Sessions
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM EST
Kicking off the conference, this opening session brings attendees together to highlight the key themes shaping travel and set the stage for the conversations ahead.We’ll also recognize the recipients of the Philip C. Wolf Memorial Scholarship Award. Philip, Phocuswright’s founder, was an entrepreneur, travel advisor, consultant and mentor to many. His influence on the travel industry and the people within it was profound, and his guidance continues to resonate today.This year’s two scholarship recipients reflect Philip’s passion for mentorship, embodying his values and demonstrating a commitment to tackling meaningful challenges facing the travel industry.
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Wednesday, November 18, 2026
9:15 AM – 9:35 AM EST
Steve Hafner helped define the metasearch era. Now, after more than two decades leading KAYAK, he has stepped into a new role at Booking Holdings focused on advancing AI innovation. As conversational interfaces and AI agents begin to reshape how travelers discover, compare and act, Hafner shares what he is building, his perspective on what comes after traditional search, where AI can create real advantage and how travel companies should prepare for the next shift in digital distribution.
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Thursday, November 19, 2026
12:35 PM – 12:55 PM EST
Search is moving beyond answers and recommendations toward action. As conversational planning, personalization and transactions converge, the lines between search engine, travel planner and booking channels are beginning to blur. James Byers shares the latest on how travelers are using Google’s AI-powered travel tools, then joins us to examine what this shift means for visibility, distribution and the battle to influence the traveler from inspiration through booking.
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