ROUND 1
MAY 24, 2023
Programme correct at time of publishing
All times shown are in Singapore Time (GMT +8)
Round 1
2023-05-24
Round 1
2023-05-24
19:30 - 19:40
19:30 - 19:40
Let the Pitch Begin
Managing Director
Phocuswright
Phocuswright
Mr. Comeau is responsible for overall strategic and operational leadership at Phocuswright. Pete oversees all aspects of Phocuswright’s commercial activities including product, sales and service, and marketing. He also plays a key role in product development and business development strategy for Phocuswright research, events and media businesses globally. Pete is a frequent speaker at industry events and heads Phocuswright’s coverage of startups and innovation.
Mr. Comeau’s travel industry career spans over two decades. Previously, he managed strategic partnerships at Orbitz in Chicago, where he assisted in growing and managing accounts for the Orbitz Partner Network. Prior to Orbitz, Pete was the sales leader at Moguls Mountain Travel, a ski tour wholesaler in Boulder, CO. He helped design, implement and maintain four reservation systems during his tenure and managed and mentored a team of successful sales agents.
Based in the Denver, Colorado area, Pete holds an M.B.A. from Daniels College of Business and graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College with a degree in government and economics.
Pete Comeau
Managing Director
Phocuswright
Phocuswright
VP Global Travel Technology Group
Northstar Travel Media
Northstar Travel Media
Kimberly Newbury
VP Global Travel Technology Group
Northstar Travel Media
Northstar Travel Media
19:40 - 20:25
19:40 - 20:25
Asia Pacific
Innovators:
Murray Decker, Founder & CEO, Tour Amigo
Youngjoon Kim, President, Eoding
Anna Weidling, Partnerships & Marketing Lead, Roady Travel
James South, CEO, Igoroom
Harshvardhan Amle, CEO, Upswing Cognitive Hospitality Solutions
Judges:
Shiwei Zhou, VP Head of Strategy and Corporate Investments, Trip.com
Bart Bellers, CEO, Xpdite Capital Partners
Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director APAC, Booking.com
Nick Cocks, Managing Partner, Velocity
Simeon Xinyi, Chief Strategy Officer, Fliggy
20:25 - 21:10
20:25 - 21:10
Middle East & Africa
Innovators:
Farshi Rahimkhani, CEO & Co-founder, Turpal
Alex Skryabin, Founder, Beachsearcher.com
Manthole Maila, Founder & CEO, YabiSaba
Janine Salame, Co-founder & CEO, Travel Creators
Ibukunoluwa Salau, Co-founder & CEO, Direx
Judges:
Loay Almujadidi, Director – Business Development and Growth, Saudi Tourism Authority
Mona Faraj, Founder and MD, Insight Out
Gary Theis, CTO, Wego
Ronnie Varghese, Chief Digital Office, Almosafer/Seera
Henry Weinstein, Managing Partner, One Travel Ventures
21:10 - 21:55
21:10 - 21:55
Europe
Innovators:
Houman Goudarzi, Co-founder & CEO, ZYTLYN Technologies
Anke Hsu, Head of Business Development, Chain4Travel AG
Andreas-Ilias Alexakis, Founder, orbito travel
Alex Barros, Growth & Innovation, Hotelverse
Frederik Rubens Steensgaard, Chief Executove Officer, BeCause
Judges:
Adi Kouadio, Director, Innovation Insights and Startup Programs, Expedia
Katerina Saridaki, Director, CapsuleT/ Travel & Hospitality Accelerator, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels
Sven Sterzenbach, Co-founder, ennea invest
Johnny Thorsen, VP Strategy & Partnerships, Spotnana
Morgann Lesne, Partner, Cambon Partners
21:55 - 22:40
21:55 - 22:40
The Americas
Innovators:
Nicolas Peluffo, CEO and Co-founder, TRVLR
Irving Betesh, Co-founder and CEO, Sion
Stephanie Daniel, Co-founder and CEO, Legends
Josue Gio, CEO and Founder, GuruHotel
Madison Rifkin, CEO and Founder, Mount
Judges:
Stephen Snyder, Managing Director, JetBlue Ventures
Cara Whitehill, Founder, Unlock Advisors
Stephen Joyce, VP of Content, Arival
Adam Harris, CEO and Co-founder, Cloudbeds
Darren Henley, Director of Strategic Business Development – Americas, Amadeus
22:40 - 23:25
22:40 - 23:25
Wildcards
Innovators:
Ilya Mikin, Founder & CEO, Wall ID
André Sousa, Co-founder & CEO, Tryp.com
Nate Poon, Co-founder & CEO, Avol Aerospace
Dasha Kuksenko, CEO & Co-founder, Floqsta
Judges:
Lisa Katsouraki, SVP Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships, Etraveli Group
Massimo G. Morin, Global Head, Travel/Passenger Airlines, AWS
James Lemon, Global Industry Lead – Travel & Leisure, Stripe
Timothy O’Neil-Dunne, Principal, T2Impact
23:25 - 23:45
23:25 - 23:45
Post-game Wrap Up
19:30 - 19:40
Let the Pitch Begin
Managing Director
Phocuswright
Phocuswright
Mr. Comeau is responsible for overall strategic and operational leadership at Phocuswright. Pete oversees all aspects of Phocuswright’s commercial activities including product, sales and service, and marketing. He also plays a key role in product development and business development strategy for Phocuswright research, events and media businesses globally. Pete is a frequent speaker at industry events and heads Phocuswright’s coverage of startups and innovation.
