Skift Global Forum East is a crossroads where ideas, strategy, and innovation collide. Attendees include global brands, agile startups, and forward-thinking institutions that influence every part of the travel ecosystem.
From luxury hotels and airlines to digital platforms and cultural institutions, the event showcases how different players come together to solve challenges, share insights, and build partnerships that shape the future of travel.
Airlines & Hospitality: Setting the Pace
Global Carriers: Airlines such as Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Air India Express, Oman Air, and Turkish Airlines bring insights into passenger trends, route strategies, and digital transformation. Discussions often cover emerging travel markets, sustainability initiatives, and loyalty program innovation.
Hospitality Leaders:Accor, Marriott, Four Seasons, Rotana, Minor Hotels, Aleph Hospitality explore operational innovation, luxury guest experiences, and expanding regional footprints. Sessions often highlight how hotels integrate tech, culture, and sustainability into their offerings.
Boutique & Agile Players: Companies like Ayla Hotels and Resorts, Chelsea Garden Hotel, and Nuitée demonstrate creative approaches to guest engagement and design-thinking in hospitality, balancing heritage and innovation.
The mix of global brands and nimble operators ensures the conversation spans scale, creativity, and operational expertise.
Big Platforms: Attendees from Amadeus, Oracle, Publicis Sapient, Expedia, Tripadvisor, and iOL Pay showcase how data, AI, and digital solutions are shaping personalized travel, loyalty strategies, and operational efficiency.
Startups & Innovation: Staytus Inc, Cozmo Travel LLC, Waves App, Canary Technologies bring experimental approaches to tech, highlighting emerging trends in booking, engagement, and traveler analytics.
Tech discussions focus on the balance between innovation and scalability, how new tools can impact large global operations while remaining adaptable to local markets.— sometimes before travelers even reach the terminal.
Media & Storytelling: Shaping the Travel Narrative
Global Media & Creative Leaders: Disney, Disney Imagineering, Atlas Obscura, The National, World Travel Magazine, YouTube, Khaleej Times illustrate the power of narrative and experience.
Attendees examine how storytelling, visual content, and media strategy influence traveler perceptions, destination marketing, and loyalty.
Strategy & Investment: Translating Ideas Into Action
Consulting & Strategy Experts: McKinsey & Company, BCG, Advantage Strategy Partners, Velocity Ventures provide frameworks for scaling innovation, evaluating ROI, and fostering strategic partnerships.
Venture leaders and corporate investors highlight funding opportunities for emerging travel tech and experiential concepts. Strategic and financial insight ensures that conversations move beyond theory to actionable business plans and partnerships.
Authorities & Institutions: Qatar Tourism, Saudi Tourism Authority, RAKTDA, Abu Dhabi Airports, Louvre Abu Dhabi, NYU Abu Dhabi emphasize the Middle East’s role as both a cultural and commercial hub for the global travel ecosystem.
Integrating art, heritage, and regional storytelling into global tourism strategies shows how destinations can differentiate themselves while contributing to broader industry innovation.
Skift Global Forum East positions the region as a bridge between innovation and tradition, highlighting scalable solutions that respect local context.
From Fortune 500 executives to startups, all participants share a common purpose: to innovate, collaborate, and define travel’s next chapter. Sustainability, tech, storytelling, and operational efficiency are recurring themes, reflecting the industry’s need for adaptability, creativity, and foresight.
‘Attending this event has given me deeper insights into regional trends and allowed me to form meaningful connections – both professional and personal.’
Skift Global Forum East is where ideas become action, insights become strategy, and the future of travel is imagined.
