MMGY Global’s Post

Here are last five topics I hit on stage at the 2024 Women Leading Travel & Hospitality Summit. We're curious about what's inspiring you and your teams this year.

Last week I had the immense pleasure of joining a panel at the Travel Innovation Summit hosted by WeTravel (WeTravel) . The panel discussion I participated in – Women+ Led Travel: Rethinking Product Building – focused on a topic I think is important in the industry we work in and the world we live in today. It makes good business sense to be forward-thinking about creating travel products and experiences that address women+’s needs and desires: > Women make 80% of buying decisions > Two-thirds of travelers are women > Conscious consumers want to support companies that are forward-thinking about DEI and impact It also makes good global sense: Supporting women+ means more money goes into the family and community, thereby supporting health, education, and other important programs and initiatives. Here are 4 key takeaways from our session: 1) An intersectional lens is essential. - Women+ refers to women and non-binary individuals, but it’s also important to consider the needs and desires driven by other identities as well, including race, ability, religion, age, size, and country of origin. 2) A women+ focus is multi-dimensional and encompasses travelers, internal team, and people across the tourism ecosystem. - This isn’t just about creating female-only tours (though that’s part of this, of course) and catering to women+ travelers. Additionally, make sure women+ are supported and empowered within your company and across the tourism industry as well. 3) Look for “service swaps” to easily evolve travel products. - Travelers eat, sleep, move, and participate in activities. Look for women+ owned businesses that could service these needs and make the swap within your existing itineraries. (This is low-hanging fruit – you don’t have to make anything new!) 4) We rise by lifting others. - Within our industry and companies, and within the world at large, we all rise better, faster, and higher when we rise together. We all win when we amplify, support, and celebrate others. Were you able to join this session during the Travel Innovation Summit? If so, I’d love to hear your key takeaways! #TravelInnovationSummit

🌍 A milestone moment 🌍 As we celebrate our fifth anniversary during #ClimateWeekNYC ⭕ we’re excited to share a series of announcements that will shape the future of the Travalyst coalition: 🚀 Our vision for the next five years: Travalyst will centralise the collection and distribution of sustainability data for key areas of travel and tourism. With a current focus on accommodation, long term we aim to consider other areas such as rail, activities and destinations. 🤝 Weeva: Travalyst has acquired the Weeva platform. As an organisation that shares our vision for democratising access to sustainability information in travel, the Weeva team built a highly regarded platform that we are aiming to integrate into our next phase of work. 🌆 Leadership expansion: we are expanding our leadership team with two executive hires: ➡️ Julie Cheetham joins the team as Chief Operations Officer. Cheetham is a sustainability leader with over 20 years experience and was part of the initial group of thought leaders to found Weeva, where, as CEO, she grew the business into a multi-award-winning platform used in 86 countries. ➡️ Amina Razvi also joins us as Chief Partnerships and Development Officer. Razvi has been a trailblazer in the global apparel and textile industry, known for driving the adoption of the Higg Index and cultivating an unprecedented level of industry collaboration and change whilst CEO at Sustainable Apparel Coalition (now Cascale). Find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eyMytcwa Climate Group Sally Davey Amadeus Booking.com Expedia Group Google Mastercard Sabre Corporation Skyscanner Travelport Tripadvisor Trip.com Group Visa #Travalyst #TravalystFiveYears #ClimateWeekNYC #Sustainability #TravelandTourism #Technology #ResponsibleTourism

I am very grateful to have had the chance to moderate this important panel with four insightful industry leaders. Check out JoAnna's post below for some of the highlights!

4 Key Business Travel Trends to Watch in 2024 📈 According to Amex Global Business Travel, as we progress through 2024, watch for these leading trends that are shaping the future of business travel: 1. Bleisure Travel: More corporate travelers are blending business with leisure, extending their trips to enjoy the destinations. 2. Wellness Focus: With a greater focus on health, travel providers like hotels and airlines are enhancing offerings such as healthier meals and improved gym facilities. 3. Environmental Sustainability: Companies are increasingly adopting green travel options, from eco-friendly accommodations to sustainable conference practices. 4. Technology Integration: The adoption of technologies like AI for travel assistance and virtual reality for meetings is becoming more widespread, boosting efficiency and safety. How is your organization leveraging these trends in business travel?

Only two days ago, I sat down with a friend in the tourism industry, and our conversation revolved around how, on various levels, our industry seems to be failing at innovation. Even when we do innovate, there's a strong hesitation to embrace change. We're sluggish in adopting technology and resistant to industry shifts. When customers demand better ways to consume our products, we often turn a blind eye or resort to the 'do you know how expensive technology upgrades can be?' argument (as recently overheard on a panel at an industry conference). To which my response is always, 'Do you know the true cost of doing nothing?' This got me thinking - are we, as an industry, stifling our own innovation? And how much impact, beyond bookings, is this having overall? Read my thoughts on this: https://lnkd.in/g6_ZbtGz Would love to hear your thought on this via the comments below.

