Phocuswright Innovation Platform events showcase the most innovative companies in travel across the globe. At The Phocuswright Conference, currently underway in Los Angeles, CA, a total of 36 companies - 22 at Summit and 14 at Launch - demonstrated groundbreaking applications and solutions poised to change the travel landscape, competing under the bright lights of Center Stage for the most coveted innovation awards in travel.

The companies who presented at Summit and Launch represent the cream of the crop from a large pool of applicants, and Summit showcased the winners of Phocuswright's 2018 regional events: Battleground: EMEA and Battleground: The Americas.

Sleepbox, which builds micro-hotels that can be installed anywhere for 1/10 the cost of traditional hotels, became the third company to claim three awards for the third year in a row, winning the Award For Travel Innovation – Emerging Category, The General Catalyst Award For Travel Innovation, and the Summit People's Choice Award, indicating a strong perceived need in the marketplace for more affordable and flexible lodging options. ConnexPay, which integrates both acceptance of credit cards and requesting of payments to travel providers into a single solution, won the Award For Travel Innovation – Startup Category, validating that there is plenty of room for financial innovation in travel. AirHelp, which uses advanced machine learning to process airline claims, won the Launch People's Choice Award.

Summit winners were chosen by a panel of Dragons comprised of travel and technology experts. The General Catalyst Award for Travel Innovation, which comes with a $100,000 convertible bridge loan, was determined by the Dragons with an increased emphasis on whether the company's innovation has the potential to create breakthrough value in the travel industry. Brand USA Award selected the winner for their Travel Marketing Innovation award, and OAG selected the winner for their AI Innovation award. Phocuswright Conference attendees voted to determine the People's Choice Awards for both Summit and Launch.

"We created the Phocuswright Innovation Platform to identify and recognize the entrepreneurs and ideas who are shaping the future of the travel industry," said Michael Coletta, Phocuswright's manager, research and innovation. "We were thrilled to bring a more diverse group of companies to the stage than we have in years, featuring many solutions and technologies beyond air, hotel and ground transportation in areas such as identity, safety, luxury, advertising, security, cruise and virtual interlining.

Over 400 innovators have now taken the stages at Phocuswright's innovation events since the first Travel Innovation Summit in 2008. This esteemed group of companies has brought countless innovations to the market and collectively raised over $3.2B in the process.

2018 PHOCUSWRIGHT INNOVATION PLATFORM WINNERS

AWARD FOR TRAVEL INNOVATION
Emerging Category Winner: Sleepbox, Inc.
Emerging Category Runner-Up: Perfect Price

AWARD FOR TRAVEL INNOVATION
Startup Category Winner: ConnexPay        
Startup Category Runner-Up: Airside Mobile, Inc. 

BRAND USA MARKETING INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: Vivere.travel

THE GENERAL CATALYST AWARD FOR TRAVEL INNOVATION
Winner: Sleepbox, Inc.

OAG AWARD FOR AI INNOVATION
Winner: Baarb

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD – SUMMIT
Winner: Sleepbox, Inc.
Runner-Up: Rentals United

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD – LAUNCH
Winner: AirHelp
Runner-Up: Tinyclues

 

Learn more about the winners and all of the innovators here.