We’re excited to welcome Noam Toister, Co-Founder and CEO of Travelier, to the FutureTravel Summit 2025. Noam founded Travelier in 2017 after a frustrating travel experience on his honeymoon, and has since built it into one of the most ambitious companies tackling land and sea transportation. With a focus on simplifying and digitizing the $198B […]
Category: Insights
These are the 10 finalists of the 2025 FutureTravel Pitch Competition
The FutureTravel Summit is back to Barcelona on October 30th, and this year we’ll be gathering at the beautiful Antigua Fábrica Estrella Damm – a former brewery turned into one of the city’s most vibrant cultural venues. On top of the speaker sessions, there’s one moment that always brings the energy: our startup pitch competition. 10 early-stage travel startups take the stage. […]
FutureTravel Summit Speaker: Jeff Kim, CEO of Yanolja Cloud & Group CSO 
We’re excited to welcome Jeff Kim, CEO of Yanolja Cloud and Chief Strategy Officer of Yanolja Group, to the FutureTravel Summit on October 30. Since joining Yanolja in 2015, Jeff has played a central role in its transformation into a global travel tech company – one that’s quietly redefining how infrastructure in hospitality, leisure, and […]
Conscious travelers get the best of the city
What happens when conscious travel is rewarded in real time Copenhagen’s CopenPay program might be one of the clearest examples yet of how destinations can rewire tourism behavior without alienating visitors. The premise is simple: tourists who make low-impact choices (like cycling, taking public transport, or staying in eco-certified accommodations) earn points. Those points can […]
Zara just showed up for travelers
Zara quietly launched Travel Mode: curated city guides plus a “ship-to-hotel” checkout option for travelers. It’s already live in Italy, the UK, and Japan, with Spain, France, and Turkey next. And right in time for peak season. Zara. Yes, the Spanish fashion giant. The retail machine operating in more than 90 countries. Not exactly who […]
20 Years of Travel Tech and What Comes Next
written by Jeff Kim 20 years ago, Sujin Lee worked as a janitor at a motel in South Korea. It was through this experience, witnessing firsthand the inefficiencies in the travel and hospitality industry, that he was inspired to create something different. With a vision for change and just two desks and two computers in […]
Pitch Competition Applications Now Open for the FutureTravel Summit 2025
We’re officially opening the call for startups: the FutureTravel Summit Pitch Competition is back. On October 30th, Barcelona will once again host the FutureTravel Summit: a global gathering of over 450 travel innovators, startup founders, corporate executives, and investors. Set in one of Europe’s most iconic travel hubs, the summit brings together forward-thinking minds shaping […]
Designed for tourists, showing up for locals
What happens when a travel platform partners with the people most affected by tourism? Barcelona’s Las Ramblas needs no introduction. For years, it has symbolized both the success and the strain of European tourism. A postcard-perfect promenade that became overcrowded, overpriced, loud, and, for many locals, unlivable. So when GetYourGuide, one of the world’s largest […]
10 Female Founded Startups to Watch
A sparkle of innovation usually starts with someone asking, What if we did this differently? These 10 female founders and co-founders are doing exactly that. At FutureTravel, we focus on what’s next: the ideas, businesses, and people shaping the industry’s direction. For International Women’s Day, we’re give the spotlight to women whose work deserves attention. […]
Top 100 Women Leaders & Innovators in Travel
Every day, women are making travel better. They lead teams, design strategies, and shape innovation forward. Their work deserves to be seen and celebrated. This list brings together the Top 100 Women Leaders & Innovators in Travel making an impact around the world. It’s not about titles or awards, just the people doing great work […]
5 ways to keep travel costs in check
Managing corporate travel isn’t just about getting from point A to B – it’s about balancing cost efficiency, policy compliance, and traveler satisfaction, all while keeping up with an industry that’s rapidly evolving. Travel budgets are under a microscope, and companies need to make every dollar count. The right tools help manage costs, keep things […]
Trust issues
At FutureTravel, we’re always thinking about how industries (and society) shape the way we travel. And yes, you’ve heard it before: AI is transforming travel. Better photos, more data, endless recommendations. But here’s the catch: When everything looks perfect, how do we know what’s real? Will we be able to recognise the small imperfections and […]
Travel is the new love language
Alright, it’s official: Valentine’s Day isn’t just about chocolates and candlelit dinners anymore. Especially not for travel. People are looking for new ways to mark the occasion: whether it’s a romantic escape, a solo self-care retreat, or a group celebration. And they’re willing to spend. In 2024, searches for Valentine’s travel jumped by 15% compared […]
Japan’s Journey to Redefine Tourism
Japan has always been a land of contrasts, where ancient temples stand next to neon-lit arcades and centuries-old traditions blend with cutting-edge innovation. Today, two powerful forces are shaping its future: a booming tourism sector and a bold revival of its semiconductor industry. It is a unique combination of challenges and opportunities, inviting creativity and […]
5 Ways Fintech is Solving Travel’s Innovation Paradox
“We went to space in 1968, and it wasn’t until 1972 that we put wheels on luggage.” This quote from Sofoklis Limniotis (HBX Group), shared during a panel discussion at the FutureTravel Summit, perfectly captures the paradox of innovation: sometimes the solutions we need are right in front of us, but it takes a shift […]
Travel 2025: What Trends Are Coming?
Travel is changing. AI is making trip planning smarter, sustainable travel is picking up, and people are seeking more personal, meaningful experiences – at every step of their journey, from inspiration to the trip itself. 2025 will keep these trends moving forward. To close this year, we asked travel leaders what they’re most excited about […]