Join us for a live conversation bringing together hospitality and travel tech leaders to discuss what’s driving the next wave of distribution.
The hospitality and travel industry is undergoing a major shift as technology, guest expectations, and new partnerships challenge traditional distribution models. Direct bookings, AI-driven personalization, dynamic connectivity, and alternative channels are all redefining the landscape.
In our second edition of the AI Collective, leading voices from across hospitality and travel tech come together to share insights, bold predictions, and actionable strategies to help hotels and travel companies navigate what’s next.
The hospitality and travel industry is undergoing a major shift as technology, guest expectations, and new partnerships challenge traditional distribution models. Direct bookings, AI-driven personalization, dynamic connectivity, and alternative channels are all redefining the landscape.
In our second edition of the AI Collective, leading voices from across hospitality and travel tech come together to share insights, bold predictions, and actionable strategies to help hotels and travel companies navigate what’s next.
Jerome Dela Cruz is a senior leader in travel and hospitality, with over a decade of experience across Asia Pacific. Known for building teams, driving growth, and shaping commercial strategies, he has worked across the OTA, Wholesale, and Hotel 0perator segments. At HyperGuest, Jerome leads Business Development for APAC, working with hotel groups, travel sellers, and technology partners to improve direct distribution and commercial transparency in the region. Before joining HyperGuest, he was the Commercial Director at Hospitality Innovators Inc. (HII), where he managed the commercial performance of 15 properties across the Philippines. Prior to that, he served as the Country General Manager for Trip.com Group, where he built the Philippine office from the ground up, growing it to over 500 employees while establishing a strong presence in the market. Jerome has also held key roles at Hotelbeds and Bedsonline, focusing on supplier management, pricing, and market strategy—driving profitability and strengthening relationships across the region. He holds an MBA from the esteemed Asian Institute of Management as a Presidential Scholar, with a focus on Business Analytics and FinTech. He also completed the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM) program at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW. He is a Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) through HSMAI. Jerome is based in Asia and regularly speaks with travel and hospitality leaders about distribution trends, channel performance, and new paths to profitability. Outside work, he’s a traveler and coffee enthusiast.
Enzo Aita is a renowned business development leader with expertise in strategic partnerships, sales growth, and innovative marketing within the hospitality and travel technology sectors. Recognized as a Top Hospitality Voice on LinkedIn and one of the Top 10 travel content creators in Spain, Enzo has been a key player in driving revenue optimization and global expansion. As the creator of FunnelTV, a travel tech channel with over 30,000 hoteliers, he continues to shape industry conversations and thought leadership. A Certified Revenue Management Executive (HSMAI), Enzo spearheaded the creation of the largest Revenue Management Dictionary—a free resource featuring 600+ terms, hosted on HospitalityNet. At HyperGuest, Enzo leads global connectivity initiatives, forging key partnerships and enhancing B2B distribution solutions to optimize efficiency and profitability for hoteliers and travel providers.
Diego brings over a decade of hospitality experience and currently leads Port Hotels, a chain of 11 properties with €66M in revenue (2023). With expertise spanning operations, strategy, HR, and purchasing, he combines people-focused leadership with technology-driven innovation to foster growth, collaboration, and long-term success.
Sébastien leads global partnerships and industry relations at Cloudbeds, working with solution providers, distribution partners, and technologies that enhance the guest experience. He previously held leadership roles at Expedia, managing lodging connectivity worldwide, and began his career in hospitality with Le Meridien Hotels and Swissotel after studying Hotel Management and Business Administration in Germany.
With over 18 years of experience in hospitality and travel, Yahya is an expert in digital strategy, hotel distribution, marketing, and e-commerce technology. He has held senior leadership roles at Hotels.com, Lastminute.com, and Bookassist, building a strong global network across the industry. A multilingual, multicultural professional, Yahya holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics from Paris Sorbonne.
Katie is a hospitality industry veteran and a pioneer in demand data. Since joining Amadeus in 2011, she has led the global expansion of Demand360®, a forward-looking data tool helping hotels optimize revenue. She previously held sales leadership roles at Rubicon, Morgans Hotel Group, and Ritz-Carlton. Named one of 2018’s Influential Women in Hospitality by Hotel Management Magazine, Katie also serves on the HSMAI board and holds a BA from The University of Georgia.