Siew Hoon has been covering the travel industry beat in Asia Pacific for decades, starting off as a rookie reporter and going on to lead and launch the region’s key industry media titles. In 2005, she founded WiT (Web in Travel) to tackle how technology was changing travel in Asia Pacific and created a new space in the fast-growing, dynamic region with a dedicated media and events platform.

Over the years, she took WiT to new places, launching editions in Tokyo, Seoul, Middle East and Europe to keep the world’s attention focused on the three pillars of travel, technology and Asia.

Following the acquisition by Northstar Travel Group in 2014, she led the launch of Travel Weekly Asia and M&C Asia and formed the editorial team to execute the entry of Northstar to Asia.

Her work has been recognised by numerous institutions including the Singapore Tourism Board which recognised her as Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014. The WiT Singapore conference, which remains its tentpole event, has won several awards including Most Innovative Marketing Initiative and Trade Conference Of The Year.

In 2020, WiT Singapore became the first travel conference to go fully hybrid, paving the way for a new model in events.

Other than writing about travel, Siew Hoon is also a published author of titles such as “Around Asia In One Hour: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries”, children’s books such as “Adventures of Habibie The Turtle” and “The Story of Baitong and Boon” and host of “A Life In Travel” podcast.

Min Yoon is the CEO and founder of Tidesquare, South Korea’s leading technology-focused travel agency and operator of the #1 premium OTA brand “Privia Travel” as well as Tourvis and Kyte. TIDESQUARE is at the forefront of travel technology development in the region with a strong network of global and local partnerships with industry-leading platform operators across mobile, telecommunications, financial services and more. In addition, Tidesquare has been the co-organizer and partner for WiT Seoul since 2016, fueled with the vision of contributing to the development of the travel landscape and provide an opportunity to share the latest trends and future strategies with global experts.

Prior to Tidesquare, Min Yoon worked for international brands such as Samsung, Korean Air and Hyundai Card. He specialises in hospitality services of operations and marketing, premium marketing, new business development and new media marketing.

Mr. Nicholas Cocks is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at Velocity Ventures. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer at ReadyVentures. He serves as Board Member at Lumitics. He served as Board Member at Forest Advisorenture. He started his career in 1985 as an accountant with Arthur Andersen Co in Sydney, Australia. He left the profession in 1989 to join his father’s readymix concrete business in Adelaide, Australia. Six months later they sold the company to Adelaide Brighton Cement and he turned his attention to South East Asia.

Mr. Kwon has invested in more than 100 startup companies in Korea since 2010. Auburndale Ventures is a new venture firm which is focusing on investing in local startups, local brands and the local market in Korea.

TravelTech entrepreneur based in Singapore and Tokyo with 20 years of experience who led his company to an IPO, a buyout and two exits.

One of the original investors & advocates of Travel Massive.

Kei co-founded Venture Republic Group (VRG) in 2001 and has been serving as a CEO since foundation. Company runs a group of online travel services worldwide including TRAVEL jp, Japan’s largest online travel metasearch/media, Trip101, Singapore based global online travel media and Allstay, mobile accommodation search app in Korea.

In 2008, he led the company to an IPO and to LBO by the management in 2012. Kei also led to acquire Flocations, a Singapore based travel startup, have it grown to one of the fastest growing online travel media in the world under Trip101 brand that attracts the users from 200 countries.

Harvard MBA. Keio University BA.

Cross country & alpine skier/snowboarder. Love jazz, coffee and working from vacation homes.

Eugene Ko focuses on audience engagement through digital and brand marketing for Phocuswright Research and Events. He drives the strategy for content creation, branding, digital campaigns and community engagement, manages press communication and supports PhocusWire’s marketing initiatives. He also plays an important role in live and virtual event production and platform management. He has a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management from New York University, where he was an Adjunct Professor. He enjoys running, following Formula 1 and supports Philadelphia sports teams.

Mr. Nicholas Cocks is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at Velocity Ventures. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer at ReadyVentures. He serves as Board Member at Lumitics. He served as Board Member at Forest Advisorenture. He started his career in 1985 as an accountant with Arthur Andersen Co in Sydney, Australia. He left the profession in 1989 to join his father’s readymix concrete business in Adelaide, Australia. Six months later they sold the company to Adelaide Brighton Cement and he turned his attention to South East Asia.

