We have a date! Let's make it official 🤝

Hi there,

Remember that poll we did recently? We asked about how important in-person industry events are for your business growth. Almost half of you said it's a total game changer - and I totally agree!

Personally, I think meeting face-to-face with the people and business we write about every week makes a huge difference. It's amazing how much we can learn and collaborate when we're all in the same room.

This is why the FutureTravel Summit exists. 

I’m happy to announce that we now have an official date for this year's FutureTravel Summit. We can't wait to meet you in Barcelona on November 14th! 🎉

We'll be opening applications for speakers and the pitch competition in the coming months - but don't worry about missing out on any updates: I promise to keep you in the loop through this newsletter <3

And hey, we've got a nice discount for early bird tickets. Or should we say, blind bird? With the code BLINDBIRD all our subscribers can get 40% off on tickets until the end of February.

So mark your calendars, get excited, and let's make this year's FutureTravel Summit the best one yet. :)

And now, let’s get to our usual weekly briefing on the main news on innovations, trends, and startup from the travel industry.

• Tech and Startups Made in Europe. If you're in Europe and love all things tech & startups, mark your calendar for this year's EU-Startups Summit. We're offering a 20% off to our readers until the end of the month – just use code FT20, you’re welcome <3 Happening in Malta, the 10th edition it's set to be a special celebration. And if you're a startup eager for media and investor attention, don't miss out on applying for their pitch competition.

• From paper maps to digital guidebooks. The Finnish startup Reveel raised 650k in pre-seed round. Their platform turns paper maps into digital guides accessible via smartphones, aiming to revolutionize visitor experiences globally. The platform uses AI to provide multilingual content and digital guided tours, offering destinations a hassle-free solution to enhance visitor experiences. Reveel aims to address the outdated on-site experience by providing a generalized platform solution for destinations worldwide.

• Less Chinese tourists in Europe in 2024? If you're in Europe, you might see fewer Chinese tourists around this year. That's what the latest survey from the European Travel Commission suggests. It looks like some European destinations will need to go a bit smart & creative to attract them back. One big reason for the drop of interest? Seems like more and more Chinese tourists are planning to stick closer to home for their travels, especially with several Southeast Asian destinations relaxing their visa policies.

• New fund betting on travel startups. TravelTech.vc has just launched its second VC fund, dedicated to spotting the most innovative travel tech startups in Europe. Led by industry veterans from Booking.com, Expedia, Google, and Meta, they're on a mission to support innovation in three key areas: client-focused tech, immature technologies, and efficiency gains. With a substantial €50 million fund, they're ready to invest in the next generation of travel tech.

• Everything Taylor Swift - even travel. Remember when I mentioned last week that I'm not exactly a Taylor Swift expert? Well, that's why I'm glad that Skift dig up some data and insights about all things Taylor Swift lately. It's great to get a North American perspective on what she's all about, especially with the Super Bowl weekend around the corner – seems like it's the perfect timing. And just in case you're wondering: yes, her influence even stretches into travel.

• Not your usual travel partner. February has been active with new collaborations between Netflix and the travel industry. First up, they've teamed up with the French government's Atout France to draw tourists to France. Plus, Expedia Group is Netflix's inaugural global partner in its ad-supported plan, launching a campaign called "Made to Travel" to spotlight select destinations. I always enjoy seeing different industries coming together to make the most of travel.

This is it for this week. If you're enjoying our weekly newsletters, please feel free to share them with your colleagues. We appreciate it!

See you next week,
Ana

Thank you for reading until the end.

The content of this newsletter is curated and published by Ana Metz, an innovation expert, passionate about technology and excited about the future of travel.

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