Mr. Comeau’s travel industry career spans over two decades. Previously, he managed strategic partnerships at Orbitz in Chicago, where he assisted in growing and managing accounts for the Orbitz Partner Network. Prior to Orbitz, Pete was the sales leader at Moguls Mountain Travel, a ski tour wholesaler in Boulder, CO. He helped design, implement and maintain four reservation systems during his tenure and managed and mentored a team of successful sales agents.
Based in the Denver, Colorado area, Pete holds an M.B.A. from Daniels College of Business and graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College with a degree in government and economics.
Pete Comeau
Managing Director
Phocuswright
Phocuswright
VP Global Travel Technology Group
Northstar Travel Media
Northstar Travel Media
Kimberly Newbury
VP Global Travel Technology Group
Northstar Travel Media
Northstar Travel Media
19:40 - 20:25
Asia Pacific
Innovators:
Murray Decker, Founder & CEO, Tour Amigo
Youngjoon Kim, President, Eoding
Anna Weidling, Partnerships & Marketing Lead, Roady Travel
James South, CEO, Igoroom
Harshvardhan Amle, CEO, Upswing Cognitive Hospitality Solutions
Judges:
Shiwei Zhou, VP Head of Strategy and Corporate Investments, Trip.com
Bart Bellers, CEO, Xpdite Capital Partners
Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director APAC, Booking.com
Nick Cocks, Managing Partner, Velocity
Simeon Xinyi, Chief Strategy Officer, Fliggy
20:25 - 21:10
Middle East & Africa
Innovators:
Farshi Rahimkhani, CEO & Co-founder, Turpal
Alex Skryabin, Founder, Beachsearcher.com
Manthole Maila, Founder & CEO, YabiSaba
Janine Salame, Co-founder & CEO, Travel Creators
Ibukunoluwa Salau, Co-founder & CEO, Direx
Judges:
Loay Almujadidi, Director – Business Development and Growth, Saudi Tourism Authority
Mona Faraj, Founder and MD, Insight Out
Gary Theis, CTO, Wego
Ronnie Varghese, Chief Digital Office, Almosafer/Seera
Henry Weinstein, Managing Partner, One Travel Ventures
21:10 - 21:55
Europe
Innovators:
Houman Goudarzi, Co-founder & CEO, ZYTLYN Technologies
Anke Hsu, Head of Business Development, Chain4Travel AG
Andreas-Ilias Alexakis, Founder, orbito travel
Alex Barros, Growth & Innovation, Hotelverse
Frederik Rubens Steensgaard, Chief Executove Officer, BeCause
Judges:
Adi Kouadio, Director, Innovation Insights and Startup Programs, Expedia
Katerina Saridaki, Director, CapsuleT/ Travel & Hospitality Accelerator, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels
Sven Sterzenbach, Co-founder, ennea invest
Johnny Thorsen, VP Strategy & Partnerships, Spotnana
Morgann Lesne, Partner, Cambon Partners
21:55 - 22:40
The Americas
Innovators:
Nicolas Peluffo, CEO and Co-founder, TRVLR
Irving Betesh, Co-founder and CEO, Sion
Stephanie Daniel, Co-founder and CEO, Legends
Josue Gio, CEO and Founder, GuruHotel
Madison Rifkin, CEO and Founder, Mount
Judges:
Stephen Snyder, Managing Director, JetBlue Ventures
Cara Whitehill, Founder, Unlock Advisors
Stephen Joyce, VP of Content, Arival
Adam Harris, CEO and Co-founder, Cloudbeds
Darren Henley, Director of Strategic Business Development – Americas, Amadeus
22:40 - 23:25
Wildcards
Innovators:
Ilya Mikin, Founder & CEO, Wall ID
André Sousa, Co-founder & CEO, Tryp.com
Nate Poon, Co-founder & CEO, Avol Aerospace
Dasha Kuksenko, CEO & Co-founder, Floqsta
Judges:
Lisa Katsouraki, SVP Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships, Etraveli Group
Massimo G. Morin, Global Head, Travel/Passenger Airlines, AWS
James Lemon, Global Industry Lead – Travel & Leisure, Stripe
Timothy O’Neil-Dunne, Principal, T2Impact
23:25 - 23:45
Post-game Wrap Up
Select date to see events.