Timothy Hughes is the Vice President Corporate Development of Agoda (Booking Holdings Company). Timothy is a “retired” blogger and pundit. Previously he was the editor and publisher of one of the top online travel industry blogs (the BOOT: the Business Of Online Travel) and a writer at Phocuswire.

Tim is a former lawyer and venture capitalist. As a venture capitalist and consultant he helped a number of start-ups (inside and outside travel) secure funding, set up online media companies, managed investments in public companies and held regular client briefing sessions for a brokerage house. As lawyer he represented technology, new media, Internet, telecommunications and broadcasting clients in Australia, Europe and Hong Kong.

He first joined the online travel industry in 1999 and has worked for top tier online travel companies in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Tim has a Bachelor of Commerce and Hons Law Degree from the Australian National University.

Mr. Kwon has invested in more than 100 startup companies in Korea since 2010. Auburndale Ventures is a new venture firm which is focusing on investing in local startups, local brands and the local market in Korea.

1. Jang Minjun
2. Affiliation: Korea Tourism Organization
3. Position: Deputy Director
4. education and work history
– University of Southern California MBA
– (Former) ‘21~’24 Korea Tourism Startup Center (KTSC), Singapore Branch, Korea Tourism Organization

Jiha Jung is a Korea market expert who has built his career in different industries over the last nine years, ranging from IT to travel. He started his career as an ERP IT consultant at Hyundai where he was specialized in a financial integration. At Expedia, Jihacultivated relationships with local travel associations and tourism boards to increase the affinity for the brand, and managed a portfolio of top partners in an effort to build sustainable online market shares. He now owns and operates the online travel agency Tripbtoz Inc. based in Seoul, South Korea. Jiha holds a master of management in hospitality degree from Cornell University.

Mr. Nicholas Cocks is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at Velocity Ventures. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer at ReadyVentures. He serves as Board Member at Lumitics. He served as Board Member at Forest Advisorenture. He started his career in 1985 as an accountant with Arthur Andersen Co in Sydney, Australia. He left the profession in 1989 to join his father’s readymix concrete business in Adelaide, Australia. Six months later they sold the company to Adelaide Brighton Cement and he turned his attention to South East Asia.

Timothy Hughes is the Vice President Corporate Development of Agoda (Booking Holdings Company). Timothy is a “retired” blogger and pundit. Previously he was the editor and publisher of one of the top online travel industry blogs (the BOOT: the Business Of Online Travel) and a writer at Phocuswire.

Tim is a former lawyer and venture capitalist. As a venture capitalist and consultant he helped a number of start-ups (inside and outside travel) secure funding, set up online media companies, managed investments in public companies and held regular client briefing sessions for a brokerage house. As lawyer he represented technology, new media, Internet, telecommunications and broadcasting clients in Australia, Europe and Hong Kong.

He first joined the online travel industry in 1999 and has worked for top tier online travel companies in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Tim has a Bachelor of Commerce and Hons Law Degree from the Australian National University.

Mr. Kwon has invested in more than 100 startup companies in Korea since 2010. Auburndale Ventures is a new venture firm which is focusing on investing in local startups, local brands and the local market in Korea.

1. Jang Minjun
2. Affiliation: Korea Tourism Organization
3. Position: Deputy Director
4. education and work history
– University of Southern California MBA
– (Former) ‘21~’24 Korea Tourism Startup Center (KTSC), Singapore Branch, Korea Tourism Organization

‘Seeing through my eyes, expressing in my way’

‘This is the new definition of ‘design’ for the brand Rieul’

By redefining design through his unique perspective, Rieul Kim is showcasing his creative vision across diverse industries, including fashion, automotive, and interior design.

Brand Rieul draws its identity from traditional Korean culture, just as its name utilizes consonants from the Korean alphabet. By crafting suits from hanbok fabric, Rieul has pioneered a new category called ’21st Century Hanbok,’ dressing figures from BTS to presidential candidates. The brand also created a special Korean traditional edition through a collaboration with the supercar brand McLaren.

In a time when Korean culture is gaining global attention, Rieul’s dedication to authentically Korean design has earned him a prestigious place on Forbes’ 2023 ’30 Under 30′ list of influential figures. Additionally, since last year, Rieul has launched ‘Okjeong Water,’ the only canned water in Korea, sourced from the jade wall water of the country’s sole Baekok mine and packaged in designs inspired by traditional Korean elements.

