, Product & New Business Development

Smithsonian Magazine

Blessy Townes

Blessy Townes

Vice President & Head of Digital Marketing and Branding

Discovery Hospitality

Sarah Maner

Sarah Maner

Client Solutions Manager, Creative Ambassador

Facebook

Letizia Sirtori

Letizia Sirtori

Director of Tourism Sales

Destination DC

Tedd Evers

Tedd Evers

Founder & CEO

TripTuner

Amanda Johnson

Amanda Johnson

Director, Marketing Communications, Digital & Media

Herschend Enterprises

Marko Rulek

Marko Rulek

eCommerce Manager

Emerald Hospitality Associates

Marina Shumaieva

Marina Shumaieva

Co-founder & CTO

CruiseBe

Rachel Morowitz

Rachel Morowitz

Vice President, Alternative Forms of Payment

UATP

Mark Rademaker

Mark Rademaker

Global Head, Hospitality

Adyen

Chris Rand

Chris Rand

Virtual Event Producer & Research Manager

Digital Travel | WBR Insights

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Digital Travel Virtual Event Agenda

All Session times displayed in Eastern Time

Day One - Tuesday, May 4th, 2021: The New Travel Economy

  • 11:00 am - 11:45 am

    11:00 am - 11:45 am

    Potential topics include:


    1. Customer Engagement Strategies in the New Travel Economy
    2. New Best Practices for Brand Messaging
    3. Market Trends Every Travel Organization Needs to Know About

     

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  • 12:00 pm - 12:05 pm

    12:00 pm - 12:05 pm

    Chris Rand, Virtual Event Producer & Research Manager, Digital Travel | WBR Insights

  • 12:05 pm - 12:20 pm

    12:05 pm - 12:20 pm

  • 12:15 pm - 12:40 pm

    12:15 pm - 12:40 pm

    Letizia Sirtori, Director of Tourism Sales, Destination DC
    Amanda Johnson, Director, Marketing Communications, Digital & Media, Herschend Enterprises

    The perils of the industry in 2020 are now well understood. Nonetheless, leaders emerged to bring us insights about what will constitute business success in the years to come. This session identifies current market characteristics, as well as lessons for strategic success as the travel market continues to evolve.

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  • 12:40 pm - 1:00 pm

    12:40 pm - 1:00 pm

    Rachel Morowitz, Vice President, Alternative Forms of Payment, UATP

    As travel begins to return, it’s essential that travel merchants are ready to leverage payments and prepare for the post-COVID-19 rebound. Adopting payment-related best practices and offering AFPs as a form of payment, airlines can increase conversion and yield. This session explores how travel merchants can prepare for travel payments in a post-COVID era.

    •  Impact of COVID-19 on Payment Landscape
    • Alternative Forms of Payments Trends – Global and Regionally
    • Customer Demand of Digital-first Experience
    • Payment Best Practices for Travel Merchants


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  • 1:00 pm - 1:25 pm

    1:00 pm - 1:25 pm

    Philippe Garnier, VP Omni-channel commerce, IHG Hotels & Resorts
    Marina Shumaieva, Co-founder & CTO, CruiseBe

    Most travel organizations struggled to respond rapidly and decisively to changing market conditions in 2020. But new digital solutions that make operations more agile, streamline employee planning, and automate key aspects of the booking process can help organizations become more responsive in the years to come. This session explores opportunities in these areas.

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  • 1:25 pm - 1:45 pm

    1:25 pm - 1:45 pm

  • 1:45 pm - 2:10 pm

    1:45 pm - 2:10 pm

    Debbie Johnsen, VP of Marketing, Eurocapital Properties, The Watergate Hotel
    Letizia Sirtori, Director of Tourism Sales, Destination DC

    Travel brands must understand new customer mindsets and translate that into new brand strategies. This session explores how traveler expectations have evolved, how brands can understand those differences, and how they can become proactive in their brand strategies moving forward. 

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  • 2:10 pm - 2:30 pm

    2:10 pm - 2:30 pm

  • 2:30 pm - 2:55 pm

    2:30 pm - 2:55 pm

    Blessy Townes, Vice President & Head of Digital Marketing and Branding, Discovery Hospitality
    Philippe Garnier, VP Omni-channel commerce, IHG Hotels & Resorts
    Mark Rademaker, Global Head, Hospitality, Adyen

    The merging of business and leisure travel was a long-term trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic began. This session takes a fresh look at this continuing trend, with new strategies and perspectives based on the market impacts and changing expectations from 2020.

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  • 2:55 pm - 3:15 pm

    2:55 pm - 3:15 pm

  • 3:15 pm - 3:40 pm

    3:15 pm - 3:40 pm

    Tedd Evers, Founder & CEO, TripTuner
    Marko Rulek, eCommerce Manager, Emerald Hospitality Associates

    There has long been an impetus to connect with likely travelers early. As travel becomes more active in 2021, this need has only become stronger. This session explores how travel organizations can build stronger connections with likely travelers early by leveraging insights from data analytics. 

