Alicia Schmid

Director of Research
Phocuswright

2026 Phocuswright Conference speaker

Alicia Schmid Director of Research
Ms. Schmid brings her 25+ years’ experience in market research to her role as Director of Research at Phocuswright. She has worked on both the client and supplier sides of research and with B2C and B2B audiences. Alicia specializes in translating business questions into research objectives and developing insights that drive growth while keeping the end-user’s behavior, attitudes, and needs at the center. She loves data and quantitative research but also has extensive experience with qualitative methodologies, including focus groups, 1:1 interviews, in-home, shop-along and usability. She has previously worked for notable companies including Michelin and Ryobi.

Alicia resides in South Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, gardening, baking, and travelling.

Sessions

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
4:10 PM – 4:25 PM EST

Phocuswright Research: Who Helps Travelers Decide? AI, Advisors and the New Planning Mix

AI is becoming a more familiar part of trip planning, but travelers are not relying on technology alone. Drawing on new U.S. consumer research and Phocuswright’s latest survey of travel advisors, this session examines how travelers are using AI alongside human advice, where each plays a role in planning and booking and how travel advisors themselves are incorporating AI into their work.

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Wednesday, November 18, 2026
4:25 PM – 4:50 PM EST

Executive Panel: The New Travel Advisor - Designing the Human + AI Model

AI and automation are taking on more of the travel-planning, booking and servicing process, but that does not make human expertise less relevant. It changes where that expertise matters most. This session examines which parts of the traveler experience benefit from judgment, relationships and advocacy, how technology can make those capabilities more scalable and what the most effective hybrid models may look like as travel advice is redefined.

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