Jason is the CEO of Orange Square, the company behind WOWPASS, an all-in-one prepaid card & travel app that has transformed the travel experience in Korea.

Earlier in 2024, Orange Square raised a 10 million USD Series-B fundraising round from top VCs in Korea. Having been profitable for 8 consecutive quarters, Orange Square is preparing for a stock market IPO within the next 1-2 years.

Since launching WOWPASS in 2022, Jason has led its rapid growth to serve over 1.4 million inbound travelers worldwide, processing over half a trillion KRW in payments to date.

As a product expert, Jason oversees the end-to-end product development of WOWPASS, emphasizing on creating seamless user experience. Jason’s focus on product & user experience has helped Orange Square establish a strong brand image of trust & convenience among international travelers from Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, as well as 150+ countries.

With a driven team of talented builders, Jason envisions to lead WOWPASS to become the go-to gateway platform for foreign travelers in Korea, seamlessly resolving various inbound travelers’ barriers in Korea such as payment, transportation, self-authentications and digital experiences.

Prior to Orange Square, Jason served as a product manager at Naver / LINE, where he played a significant role in launching cutting-edge tech platforms. Jason earned his undergraduate degree from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as a Computer Science / Business dual major, and is proficient in Korean, English, and Mandarin Chinese.

Jessica Park leads partnership efforts in Google, specifically for Knowledge and Information products such as Google Search, Google Travel and Gemini. Her expertise is in finding opportunity areas where new technology and long-existing consumer problems overlap. As someone in the fields of A.I. since 2018, Jessica hopes to apply innovative approaches to key verticals such as Tourism and Entertainment.

Chee Chong is passionate about the tourism industry, so much so that his 15-year career has been centered around it. He has founded not one, but two start-ups to better meet the needs of the buoyant travel/tourism industry.

He is currently Chief Executive Officer and visionary of GlobalTix, an e-ticketing travel marketplace. Chee Chong was also one of the co-founders of Adventure Glamping, which has pioneered and built the first-ever “glamping” (glamorous camping) resort called Canopi, located in Bintan.

He began his travel industry career with SilkAir, the regional carrier owned by Singapore Airlines and subsequently was seconded to Singapore Airlines.

During his seven-year career with the two carriers, he handled various job functions, including postings to Thailand, Indonesia, and Central Japan which gave him invaluable exposure in the airline industry. In Central Japan, he started many initiatives, including several that continue to today, and the team was recognized with a CEO’s Merit Award for operational excellence.

Chee Chong next joined Sentosa Development Corporation as a member of the management team. He started as the Leisure Operation, Director where he was responsible for ongoing daily operations, from beach operation, attractions to ticketing and subsequently became the General Manager of Mount Faber Leisure Group.

Chee Chong holds a Bachelor of Engineering (2nd Upper) degree from the National University of Singapore.

Siew Hoon has been covering the travel industry beat in Asia Pacific for decades, starting off as a rookie reporter and going on to lead and launch the region’s key industry media titles. In 2005, she founded WiT (Web in Travel) to tackle how technology was changing travel in Asia Pacific and created a new space in the fast-growing, dynamic region with a dedicated media and events platform.

Over the years, she took WiT to new places, launching editions in Tokyo, Seoul, Middle East and Europe to keep the world’s attention focused on the three pillars of travel, technology and Asia.

Following the acquisition by Northstar Travel Group in 2014, she led the launch of Travel Weekly Asia and M&C Asia and formed the editorial team to execute the entry of Northstar to Asia.

Her work has been recognised by numerous institutions including the Singapore Tourism Board which recognised her as Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014. The WiT Singapore conference, which remains its tentpole event, has won several awards including Most Innovative Marketing Initiative and Trade Conference Of The Year.

In 2020, WiT Singapore became the first travel conference to go fully hybrid, paving the way for a new model in events.

Other than writing about travel, Siew Hoon is also a published author of titles such as “Around Asia In One Hour: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries”, children’s books such as “Adventures of Habibie The Turtle” and “The Story of Baitong and Boon” and host of “A Life In Travel” podcast.

