The state of personalisation, the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the impact of EU's GDPR regulations and the possibilities of forecasting tools to send your revenues rocketing are just some of the topics being covered at EyeforTravel's Smart Travel Data Summit North America 2018, taking place in Miami on February 27-28, 2018.

The event will host over 150 senior travel data, RM, marketing and product professionals to discuss the most business critical trends in data affecting the travel industry today.

"The truth is, from RM to hardcore data science, and marketing to product development, capital and time is being wasted on a lack of relevance with your customer. The wrong price, the wrong product, the wrong message" says Renu Kannu, the event director. She adds "We have put together an event that leaves no data stone unturned - From embracing cutting edge visualization metrics, knowing the fate of the modern revenue manager, pioneering personalized pricing and knowing where and where not to deploy machine learning, it's an oasis of innovation. The industry is demanding higher profits, more loyalty and an end to brand DNA draining away. These are all real concerns that can be solved by joining a hotbed of analytics talent in Miami next February."

The Unrivalled Speaker Line-up for 2018 includes:

  • Theresa Johnson, Data Scientist, Airbnb
  • Eduardo Erazo, Data Scientist, Amazon.com
  • Phillipe Garnier, Head of Distribution and Partnerships, Hilton Hotels
  • PJ AbhishekSVP, Revenue Management and Consumer Analytics, Wyndham Destination Network
  • Louis Zameryka, Director, Global Accounts, Booking.com
  • Matt Louis, Sr. Director of RM, Southwest Airlines
  • Vijay Dandapani, President, HANYC
  • Lucio BustilloManager, Revenue Management Science & Innovation, Air Canada
  • Ernesto Sosa, Head of Digital Marketing & Social Media, Lufthansa Technik
  • Ricardo Rangel, Sr. Director of Data Architecture, Hertz
  • Priti Dhanda, Director of Revenue Management Analytics, Hyatt
  • Lou Carrier, President, Distinctive Hospitality Group
  • Dan Christian, Chief Digital Officer, The Travel Corporation
  • Scott Breon, Chief Revenue Officer, Vacasa
  • Brian Berry, SVP of Sales and Revenue Management, Host Hotels and Resorts
  • Emmanuel Carrier, Data Science Consultant, Delta Airlines
  • Emre Mangir, COO and Co-Founder, Mozio
  • Drew Wells, Director of Revenue, Allegiant Air
  • Jeremy Jameson, Chief Commercial Officer, FareCompare
  • Janet Stevens, Director of Revenue Management, Summit Hotel Properties
  • Berry van Weelden, Senior Director Sales Strategy & Operations, Priceline
  • Ryan Harris, E-Commerce and Ancillary Products Manager, Insel Air

2018 Moderators include:

  • Steven Pinchuk, WW Lead Customer Intelligence & Revenue Management, Advanced Analytics Center of Competence – IBM
  • Vlatka Barcan, Founder and CEO, Fifth Revenue
  • Tom Bacon, Principal, Revenue Optimization, Tom Bacon Consulting, LLC

Here are some of the elements Smart Travel Analytics North America 2018 will focus on:

Personalization - Beyond the Buzzword

It's not enough to just know your customer, personalization is money wasted without absolute relevance. Get the tools to personalize like Amazon and convert like Volkswagen.

I've Got a Guy

How one hotel management company went from having an inside guy in Vegas to using data-driven intelligence to seize market opportunities, adjust rates, and make revenues boom.

Forget Disparate Databases - Get One Golden Record

The average database resembles a smashed plate across departments, properties and brands. Discover the strategy and technology you need to finally get that customer-centric database.

Machine Learning - How will it Shake Up your Data?

AI was big 10 years ago…then it disappeared - Now it's back with a vengeance! Now is the time to optimize machine learning, make your data shine, and grasp the skillsets to see a huge return on your robotic investments!

Forecast into the Unknown

How do you pair the analyst and strategist to become an unbeatable revenue manager? If you want to know your market over the next 5 years, and master individual segments, this session has the answers.

Blockchain - The Next Major Disruptor

It's in its infancy, but major players like TUI have said it will disrupt Expedia and Airbnb forever…The transparency of blockchain could be a data scientist's dream. Be aware as revolutions can happen overnight!

Profitable Partnerships in Data - Opportunities and Limitations

From shared databases to cloud technologies, you need to partner for a true 360-degree view of your customer. But when do you share it, who with, and how close should you hold your cards to your chest?

Be Data-Ready to Match the Metasearch Might

On top of KAYAK and Trivago, Google and TripAdvisor is flipping even the metasearch world upside down. How can your data address this threat to your profits?

GDPR - The Regulation that will Overhaul your Data Strategy

It began in Europe, but European citizens travel more than anyone else on the planet. If some of your customers are European, it affects you. The GDPR goes live in May 2018, what is it and how can you avoid the crippling fines?

For more information about the event, please visit http://events.eyefortravel.com/smart-travel-data-summit-north-america/

If you have any questions, please get in touch directly with Renu ([email protected])

About Reuters Events

Reuters Events is a community where the world’s top online travel brands – from hotels to airlines, online travel agents, cruise, car hire firms and more – come to meet to drive forward growth and innovation in the industry.

We know that working in the turbulent online travel industry is as exciting as it is challenging. In this constantly evolving market place, we appreciate that keeping up with the pace of change can be tough, not to mention time consuming. You need the right information, contacts and strategic insight to succeed.

Established in 1997, by Tim Gunstone, we offer a diverse product portfolio including industry analysis, insights, research, webinars, reports and conferences to suit the needs of our clients.

Our clients read as a who’s who of online travel. From major hotel brands to new startups, we help our 80,000 strong customer base make better decisions, build better brands, close the most lucrative deals and ultimately sell more of their product. After all, increasing travel brand profit margins in the cutthroat travel industry is the name of the game!

No other online travel intelligence provider has been charting the growth of online travel as long as we have. We were here at the inception of online travel and we know the industry inside out. What’s more, we’re a small, friendly team. Forget impersonal hierarchies, we like to get to know our customers and work towards their exact needs.

Meredith Pistulka