Many Operators struggle with investing in Intangible Assets eg technology vs Tangible Assets like staff, vehicles, equipment... it's hard for them to understand the ROI of tech. They are weary of change management processes and so become risk averse - Covid obviously hasn't helped. And yet tech can reduce risk (if you were cloud based during covid you could still function). Tech companies need to be able to demonstrate to their travel clients how their tech will impact on the 'cost to acquire customers' and the 'cost to serve' customers, and how tech will support risk management... this requires a deep dive into the business and stakeholders to be able to show how tech will achieve the desired goals, make a difference etc. In our area of tech, the Multi-day Operating System, Operators who continue to run their businesses on spreadsheets will discover the extra leap to AI tech near on impossible if they haven't got 'fit for purpose' tech systems already in place to manage their data. That's just the speed in which tech is moving. Thanks for raising this Meredith Rangel

The travel industry supports diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in several impactful ways: 1. **Inclusive Marketing and Representation:** Travel companies are increasingly using inclusive marketing strategies that feature diverse travelers in their campaigns. This representation helps all potential customers see themselves in travel narratives, boosting the industry's appeal across various demographics. 2. **Diverse Employment Opportunities:** Many companies within the travel industry strive to diversify their workforce, including leadership positions. By promoting diversity in hiring, they create a more inclusive culture that values different perspectives and experiences. 3. **Cultural Training and Awareness:** To better serve customers from various backgrounds, companies often provide cultural competence training for their employees. This education helps staff understand and respect different cultural norms and practices, improving the travel experience for everyone. 4. **Support for Minority-Owned Businesses:** Some travel companies partner with or prioritize services from minority-owned businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and tour operators. This not only helps to economically empower these communities but also offers travelers a more authentic experience. 5. **Accessible Travel Options:** Ensuring that travel and tourism are accessible to people with disabilities is another crucial aspect of DEI. Companies are improving physical accessibilities, such as wheelchair-accessible venues and experiences, and enhancing their offerings with technologies that assist various disabilities. 6. **Community and Stakeholder Engagement:** Engaging with local communities and stakeholders in travel destinations ensures that tourism supports rather than exploits these areas. This approach includes respecting local traditions and supporting sustainable tourism that benefits residents economically and socially. 7. **Scholarships and Grants:** Some travel organizations offer scholarships and grants to underrepresented groups in the tourism and hospitality industries. These opportunities provide education and career advancement in fields where these groups have been historically underrepresented. By implementing these and other DEI strategies, the travel industry can create more equitable and inclusive experiences for both travelers and the communities they visit, while also fostering a globally connected and understanding world.

If you represent a travel brand, all eyes are on you. Gone are the days when brands could just crank out products and services, then sit back as sales rolled in. More people are becoming conscious consumers, and they expect brands to consider people, planet, and profit. They want the companies they support to stand for something far more than the products they buy and the services they use. Conscious consumers = more conscious travelers. This is why communicating your sustainability story has never been more important. It’s not only important but essential. Conscious consumers demand it! (To be clear, there are definitely still a lot of travelers who are *not* thinking about these things. But that should be even more fuel for those working in tourism to do the right thing *and* share that story with the world!) This is a good thing for people, the planet, and your business! When conscious consumers hold brands accountable for their actions, it forces brands to innovate and evolve. And if travel brands evolve in a way that better supports the communities in which it operates, it’s a win-win-win for local communities, travelers, and the tourism industry as a whole. ___ If you're into these nuggets of motivation, follow the Rooted Instagram account at https://lnkd.in/gCFrR3Z5

This year holds a key turning point for the travel and entertainment sectors as we have first-hand news about The 52 places to go in 2024 and Tina Fey's recent comments about Mean Girls. 🌍Exploring this expansive list of 52 destinations brings up exciting possibilities for the global travel sector. After facing impressive challenges that drastically reduced global mobility, the travel industry is geared up for a comeback. ✈️ I predict these international and domestic sites—ranging from untouched natural landscapes to resilient cities—will become hotspots of tourism. They are teeming with culture, rich histories, gastronomical delights, and hidden gems quietly waiting to be illuminated. A new resurgence in eco-tourism and cultural tourism can be foreseen. Moreover: • The Mean Girls cult followers have something to ponder as Tina Fey steps into the limelight once again with her reflections, hinting towards the reappraisal of this revered piece of pop culture. • The end of the Bill Belichick 'hoodie era' signifies the shift to a new paradigm in sports culture - one that blends past and future, tradition, and trend - a marvel we are yet to witness fully. With an employee-centric lens, many businesses should take note of popular culture trends in media and sports. Understanding nuances in these themes can be a key driver to engage internal stakeholders, and even customers, in meaningful discussions and invigorate a collective sense of belonging - 'being on the same page.' To sum up, the evolving trend in leisure activities, be it travel, movies or sport, carries valuable insights for businesses in storytelling, re-branding or experiential curation. Understanding these trends can elevate brands to become relevant to the changing times and enable them to build better connections with their audiences. Stay tuned - 2024 is undoubtedly bound to be an eventful year! #TrendsIn2024 #Travel #Media #Sports #PopularCulture