Min Yoon is the CEO and founder of Tidesquare, South Korea’s leading technology-focused travel agency and operator of the #1 premium OTA brand “Privia Travel” as well as Tourvis and Kyte. TIDESQUARE is at the forefront of travel technology development in the region with a strong network of global and local partnerships with industry-leading platform operators across mobile, telecommunications, financial services and more. In addition, Tidesquare has been the co-organizer and partner for WiT Seoul since 2016, fueled with the vision of contributing to the development of the travel landscape and provide an opportunity to share the latest trends and future strategies with global experts.

Prior to Tidesquare, Min Yoon worked for international brands such as Samsung, Korean Air and Hyundai Card. He specialises in hospitality services of operations and marketing, premium marketing, new business development and new media marketing.

Timothy Hughes is the Vice President Corporate Development of Agoda (Booking Holdings Company). Timothy is a “retired” blogger and pundit. Previously he was the editor and publisher of one of the top online travel industry blogs (the BOOT: the Business Of Online Travel) and a writer at Phocuswire.

Tim is a former lawyer and venture capitalist. As a venture capitalist and consultant he helped a number of start-ups (inside and outside travel) secure funding, set up online media companies, managed investments in public companies and held regular client briefing sessions for a brokerage house. As lawyer he represented technology, new media, Internet, telecommunications and broadcasting clients in Australia, Europe and Hong Kong.

He first joined the online travel industry in 1999 and has worked for top tier online travel companies in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Tim has a Bachelor of Commerce and Hons Law Degree from the Australian National University.

TravelTech entrepreneur based in Singapore and Tokyo with 20 years of experience who led his company to an IPO, a buyout and two exits.

One of the original investors & advocates of Travel Massive.

Kei co-founded Venture Republic Group (VRG) in 2001 and has been serving as a CEO since foundation. Company runs a group of online travel services worldwide including TRAVEL jp, Japan’s largest online travel metasearch/media, Trip101, Singapore based global online travel media and Allstay, mobile accommodation search app in Korea.

In 2008, he led the company to an IPO and to LBO by the management in 2012. Kei also led to acquire Flocations, a Singapore based travel startup, have it grown to one of the fastest growing online travel media in the world under Trip101 brand that attracts the users from 200 countries.

Harvard MBA. Keio University BA.

Cross country & alpine skier/snowboarder. Love jazz, coffee and working from vacation homes.

Donggun Lee is a founder and CEO of MyRealTrip. Lee launched MyRealTrip’s first service in 2012, while he was a university student. Started as a Tour & Activity platform, in 8 years of its operation, MyRealTrip has been fast growing to be a full-service OTA that enables seamless booking experiences to travelers. Today, it offers 18,300 tours in 680 cities around the world with over 500,000 trustworthy reviews.

Jiha Jung is a Korea market expert who has built his career in different industries over the last nine years, ranging from IT to travel. He started his career as an ERP IT consultant at Hyundai where he was specialized in a financial integration. At Expedia, Jihacultivated relationships with local travel associations and tourism boards to increase the affinity for the brand, and managed a portfolio of top partners in an effort to build sustainable online market shares. He now owns and operates the online travel agency Tripbtoz Inc. based in Seoul, South Korea. Jiha holds a master of management in hospitality degree from Cornell University.

As Klook’s General Manager for South Korea, James oversees marketing, business
development and strategic planning for the region. He plays a vital role in establishing Klook as a preferred choice for Korean travelers and as a category leader attracting global travelers to South Korea.

Prior to joining Klook, James worked at Samsung Mobile, where he was instrumental in global marketing efforts to launch key flagship products, such as the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S.

Born in South Korea and educated in the US, James is an avid traveler who has visited 50+ countries in 4 continents, discovering hidden gems worldwide. When he’s not working, James is busy swimming, cycling and running along scenic Korean coastlines, as he races in triathlons and marathons across the region.

Leah Lee is a global hotelier who graduated from EHL Hospitality Business School, the world’s No. 1 hotel management university. Her various roles include deputy General Manager at the Michelberger Hotel, a leading boutique hotel in Berlin, Germany as well as with Design Hotels TM, a global network of design hotels representing a curated selection of 300+ independent hotels in over 60 countries across the globe.

In 2019, she led the renovation of Yeongjong Sky Resort and opened Korea’s first urban lifestyle boutique resort, The Week& Resort, and is leading a new culture in the Korean hospitality sector with various concepts such as The Connoisseur Residence for professionals and The Woof & Pet Hotel for dogs.

