The in-person travel technology show takes place alongside WTM at ExCeL from 1-3 November, followed by TF Virtual on 8-9 November.

The Travel Forward conference programme will feature a pitching competition for start-ups, called Front Runners’ Travel Tech Competition and Summit, on 2 November.

Some 350 early-stage companies from 80 countries made “virtual” pitches to a panel of judges, who came up with a shortlist of three for each of the competition’s categories: smart mobility, hospitality and experiences. 

Travel Forward will also feature some well-established big names from the travel tech sector including Sabre, Sita and payments giant MasterCard.

Sustainability will be in focus during Travel Forward with Sita talking about how tech is helping the aviation industry to reduce emissions and become a “greater force for good”.

While Harold Goodwin, WTM’s responsible tourism advisor, will be looking at case studies of how technology can encourage behavioural change in travellers. 

Other prominent topics at the event will include marketing, innovation and cybersecurity.