Latest news with #SkiftData+AISummit
Skift
28-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
One Week to Go: Limited Seats Remain for the Skift Data + AI Summit in NYC
The Skift Data + AI Summit is just one week away on June 4 in NYC, featuring top leaders from Hilton, Marriott, Amex GBT, Meta, KAYAK, and more. With expert-led roundtables and limited seats remaining, now's the time to secure your spot. The countdown is officially on: in just one week, on June 4, the travel industry's brightest minds and boldest innovators will converge in New York City for the Skift Data + AI Summit - a dynamic day of insights, strategy, and cutting-edge discussion at the intersection of AI and travel. Whether you're driving innovation at a global travel brand, rethinking personalization with data, or just getting your AI roadmap started, this is the must-attend event of the year. Meet the Trailblazers Taking the Stage This year's speaker lineup reads like a who's who of travel, tech, and transformation. Here are just a few of the visionaries taking the stage: Chris Silcock , President, Global Brands and Commercial Services, Hilton , President, Global Brands and Commercial Services, Hilton Mit Shah , CEO, Noble Investment Group , CEO, Noble Investment Group Naveen Manga , Global CTO, Marriott International , Global CTO, Marriott International Rodrigo Acuna Agost , Head of Research and AI Center of Excellence, Amadeus , Head of Research and AI Center of Excellence, Amadeus Janette Roush , SVP, Innovation and Chief AI Officer, Brand USA , SVP, Innovation and Chief AI Officer, Brand USA Marilyn Markham , VP of AI & Automation Strategy, Amex GBT , VP of AI & Automation Strategy, Amex GBT Matthias Keller , Chief Product Officer, KAYAK , Chief Product Officer, KAYAK Kurien Jacob , Partner and MD, Highgate Technology Ventures , Partner and MD, Highgate Technology Ventures Scott Drey , Creative Director - Meta Creative Shop and Vertical Lead, Travel, Meta , Creative Director - Meta Creative Shop and Vertical Lead, Travel, Meta Paula Port , VP of Global Marketing, Destination Toronto , VP of Global Marketing, Destination Toronto Cara Whitehill , VP, Thayer Investment Partners , VP, Thayer Investment Partners Gilad Berenstein , Founder, Brook Bay Capital , Founder, Brook Bay Capital Max Niederhofer , Partner, Heartcore Capital , Partner, Heartcore Capital And More This isn't just a conference — it's an invitation to shape the future of travel. New This Year: Expert-Guided Roundtables We're excited to debut expert-guided roundtables — focused, high-impact sessions that pair attendees with specialists to tackle pressing topics through open dialogue. Each roundtable has limited capacity and is designed to spark real solutions. Featured Roundtable Topics Include: Smart Travel Assistants and AI Interfaces – led by Stripe – led by Stripe Streamlining Operations with AI – led by AWS – led by AWS AI-Powered Travel Personalization – led by Curacity – led by Curacity Targeted Marketing for Travelers – led by Preferred Hotels – led by Preferred Hotels Preparing Your Tech Stack for AI – led by Amadeus These are deep dives with real experts, not just panels, but conversations that can change how you approach your work. Final Call: Only a Few Seats Left We're down to the wire and tickets are almost you've been on the fence — now's the time to act. With a packed agenda, exclusive roundtables, and a speaker lineup you won't find anywhere else, the Skift Data + AI Summit is where the future of travel intelligence will unfold.
Skift
27-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
The Backstage AI Revolution in Hotels: Kurien Jacob Breaks It Down
Kurien Jacob, Partner and Managing Director at Highgate Technology Ventures, will take the stage at the Skift Data + AI Summit to reveal how AI isn't just enhancing the guest experience, it's rewiring the very infrastructure of hotels. A veteran of the travel, tech, and software sectors with over four decades of experience, Kurien Jacob now leads Highgate Technology Ventures (HTV) as a partner and MD. He's invested in forward-thinking hospitality startups like SevenRooms, LodgIQ, and Laasie. At the Skift Data + AI Summit, Kurien will share why the real AI revolution in travel isn't just guest-facing, it's operational, structural, and accelerating fast. With his session just around the corner, Kurien Jacob shared a few candid thoughts on where the travel industry is missing the mark with AI and what trends he's betting on next. What do you think the travel industry still gets wrong when it comes to applying AI? 'The travel industry still treats AI mostly as a sales and support tool – pushing deals or running chatbots – this is going to be transformative across the industry. This is the only technology that may not require you to be a treasure of experience. I think this is going to kill experience in favor of knowledge, thought processes, intelligence, and a clear open mind for adaptation. This transformation is going to be so fast that your head will spin and non-believers will be left in the dust.' What emerging trends in AI or data are you watching most closely right now? Generative AI 'This is obviously an outcome from the core engine. How does this integrate with the core engine of AI in computing, math, image recognition etc.' AI Agents 'The biggest impact is going to be for travel, accommodations, restaurants as there is a lot of answering questions and doubts. Once you win the trust with Q&A then you focus on task completion such as booking a flight, hotel, restaurant, and activity.' B2B Applications 'Using AI to tailor experiences for B2B customers is key. How do we pass on AI-completed products for customers? In fact, the biggest business shift will probably be SaaS to AI solutions for productivity and software all in one. Companies who get this will be faster to win.' If you had to place a big bet on one AI breakthrough that could reshape travel, what would it be? 'Ok for the customer – Autonomous AI Agents or software connected to personal AI assistants around the world asking questions, wanting to book travel. Ask anything and request execution. That's where commerce may come in. Entire back office of travel or hospitality would be replaced. No longer talking to humans but machines. 95% will be answered by machines and 5% could be touched by humans. Travel and hospitality would be boring as most functions would be done through AI and the differentiation would be with creativity, intelligence, and humor. Think about the internet and multiply it by 10 for this tech. You want to write descriptions for an AI to discover. And here there are no static web pages. It's interactive. We have moved to a conversational age!!' Don't Miss Kurien Jacob at the Skift Data + AI Summit Kurien Jacob is one of the sharpest minds shaping the future of operational AI in hospitality. His session will be a deep dive into the forces already rewriting the industry's playbook. Register now to join the conversation that's redefining travel tech from the ground up. Get Your Tickets 1 Person Solo Ticket $895 Buy Now 2-6 PeOPLE Group Tickets From $815 each Buy Now Who Is Already Joining The Skift Data + AI Summit This June Skift Data + AI Summit in New York City is fast approaching - take a look at who is planning to attend and add your company's name to the list. You won't want to miss this exciting global travel industry event. Read More