Boram Park is the youngest General Manager among 32 Marriott-affiliated hotels in South Korea. A Korean-born New Zealand national, her professional journey has traversed diverse hotel settings across the globe, ranging from three to five-star establishments within the Accor Group. With a career spanning over 12 years, she has accumulated extensive experience in notable locations including New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan.

Her most recent role involved assuming responsibility for an array of vital tasks at Swissotel, Nankai Osaka, Japan, where she oversaw front office operations, room management, promotion, marketing, fitness, and more as Director of Rooms.

As General Manager of RYSE Hotel, she has expressed a profound appreciation for the brand’s values, emphasizing individual personalities, tastes, and authenticity. She shares her sentiment regarding RYSE, stating, “We will actively promote RYSE’s unparalleled young and energetic culture, inviting all guests to partake in an extraordinary hotel experience that defies convention. Together, we will redefine the notion of lifestyle, creating an unrivaled environment that has yet to be seen.”

Jaejoon Kim is the deputy general manager of the planning team at VeryGoodTour, one of the largest travel agencies in Korea. Jaejoon received a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Columbia University’s Fu School of Engineering. He began his career in the management consulting industry, where he conducted projects in various sectors, namely technology & communications, industrials, and consumer goods. Jaejoon left Bain & Company as a Consultant position and joined VeryGoodTour in 2024.

As part of the planning team at VeryGoodTour, Jaejoon collects all sales related information within the company. He is also in charge of product sales in open market channels (e.g. Naver), invitation-only channels (e.g. Hyundai EZWEL) and is also responsible for the company’s live commerce sales. In the future, Jaejoon is planning to include product planning role to his team.

Bo Young(BY) Song is the Senior Vice President and Chief of Korean Air’s Passenger Business Division.

Prior to his current position, he led the airline’s Americas Regional Headquarters for two years.

Song was the Managing Vice President of Korean Air’s Passenger Network and Sales. He was responsible for overseeing the carrier’s global network portfolio and implementing worldwide sales strategies.

During his 34 years with Korean Air, Song has held various leadership roles, including guiding the airline’s overseas business in growing markets as the director of the Southeast Asia Regional Headquarters and Russia&Commonwealth of Independent States(C.I.S.) Headquarters. Soon after joining Korean Air in 1988, Song was dispatched to the U.S. as the General Manager of Passenger Sales in San Francisco and New York. He then continued his career by leading Passenger Network and Sales teams within the airline.

Min-Hwa’s career has been primarily focused on researching consumer behavior within the travel industry and applying data analytics technology. This work was conducted at Consumer Insight Inc., the sole third-party consumer information provider in Korea.

Her notable achievement includes the development of the “Weekly Travel Consumer Behavior Study,” which takes into consideration the timeliness all the seasonality of travel research. This study, launched in 2015, involves collecting data from 26,000 individuals annually, with 500 people surveyed each week. It is widely recognized as the only up-to-date and comprehensive datasets for consumer travel behavior in Korea.

Min-Hwa currently leads the data business division at Consumer Insight Inc., which integrates the travel research with the data from various sectors such as transportation, communication, finance, and distribution. She is deeply committed to realizing the creation and application of ‘smart data’ within the travel industry, blending both big data and small data (survey) for optimal results.

Jawoon Im is a Senior Client Partner at X Korea, where she drives transformative branding and performance marketing strategies for a diverse portfolio of clients. With over 12 years of pioneering experience in the IT sector, she has been instrumental in fostering company growth through her expertise in mobile advertising, data analytics, and cloud services. Jawoon contributed her talents to AWS Korea’s cloud initiatives and spearheaded technical marketing operations at leading companies like Adjust and Criteo. At X Korea, she continues to shape the Korean market landscape through her deep industry insights and commitment to client success.

Stanley Kim boasts a strong background in sales and business development, honed through diverse experiences across various companies.

His career began at Fraser Hospitality as a Sales Executive. There, he tackled the challenge of securing stays for Korean embassies, ultimately breaking a record for the most ambassadors choosing their property.

After mastering the art of hotel sales, Stanley transitioned to CBRE as a Senior Associate. This move broadened his horizons and expertise into the world of commercial real estate.

In 2016, Stanley embraced the digital revolution by joining Expedia Korea. He thrived in managing two emerging markets. Jeju and Gangwon, particularly during the excitement of the Winter Olympics in Gangwon.

