Spread the love

Post Views: 53

In an industry not known for launching events on a whim, Phocuswright has made a deliberate and telling move. Come March 24, 2026, New York City will host the inaugural Travel Marketing AI Summit, a tightly focused, one-day executive forum aimed squarely at the people now carrying the heaviest responsibility in travel: senior marketing and technology leaders charged with turning artificial intelligence from promise into performance.

This is not another sprawling trade show or a greatest-hits remix of the annual Phocuswright Conference. It is, by design, smaller, sharper and far more consequential. Hosted at Convene 237 Park in Manhattan, the Summit reflects Phocuswright’s clear view that the market has shifted decisively and that leadership conversations about AI have matured beyond pilots, proofs of concept, and polite optimism.

“As AI rapidly reshapes how travellers discover, decide, book and remain loyal, marketing leaders are under growing pressure to move from experimentation to execution,” said Pete Comeau, managing director at Phocuswright. “We created Travel Marketing AI Summit because the industry needs a focused, executive-level forum where leaders can share what’s actually working, learn from one another and leave with clarity they can apply immediately.”

In other words: less theatre, more substance.

Built for the people actually doing the work

The Summit has been designed for what Comeau describes, pointedly, as the “doers”. These are not observers or futurists parked comfortably on the sidelines. They are chief marketing officers, digital and data executives, MarTech and AI leaders who are accountable for results and expected to prove the commercial value of AI quarter by quarter.

The program blends Phocuswright’s research-led insights with case studies grounded in operational reality. Panel discussions, executive interviews and interactive sessions are structured to encourage frank exchange rather than polished performance. There are no product pitches and no theoretical indulgences.

“This is not about product pitches or theoretical conversations,” Comeau added. “It’s about practical application, shared learning and supporting one another as an industry at a moment of real transformation.”

That framing matters. AI in travel marketing has moved past the novelty phase. Recommendation engines, generative content, pricing intelligence and loyalty optimisation are now embedded in daily operations. The challenge for leaders is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to govern, scale, and integrate it without eroding trust or brand value.

A curated room, not a crowded hall

Unlike large-scale conferences where insight is often diluted by noise, the Travel Marketing AI Summit deliberately limits its scope. Fewer sessions, deeper conversations and senior-level peer interaction sit at the core of the experience.

The day runs from morning through late afternoon, combining keynote addresses, moderated executive interviews, panel discussions and interactive exchanges. The program concludes with a networking happy hour, less a ceremonial drinks call than a practical extension of the day’s dialogue.

The intention is clear: create an environment where leaders can speak candidly about what is working, what has failed, and what remains unresolved as AI continues to reshape the traveller journey.

New York, by design

Hosting the Summit in New York City is no accident. With one of the world’s densest concentrations of travel, marketing and technology executives and unmatched air connectivity, the city removes friction from attendance.

“There’s no better use case for a one-day event,” said Comeau. “You can come in, engage deeply with peers, and leave with insights that directly inform how you’re leading AI inside your organisation.”

In an era of calendar fatigue and budget scrutiny, that efficiency may be one of the Summit’s most compelling features.

Senior voices, real authority

The speaker roster underscores the Summit’s executive intent. Confirmed participants include:

Nelson Boyce, Managing Director, Travel, Google
C.A. Clark, VP of AI, Miles Partnership
Michelle Denogean, Chief Marketing Officer, MindTrip
Mario Gavira Etzel, Chief Marketing Officer, Travelier
Ben Harrell, Managing Director, United States, Booking.com
Richard Kerr, General Manager, Bilt Travel
Frederic Lalonde, Founder & CEO, Hopper
Sarah Mainprize, Head of Global Marketing, Brand & Digital, G Adventures
Hari Nair, SVP and General Manager, Hotels.com
Tahnee Perry, CEO and Founder, A25
Christine Petersen, Chief Executive Officer, Savanta
Travis Pittman, CEO, TourRadar
Janette Roush, SVP, Innovation and Chief AI Officer, Brand USA
Rahul Todkar, VP, Head of Data and AI, Tripadvisor

Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks, further shaping what is already a formidable line-up.

Registration now open

The Travel Marketing AI Summit takes place on March 24, 2026. Registration is now open, with early pricing set at US$499 through February 13, representing a US$300 savings.

More information and registration details are available at phocuswright.com/Travel-Marketing-AI-Summit.

For an industry navigating one of the most profound shifts in its modern history, this Summit is less about prediction and more about leadership. And in travel, that distinction has never mattered more.