Many heroes, different journeys: Approaches to selling flights

Kiera Haining is the SVP of Travel at Hopper, a global travel platform that powers Hopper’s mobile app and HTS partners’ direct channels. As the SVP of Travel, she currently oversees all aspects of Hopper’s air and transportation business units. Kiera joined Hopper in 2018 to head up our data analytics team, later going on to lead Hopper’s air business unit at Hopper’s Head of Flights before stepping into her current role. 

Michael is a proven architect, designer, and leader with a 35-year track record of innovating for global airlines, hoteliers, vacation rental providers, global distribution systems, and travel management companies. His expertise spans eight startups, including WebVentures, Orbitz, G2 Switchworks, OptionsAway, and now as President and CEO of Traverse Technologies.  
 
He is known for his ability to collaborate across business and technology models and adapt legacy methodologies to current and emerging technologies (web3/5, ML/AI, blockchain, self-sovereign data, and spatial/XR computing) to optimize value. Michael is passionate about empowering and serving others and continuously innovating for customers-partners while never standing still or allowing complacency or perfection to get in the way of progress. Outside of work, Michael enjoys time with his family, running and biking, and taking his dog to the beach. 

Manish Nagpal is a prominent industry contributor and influencer, recognized as a leading voice in NDC and airline retailing.  

In his previous role at Accelya/Farelogix, he helped build the core NDC product, encompassing offer and order management. In his current role at Spotnana, Manish leads the engineering team, driving the development of a best-in-class flight booking experience and establishing deep direct integrations, including NDCs, with some of the world's top airlines. His focus is on solving long-standing industry challenges and revolutionizing the travel landscape through Spotnana's Travel as a Service platform.  

Throughout his career, Manish has excelled in various capacities, including overseeing technology, sales engineering, and product portfolios. His unwavering passion for bringing innovation to airline distribution remains at the forefront of his endeavors. 

Mitra Sorrells joined PhocusWire as a Senior Reporter in January 2018 and became Editor in Chief in May 2022. She has more than two decades of experience as a journalist for a variety of digital, print, and broadcast outlets and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mitra is based in Orlando and enjoys rowing, cooking, and playing with her dog.