Stanley’s talent for forging connections proved instrumental in securing nearly 900 new properties for Expedia within a single year.

Currently, as Director of Sales at Tripbtoz, Stanley is driven by the ambitious mission of creating the first global OTA from Korea. Even admist the challenges of COVID-19, his leadership secured over 1,000 new properties.

Stanley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Pacific International Hotel Management School in New Zealand, which undoubtedly fueled his passion for the industry,

Jason Moon currently leads the Growth Team’s Travel Vertical, ushering initiatives to drive expansion and diversification across key sectors including OTAs, Airlines, and National Tourism Organizations (NTOs). He oversees the full scope of relationship management with high-profile clients, ensuring the seamless execution of strategic marketing campaigns. By acting as a key business partner, he plays a critical role in shaping the direction of his clients’ marketing efforts, delivering tailored solutions that elevate brand visibility and growth, and align with both short-term goals and long-term growth objectives.

Prior to his current role, Jason worked at Klook, where he fostered deep, strategic partnerships with major brands across diverse industries, including Finance, Airlines, and Telecom. He successfully executed numerous co-branded campaigns that greatly boosted brand awareness and drove new user acquisition, while ensuring that each initiative was aligned with the broader marketing and business goals of both Klook and its partners.

Jason is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics.

As Regional Manager of North Asia at Booking.com, Luiz Henrique Rodrigues de Paula oversees Japan and South Korea, managing business growth, operations and strategy, based in the Tokyo office.

Luiz joined Booking.com in June 2022 to lead the growth strategy for the region, after 8.5 years in leadership roles at Groupon, including Director of Sales Strategy for APAC and General Manager in Japan. An entrepreneur at heart, he also founded two startups, including Centro Educacional Horizonte, which served thousands of students in Brazil.

Luiz is an avid traveller with a passion for exploring the diverse cultures and cuisines of Asia-Pacific. He enjoys the vibrant energy of cities like Tokyo and Bangkok, as well as the serenity of hidden onsen towns and mountain trails in places like Kamikochi. This balance of urban excitement and natural tranquillity fuels his love for uncovering unique regional experiences.

Luiz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economy from and a MBA in Bu

Justin Hong is the General Manager of Trip.com, a global one-stop travel platform, and is in charge of managing and operating the Korean market. He is also a global management strategy and digital marketing expert who has worked for various global management consulting firms and global travel platforms, building his position and insight in the industry.

After graduating from Korea University, he successfully completed several projects related to corporate strategy and digital marketing at Johnson and Johnson, Booz & Company, and Accenture, and also worked on various tasks to strengthen the positions of each company at Expedia and Agoda in Korea.

Mi Sun Song is the CEO of Korea’s No. 1 travel agency, Hanatour, and the first female CEO in the travel industry. Song received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business from Seoul National University and completed Wharton School’s Master of Business Administration program. She began her professional career by joining the Boston Consulting Group where she worked as a managing director partner advising financial institutions, industrial goods and communications technology.

Since taking over as CEO of Hana Tour in March 2020, she has been focusing on rebranding, expanding product planning, domestic and international networks and digital services, as well as introducing various services such as ‘Hana Pack 2.0’ and ‘Hana Tour App’ to present a new paradigm in the travel industry.

Franck Loison is the General Manager of Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, bringing over two decades of international hospitality experience to his role. Known for his dynamic leadership and deep understanding of luxury hotel operations, Franck has a track record of delivering exceptional guest experiences across various prestigious brands. His strategic vision and passion for excellence drive the hotel’s commitment to world-class service. Under his guidance, Fairmont Ambassador Seoul has continued to strengthen its reputation as a premier destination for both business and leisure travelers, blending contemporary elegance with the rich cultural heritage of Korea.

Lyla Seo currently serves as Airbnb’s Country Manager for Korea. Drawing on her extensive experience in global technology and media companies, she aims to leverage Korea’s cultural richness to boost tourism while establishing Airbnb as a responsible, integral part of Korean society. Lyla has held key positions at major firms including Tinder, Google, Disney+, and Bain & Company, notably leading Tinder’s successful launch in Korea in 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Seoul National University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Uniquely, Lyla also brings hands-on experience as an Airbnb Superhost, offering stays in a traditional Korean Hanok, which provides her with a distinctive perspective combining business acumen and practical hosting insights.

