TIS – TOURISM INNOVATION SUMMIT to Be Held from October 23 to 25

TIS – Tourism Innovation Summit is the global summit on innovation and technology for the tourism industry, which will be held in Seville, Spain, from October 23 to 25, 2024.

Under the theme 'Elevating travel industry with tech', TIS2024 will showcase the most innovative solutions and successful cases of technology applications that are helping the sector better understand new traveler demands and offer unique and personalized experiences to the more than 7,000 executives and professionals from the tourism industry attending.

Over three days, more than 200 exhibiting companies will present the latest technologies in artificial intelligence, Business Intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, connectivity, 5G, and augmented or virtual reality, among others, as well as solutions that help measure environmental impact, become more sustainable, inclusive, and improve accessibility.

According to Silvia Avilés, director of TIS, "Seville will once again become the world capital of tourism innovation. This upcoming edition will be a driving force to provide tools that help us improve our processes, face current management and promotion challenges, and share success stories and practical initiatives of innovation and sustainability in the tourism industry, with a common thread of technology as a facilitating lever."

More than 400 international speakers at the Tourism Innovation Global Summit

TIS2024 will once again host the Tourism Innovation Global Summit, which will bring together over 400 experts and tourism industry leaders from around the world to share their vision, success stories, and trends across more than 180 sessions. Key leaders include Boon Sian Chai (Trip.com), Eduardo Santander (European Travel Commission), Julia Simpson (WTTC), Inge Huijbrechts (Radisson Hotel Group), Thijs Koster (City of Amsterdam), Julie Gregorie (MSC Cruises), Carlos Miró (Hilton Hotels), Felipe De Almeida (LATAM Airlines), Mike Brauner (TUI), Mercedes Sánchez (TripAdvisor), and Lina Vélez (Iryo), among many others.

New this year, TIS2024 will host the Forum of Innovative Tourism Regions of Spain, which will feature a significant number of Tourism Ministers and General Directors from the Spanish Autonomous Communities to analyze the challenges faced by tourist destinations, such as seasonality, flow management, or new value propositions to attract long-haul travelers.

The conference will also feature eight vertical forums dedicated to different segments of the tourism industry: Destinations, Hospitality, Travel Agencies, Tour Operators, Business Travel, MICE, Transport, Activities, and Culture & Leisure. Additionally, there will be specific content agendas for industry professionals (CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, CXOs, DMOs, CMOs, CSOs, and CHROs). According to Ángeles Moreno, Congress Curator of the event, "TIS2024 will once again offer a comprehensive view of the sector and its trends, challenges, and future strategies, consolidating it as a must-attend event for all industry players."

China, Guest Country 2024

After Portugal, France, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, this year China will be the Guest Country at TIS2024, to discover and understand Chinese tourists, how Asian markets operate, and learn from them. China is one of the largest and most dynamic tourism markets in the world, both in terms of outbound and inbound travelers. Moreover, its commitment to technological innovation in tourism, with the use of AI, big data, and digital platforms, is shaping the industry globally.

For Europe, and Seville in particular, collaborating with China within the framework of TIS opens the door to new business and investment opportunities, allowing companies to access a market with enormous growth potential. Meanwhile, Chinese companies can benefit from European expertise in key areas such as sustainability, destination management, and digitalization.

TIS2024 will facilitate this exchange through roundtables, networking, and specific presentations where companies from both continents can interact and explore synergies. TIS2024 will feature experts like Boon Sian Chai, Managing Director and Vice President of TRIP.com, as one of the top speakers. There will also be sessions dedicated to understanding the nuances of the Asian market, such as adapting products and services to meet the needs of Chinese travelers, innovative marketing strategies, regulations European companies should consider when entering this market, and how to communicate across different channels and with various traveler profiles.

Networking Activities

TIS2024 will also offer several networking activities to foster synergy creation and knowledge transfer. The Leadership Summit, a luncheon with industry leaders to establish collaborations; the Tourism Innovation Awards 2024, which will recognize organizations leading the way in digitalization and sustainability in tourism; and the Touristech Startup Fest, which will allow emerging talents to present their projects to investors and leading companies.