Elevate + TravelConnect 2024 recap: Where collaboration and innovation inspired the whole story
The whole story unfolded in the bustling halls of the historic Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. From April 9 to 11, 2024, two of the travel industry’s biggest events, ATPCO’s Elevate and Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)’s TravelConnect, came together to drive positive change in the industry.
Elevate + TravelConnect 2024 was more than just a conference. It was an industry-defining convergence of innovation, expertise, and transformation. With a shared goal of redefining the future of travel, more than 700 attendees immersed themselves in insightful discussions and meaningful networking.
An unforgettable lineup of speakers and panelists
What set Elevate + TravelConnect 2024 apart was its impressive lineup of over 90 speakers and an audience primed to explore the travel ecosystem. With each keynote address, panel discussion, and breakout session, we leaned into narratives, trends and strategies shaping the airline industry.
Main stage programming kicked off with Blue Origin’s Kiah Erlich talking about the future of launching commercial space missions and trips to the moon. Also, with a focus on the future, JetBlue Ventures' Amy Burr and later a panel of experts covered AI-driven innovators in airline distribution, revenue, and operations.
Wayne Best, Visa’s chief economist, shared his outlook on the global economy and its impact on the travel industry. We also heard from Vasu Raja, American Airlines’ chief commercial officer, who shared his perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
Attendees learned about real-world new distribution capability (NDC) opportunities from Delta Air Lines’ Sara Reid and AmTrav’s Jeff Klee in a session moderated by Jay Boehmer, editor-in-chief at The Beat. We explored the industry’s evolution from dynamically created offers to future innovations, moderated by Richard Clarke, T2RL’s CEO and founder. We covered ways in which hotels, casinos, and airlines can learn from each other's strategies to create holistic offers, as well as ways different types of travel agencies and travel sellers can prepare for the future.
If you didn’t get change to catch these sessions, we’ll be posting select video recordings in the months to come – sign up to be notified when they’re available.
Herstory Specialty Lunch
On April 10, the Herstory: Women in Aviation+ specialty lunch brought together women and allies to address the need to support, advocate, and empower women in the aviation industry. The audience had the opportunity to hear from a panel of accomplished leaders from ATPCO, Third Segment, United Airlines, and Venari Partners. Through this conversation, attendees gained valuable perspectives and were encouraged to pursue their aspirations and allyship in the aviation field.
Meaningful breakout sessions
April 11 kicked off with presentations from ZS Associates’ Kunal Shah on how NDC is laying the foundation for a future with personalized offers and ATPCO’s Alex Zoghlin and Tom Gregorson giving an update on the state of dynamic offers.
The conference then offered over 25 breakout sessions divided into five tracks covering distribution and data, creating and distributing offers, presenting offers, payments, and adapting for the future.
The tracks examined how offers are evolving, from traditional methods to innovative new approaches, and they discussed the role of data and AI in airline strategies and fraud prevention. Small groups discussed how to help empower TMCs to embrace NDC and drive industry-wide advancement. Sessions explored the evolving landscape of corporate travel programs and the crucial role of data management in ensuring their success.
ARC shared how its data platform can be used to leverage airline insights, driving more informed commercial outcomes. Panelists from ATPCO presented insights on the latest offer transparency and the industry’s best-kept merchandising tactics.
And the conversations didn't stop there.
Sustainability in travel was a hot topic, with a discussion on how industry members can communicate aviation sustainability options to customers.
Traverse Technologies and their partners provided valuable guidance on enhancing content and transitioning towards direct relationships. The session on 3Victors highlighted the industry's cutting-edge approach to real-time decision-making.
The Payments Forum explored ways to collaborate to improve payment processes and enhance the customer experience while minimizing risks.
Sponsors
Elevate + TravelConnect offered insights into the unfolding industry story as we plot a course presently and into the future. None of this would be possible without the event’s generous sponsors — a sincere thank you to each of them for their contributions to make the conference a success.
The pulse of the industry
Elevate + TravelConnect wasn't just about learning; it was about creating connections and sparking meaningful conversations that will continue even after the conference. It was a celebration of innovation and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead in the world of travel. When we look toward the future, one thing is certain: the story has only just begun.
Follow the conference hashtags on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook for additional event highlights, photos, and videos: #ETC24 #ElevateTravelConnect2024.
Don't forget to sign up to be notified as soon as select Elevate + TravelConnect sessions are available on demand.