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  • 3:40 pm - 3:45 pm

    3:40 pm - 3:45 pm

    Chris Rand, Virtual Event Producer & Research Manager, Digital Travel | WBR Insights

Day Two - Wednesday, May 5th, 2021: Evolving Customer Engagement

  • 11:00 am - 11:45 am

    11:00 am - 11:45 am

    Potential topics include:


    1. Customer Engagement Strategies in the New Travel Economy
    2. New Best Practices for Brand Messaging
    3. Market Trends Every Travel Organization Needs to Know About


    Learn more

  • 12:00 pm - 12:05 pm

    12:00 pm - 12:05 pm

    Chris Rand, Virtual Event Producer & Research Manager, Digital Travel | WBR Insights

  • 12:15 pm - 12:40 pm

    12:15 pm - 12:40 pm

    Blessy Townes, Vice President & Head of Digital Marketing and Branding, Discovery Hospitality

    Urgent regulations and changes to customer expectations pushed travel brands to transform how they approach passenger safety, employee preparedness, and regional regulations. This session explores what operational safety standards will look like long-term, even as regulations subside. 

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  • 12:40 pm - 1:00 pm

    12:40 pm - 1:00 pm

  • 1:00 pm - 1:25 pm

    1:00 pm - 1:25 pm

    Sarah Maner, Client Solutions Manager, Creative Ambassador, Facebook

    Thanks in large part to the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers are spending even more time on digital as they connect remotely for both work and personal life. Consumers in these digital environments have high expectations yet limited attention spans, making it challenging for brands to breakthrough. In this discussion, Sarah Maner, a Client Solutions Manager and Creative Ambassador at Facebook, will explore creative as the most significant competitive advantage marketers will have given technology shifts like the move to machine learning, and evolving consumer behaviors and habits due to the pandemic.

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  • 1:25 pm - 1:45 pm

    1:25 pm - 1:45 pm

  • 1:45 pm - 2:10 pm

    1:45 pm - 2:10 pm

    Tedd Evers, Founder & CEO, TripTuner

    Travelers’ desire for personalization has been growing—but how have changes in the market impacted their expectations? This session explores how personalization has evolved, and how travel companies can act on traveler expectations successfully in the years to come.

    Learn more

  • 2:10 pm - 2:30 pm

    2:10 pm - 2:30 pm

  • 2:30 pm - 2:55 pm

    2:30 pm - 2:55 pm

    Amanda Johnson, Director, Marketing Communications, Digital & Media, Herschend Enterprises
    Perrin Doniger, Director, Digital Audience, Product & New Business Development, Smithsonian Magazine

    As customer expectations evolve, digital content and messaging strategies must evolve with them. This session explores how consumers are planning their trips differently, and what digital content and messaging strategies travel brands can use to engage them successfully in this new environment.

    Learn more

  • 2:55 pm - 3:00 pm

    2:55 pm - 3:00 pm

    Chris Rand, Virtual Event Producer & Research Manager, Digital Travel | WBR Insights

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All of the Major Players in One Place

Digital Travel Virtual Event

Word on the Street

THE BEST
"This was one of the best and most informative travel conferences that I have attended."

Gene Such
Director of Revenue Strategy and Analysis
MWAA





RE-ENERGIZING
"I’m bringing tons of new ideas back to the office – thanks Digital Travel Summit for re-energizing my team!"

Diane Koczur
Digital Marketing Manager
Evans Hotels




TIMELY
"The conference was fantastic! We really enjoyed all of the content; the team does such an amazing job of providing relevant, interesting content."

Samantha Hunt
Senior Digital Marketing Manager
Collette




The Digital Travel Community

The Digital Travel community is filled with companies from around the world, both big and small, who are looking to design world-class brands that deliver on customer expectations. 

Let’s Connect & Create A Custom Experience

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Hi, I'm Harvey, the Sponsorship Director for Digital Travel Virtual Event. Reach out by clicking the button below and I’ll be in touch within 24 hours. Looking forward to connecting!

Our Sponsors:

Adyen Airkit Braze UATP

How Our Virtual Events Work

Participating in a virtual event is easy. Once you and your team register, each of you will receive a link to access the presentations. You can also add the event to your Outlook or other calendar as a reminder. You do not need to download or install any software to participate. All you need is Internet access. The sessions will be recorded, and will be available for a limited time afterwards. It’s going to be a great event!

This event is exclusively for travel executives. Solution providers to these organizations and others will not be allowed to attend. Please register with your full company name and your corporate email address or you risk not gaining admittance. WBR reserves the right to not admit registrants based on company type.

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