Dr. Michael Jiwon Ahn, D.HTM is the CEO of Rakkojae Hanok Collection, the first and premier owner and operator of traditional hanok hotels in South Korea.  Rakkojae was awarded the distinction of being on La Liste’s Top 1,000 World’s Best Hotels list in 2023.  Rakkojae currently operates two hanok hotel complexes: in Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Andong Hahoe Folk Village.

Dr. Ahn also is the Founder and CEO of House of Heritage, a company focusing on encapsulating Korean culture in innovative food and beverage products fit for the global audience.  The first product by House of Heritage is KORI Gin, a contemporary gin crafted with 10 botanicals native to the Korean peninsula.

Dr. Ahn obtained his Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management degree from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, his Master of Science degree from New York University and his Bachelor of Science degree from École Hôtelière de Lausanne.

Lee Jeongjoong is an emerging professional in the field of theme park entertainment and currently holds a research position on new business ideas at Hotel LOTTE., LOTTE WORLD. With a Postdoc degree in computer science and gained abundant experience through a research professor at Sejong University.

Since joining LOTTE WORLD, he has contributed to the development of new attractions by demonstrating his ability to manage various B2B and B2G projects, and has also received Ministerial Awards from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

His current role is to communicate with companies in various industries to discover new business opportunities, validate short-term collaborations with theme parks, and review cross-investments with affiliates.

He oversaw projects such as contents(vr, ar, mr), blockchain (nft, metaverse), A.I. (dynamic pricing, image processing, chat bot), and is interested in expanding into new areas such as exporting and selling IP contents licensed products.

Sunghun Cha is a Business Development Manager at Cirium, a leading provider of data and analytics for the aviation industry. Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

At Cirium, Sunghun plays a crucial role in identifying and cultivating strategic partnerships and leveraging extensive aviation data that drive new business opportunities and enhance client solutions in the Korea and Japan market. He brings value to client businesses through active collaboration with leading players across the industry such as airlines, airports, tech companies, OTAs, and financial institutions. This strategic approach not only drives growth but also allows the industry throughout Asia to benefit from Cirium’s trusted aviation analytics.

With a keen insight into the Korean and Japan travel and aviation industry dynamics, Sunghun has made positive contributions to Cirium’s growth and presence in these regions. His approach combines a thorough understanding of the market along with a commitment to client-focused strategies, ensuring that Cirium remains at the forefront of aviation data and analytics in the market.

Andrew Kim is Director Sales Korea and Southeast Asia at Delta Air Lines. In this position, Andrew leads Delta’s sales teams within the territory while working on expanding cooperation with Korean Air.

Andrew joined Delta in October 2017 as Director Korea Sales and assumed his current position from October 2020 with expanded scope of responsibilities. Andrew will have an integral role as a leader of the Delta Sales team in Korea and SE Asia as well developing Global TMCs relationships for the APAC region.

Andrew brings over 25 years business development experience in the U.S. and Asia, across the airline, electronics and semiconductor sectors. During his 17-year tenure with global airlines, Andrew held roles of increasing responsibility and successfully developed new business with a number of key conglomerates and multinational companies in Korea. Prior to his experience in Korea, Andrew also spent time in Jakarta and Singapore, where he was a key developer of Asia-Pacific corporate sales strategy and in actively building alliances in Asia.

Andrew attended the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he earned a BA in Economics.

James Marshall is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in air account management and transport services within the travel industry. Currently serving as Vice President of Global Air Account Management at Expedia Group since June 2010, James leads a team handling relationships with over 400 airline accounts globally. Previously, roles included Vice President of Global Transport Services and Vice President of Transport Partner Services in Asia Pacific. James has also held leadership positions at Amadeus IT Group, including Regional Director for Airline and Hospitality Distribution in Asia Pacific. In addition to their corporate roles, James serves as President of the Spanish-Singaporean Chamber of Commerce, fostering economic and cultural ties between Singapore and Spain. James holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s in International Management from ESCP Business School.

Mr Calvin Chan is the Chief Commercial Officer of Scoot, overseeing key commercial units including Network Planing, Pricing and Revenue Management, Sales, Marketing and Communications, e-Commerce, Distribution, Business Intelligence and Analytics, Partnerships and Interline, and Customer Service.

