Skift Global Forum 2024 – Shaping the Future of Travel

This September, the Skift Global Forum 2024 will bring together the travel industry’s top leaders in New York City from September 17-19 to explore transformative ideas and strategies. Under this year’s theme, Travel’s Great Renewal (and Reckoning), the forum will examine how technology, sustainability, and shifting consumer demands are reshaping the travel landscape. The event promises to address pressing challenges while uncovering new opportunities to help companies thrive in a rapidly evolving global market.

This year’s Skift Global Forum promises deep insights into the future of travel, exploring pivotal themes like:

• Where will demand growth come from? The forum will address key questions around consumer behaviour and online travel's future.
• Mass Tourism is Back: As global travel rebounds, how should the industry manage surging numbers while ensuring sustainability?
• Technology’s Role: With rapid advancements in data analytics and automation, the event will explore how technology is transforming operations and labour within travel.
• Experiential Travel: As travellers seek immersive experiences, discussions will focus on whether 2024 marks the breakout moment for this sector.
• Climate and Sustainability: How can the industry adapt to the unpredictability of climate change while fostering collaborative solutions for a more sustainable future?

Keynote speakers, including Brian Chesky (CEO of Airbnb), Joanna Geraghty (CEO of JetBlue), and Ariane Gorin (CEO of Expedia Group), will lead discussions on how the travel industry can stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape.

Forging Innovation and Collaboration

For BAE Ventures, the Skift Global Forum offers a unique opportunity to observe innovative partnerships and connect with leaders shaping the future of travel. The Skift Global Forum has long been a hub for innovation, collaboration, and inspiration, providing participants with the tools needed to drive sustainable, long-term growth.

• Sports and Entertainment Tourism is emerging as a critical growth sector, with discussions led by Sandra Douglass Morgan (President of the Las Vegas Raiders) and Steve Hill (CEO of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority).
• Hospitality will also be in the spotlight, as Anthony Capuano (CEO of Marriott International) discusses how brands are positioning themselves for global growth.

This year’s event promises to highlight how travel companies can navigate economic uncertainties, labor shortages, and rapidly shifting consumer demands while staying innovative.

Looking Ahead: A Catalyst for the Future

At the intersection of technology, sustainability, and consumer trends, the Skift Global Forum serves as a catalyst for the travel industry's renewal. BAE Ventures will be closely following conversations around transparency, as brands strive to build deeper loyalty with consumers through honesty and ethical practices. The forum’s focus on macroeconomic forces and data-driven strategies promisses to offer crucial insights into the evolving marketplace.

Skift's core belief that travel is a force for good aligns with BAE Ventures' mission to support innovation through venture capital, creating opportunities for startups and corporations alike to thrive in a dynamic global economy.