The FutureTravel Summit 2024 has wrapped up, leaving us inspired and excited about what’s next for travel. Hosted in Barcelona at the iconic Palo Alto (a very chaming repurposed factory surrounded by greenery), the venue reflected very well our commitment to rethinking what’s possible and embracing fresh perspectives in the travel industry.
On stage, we saw great keynote speeches, engaging panel discussions, and an amazing pitch competition featuring top travel startups from around the globe. The goal was to bring together brilliant minds driving innovation in travel – and we’re proud of what we delivered. Beyond the stage, the gardens and open spaces came alive with conversations, insights and new connections, creating the perfect blend of inspiration and networking opportunities.
A big thank you to our sponsors, media partners, and partners. Your support helped make this year’s event unique – whether through thoughtful contributions, engaging activities, or simply being part of this journey.
Highlighting future industry leaders
In addition to highlighting the groundbreaking innovations and trends shaping the future of the travel industry, we also showcased emerging talents and entrepreneurs driving the sector forward. One of the event’s key moments was the Pitch Competition, where 8 finalists (selected from over 260 applicants) presented their exciting business ideas on stage.
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for – the winner of the FutureTravel Summit Pitch Competition 2024 is… Belli!
Crowned as this year’s pitch competition winner and scoring an impressive grand prize, Belli is transforming how airlines manage air cargo operations. You can read more about it here.
Belli’s victory comes with an exceptional prize package worth €330k, which includes: Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, including 1 year of free Google Workspace for new signups in the Startup Program; €9.9k in credits for an explainer video maker account of simpleshow; €2.2k in 1 year Guru Plan for SEMrush which gives access to their SEO and online visibility management SaaS platform; €2k worth Exhibition Booth at the EU-Startups Summit 2025 including 3 event tickets; and a mention in the FutureTravel Newsletter and dedicated features on EU-Startups.com, amplifying the winner’s visibility across key industry audiences.
Thank you to our sponsors
The FutureTravel Summit was possible thanks to the support of our amazing sponsors:
Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. With their proprietary infrastructure, Airwallex takes the friction out of global payments and financial operations, empowering businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities and grow beyond borders. Proudly founded in Melbourne, Airwallex supports over 100,000 businesses globally and is trusted by brands such as Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more.
Travel powers progress. Amadeus powers travel. Amadeus’ solutions connect travelers to the journeys they want through travel agents, search engines, tour operators, airlines, airports, hotels, cars and railways. Amadeus helps connect over 1.6 billion people a year to local travel providers in over 190 countries. They are a company with a global mindset and a local presence wherever their customers need them. Their purpose is to shape the future of travel. They are passionate in their pursuit of better technology that makes better journeys.
Emburse provides innovative travel and expense management solutions trusted by over 12 million professionals worldwide. Serving 20,000 organizations in 120 countries, we help Global 2000 companies, SMBs, public agencies, and nonprofits streamline travel planning, booking, and expense management. Our automated, mobile-first solutions eliminate manual processes, saving time, enhancing financial visibility, and improving spend control and compliance. This enables organizations to optimize business travel, empowering their teams to focus on delivering meaningful value.
Scalapay is revolutionizing the travel industry with its innovative Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions. As a leading player in Southern Europe, Scalapay empowers travelers to book experiences, trips, and accommodations with flexible payment options, driving higher conversion rates for travel brands. Their seamless integration allows partners to offer a stress-free way for customers to enjoy travel today and pay over time, enhancing both customer satisfaction and business growth. Scalapay’s community of 7 millions users is a precious opportunity for every travel company to meet their target audiences!
Check out the photos from the event – maybe you’ll spot yourself! Enjoy, and we can’t wait to see you next year!