Mr Chan has over 13 years of experience in the airline business. He started his airline career with Singapore Airlines, where he held roles in Network Revenue Management and Network Planning. His last position with the airline was that of Manager Kyushu in Japan, where he was responsible for overseeing sales from the region, as well as reservations, ticketing and airport operations.

Mr Chan joined Scoot in 2013, and has since held several positions, including Senior Manager of Revenue Management and Scheduling, Head of Network Planning and Partnerships, and Vice President of Planning. During his time, he was involved in the integration of Scoot with Tigerair Singapore and saw to Scoot’s rapid expansion as well as its landmark debut in the low-cost long-haul sector. Prior to joining Scoot, Mr Chan also held other positions in transport business planning and pricing and revenue management consulting.

Mr Chan holds a Master of Science in Electrical Power Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, United Kingdom (merged with the University of Manchester in 2004).

Sung Shik Won is a technology and business innovation leader who has more than 33 years of diverse experience in the IT industry. He is currently taking on the role of Head of Professional Services (known as ‘ProServe’) for Korea AWS, engaging in various digital transformation journey for cross industry enterprises in financial services, distribution, telecom and manufacturing.

Before joining AWS, he served as country general manager of IBM in Korea, where he led a few initiatives such as Quantum ecosystem development with academic research organizations and hybrid cloud and generative AI adoption for enterprises.

He has an experience of traveling over 40 countries, enjoying the self-arrangement of itineraries, looking for point-of-interest by himself. He believes his travel experience to be more exciting with AI technology near future.

Yuna Sun is the CEO and founder of MOULIN de SÉOUL, a startup dedicated to empowering Korean food culture by preserving traditions and reshaping global perceptions.

Her venture into the culinary industry follows a successful 12-year career driving exceptional growth in the IT sector. This transition aligns with her family’s 370-year heritage in Jang, traditional Korean fermented sauces, sparking her deep passion for the culinary business.

During her 12 years in IT, she played a pivotal role in the growth and success of startups, helping one company achieve acquisition and four others reach unicorn status in Korea and the US, across sectors such as fintech, mobility, AI, EdTech, and SMB. Her proactive approach to identifying and seizing socially responsible business opportunities reflects her commitment to driving positive change.

Drawing on her experience as a growth builder in IT and a member of one of Korea’s most prestigious families, she is now paving the way for a new era of the Korean food wave, starting in Paris, France, renowned as the center of gastronomy.

Sulbi is the founder of Tara Consulting, an entrepreneurial venture that offers fractional C-level brand and business consultancy services while bridging Korean traditional farming wisdom with modern hospitality at her farm in Jeongeup, Korea. Her consultancy work spans from pro bono support for local businesses to strategic consultancy in technology and hospitality companies like Accor.

Alongside her consultancy work, Sulbi is creating a permaculture-based community that preserves centuries-old agricultural practices while innovating sustainable living and tourism.

Her initiative “Dalha (Tara) By Sul.V” showcases the richness of Korean farming heritage through products like “Dalha Ssanghwa Tea”, a Korean traditional herbal tea infused with 16 locally grown herbs, and all-natural sesame balms that utilize indigenous plants and time-honored preparation methods. These products not only support local elderly farmers but also help preserve generational agricultural knowledge.

Sulbi is working towards creating spaces where guests can immerse themselves in Korea’s agricultural traditions. Her approach integrates respect for the land, community engagement, and the sharing of ancestral farming wisdom, offering authentic experiences rooted in Korea’s rich agricultural heritage.

Jay has almost 20 years of experience leading global projects, international sales and company management in Korea, Africa, India and Singapore. She specializes in cross-company collaboration, project planning and completion, collaboration with global partners, product development and sales. Currently serving as Program Lead at the Global Startup Center, a center for foreign startups seeking market entry into Korea by offering programs ranging from incorporate to residency visas. Jay is also the CEO of All Things Asia, offering curated programmes for special purpose groups visiting Korea, the flagship programme being the Korea Legacy Tour.

Takaya Shinozuka is the founder and CEO of Reiwa Travel, embarking on his second entrepreneurial journey. In April 2021, with the pandemic halting overseas travel, Takaya seized the moment to start the company, raising $20M USD, and introduced NEWT, short for New Travel, a booking app for overseas travel, achieving significant transaction volumes in its second year. Previously, Takaya founded Loco Partners Inc., launching Relux, a luxury hotel booking app that was acquired by KDDI, marking a major milestone in his career.