• 

  Ian Cumming

  Founder and Editor

  Travel Massive

• 

  Natalya Wissink

  Co-Founder and CEO, Secret Experiences

• 

  Crystal Phuong

  Head of Account Management, APAC, Aven Hospitality

• 

  Tracie May

  PR & Marketing Executive, Host at Chat.Travel

• 

  Ivy Nhi Chau

  Founder

  Ivy+Partners

• 

  Lina Gedvilaite

  Co-Founder and COO

  Seek Sophie

• 

  Richard Burrage

  Founder

  Cimigo

• 

  Hao Tran

  CEO and Co-Founder

  Vietcetera

• 

  Hoang Le Duy

  Business Development Manager, Headout

• 

  Sean Mulhern

  Co-Founder and Global CEO, One Life Adventures

• 

  Stephanie Hays

  YouTube Creator (@StephAndPete), and Travel Advisor with Fora Travel

• 

  Ric Gazarian

  Founder

  Extraordinary Travel Festival

• 

  Samuel Walter

  Founder

  Heads on Pillows

• 

  Paul Hewett

  CEO

  In Marketing We Trust

• 

  Frederik Wissink

  Author and Professional Photographer

• 

  Fran Diéguez

  CEO

  Nuna

• 

  Garth Adams

  Founder

  I Know The Pilot

• 

  Pei Shyuan Yeo

  Founder

  Everyday Tour Company

• 

  Keith Van

  Community and Partnerships

  seats.aero

• 

  Hannah Pearson

  Director

  Pear Anderson

• 

  Michelle Ford

  GM, Namia River Retreat and Founder, Lumina Wellbeing

• 

  Mandy Nguyen

  Operation Director

  Startup Vietnam Foundation

• 

  Casey Mead

  Director, CM Communications

• 

  Brian Letwin

  Co-Founder, CEO

  Saigoneer and Urbanist Travel

• 

  Shaun Huy

  SEO/GEO Manager

  Artemis Digital and Heads On Pillows

• 

  Benoit Weber

  Head of Analytics

  In Marketing We Trust

• 

  Rachel Weiss

  Digital Marketing Manager (Lost Plate) & Content Creator (Rachel Meets China)

• 

  Sơn Phạm

  Director of SME & Growth Sales

  Airwallex

See our full lineup of speakers announcement to learn more.

• ✅

  Registration at HorecFex

  9:30am - 10:00am
• ⭐️ VIP Lounge

  All day

  Anytime during the day — make use of the VIP Lounge with complimentary coffee, lunch and snacks, and meet and network with other attendees from Travel Massive.

• Morning Workshops — Mastering new AI technologies

  Hoi An Hall (Floor 2)
• 🔎 Workshop: Get Found in the AI Era:
  SEO and AI Search Visibility for Travel Brands

  10:00am - 11:00am

  Search is changing fast — travellers increasingly get answers from AI before they ever reach a results page. Samuel Walter and Shaun Huy, who run digital marketing and SEO/GEO for travel and hospitality brands across global markets, show how to stay visible across both traditional search and the new generative engines, and turn organic search into a reliable source of direct bookings. You'll leave with practical steps to get found in the AI era.
  Samuel Walter (Heads on Pillows) & Shaun Huy (Artemis Digital and HoP)
  Maximum capacity: 100 (seated)

• ✨ Workshop: Building AI Campaigns:
  The Future of Discovery in Marketing

  11:00am - 12:00pm

  Discovery is being rewritten by AI, and the brands that win will be the ones who build campaigns around it. Paul Hewett and Benoit Weber of In Marketing We Trust — who run data-driven marketing and analytics for global travel brands including Expedia, ClubMed, and Globus — share how to design AI-powered campaigns grounded in real data rather than hype. You'll leave knowing what actually moves the needle.
  Paul Hewett & Benoit Weber (In Marketing We Trust)
  Maximum capacity: 100 (seated)

• 🍜

  Lunch Break

  12:00pm - 1:00pm
• Afternoon Session — Building Success in Travel

  Main Hall, Ground Floor
• 🚀 Travel Startup Pitch Competition
  presented by Travel Trends Podcast and Airwallex

  1:00pm - 1:45pm

  Five of the region's most promising travel startups take the stage to pitch live. A judging panel spanning media, travel tech, startup ecosystems, and industry research — Hao Tran, Keith Van, Mandy Nguyen, and Hannah Pearson — puts each to the test, with extreme traveller Ric Gazarian keeping the pace. Expect sharp ideas, tough questions, and a first look at what's next in travel.
  Finalists: Why Ventures, Migo, WhoanHub, Trasys, HonestLee
  Judges: Hao Tran (Vietcetera), Keith Van (seats.aero), Mandy Nguyen (Startup Vietnam Foundation), Hannah Pearson (Pear Anderson)
  Moderator: Ric Gazarian (Extraordinary Travel Festival)

• 🤳 The Creator Economy in SE Asia: What's Working in 2026

  1:50pm - 2:30pm

  The creator economy has reshaped how travellers discover and choose — but what's actually working in 2026? YouTube creator Stephanie Hays (@StephAndPete), travel creator and digital marketer Rachel Weiss, and award-winning travel-PR veteran Casey Mead join moderator Ivy Nhi Chau to unpack what brands and creators are getting right, and wrong, across markets from China to Southeast Asia. You'll leave with a clearer read on where creator partnerships genuinely pay off.
  Panel: Stephanie Hays (YouTube Creator), Casey Mead (CM Communications), Rachel Weiss (Lost Plate and Rachel Meets China)
  Moderator: Ivy Nhi Chau (Ivy+Partners)

• 🔮 Top Travel Trends for 2027

  2:35pm - 3:15pm

  What will define travel in 2027? Market researcher Richard Burrage, who has helped build over 60 brands in Vietnam, hotel-tech founder Fran Diéguez, and community leader Natalya Wissink join Ian Cumming to look past the horizon — from shifting consumer behaviour to the technology and experiences travellers will expect next. You'll leave with trends worth planning for now.
  Panel: Richard Burrage (Cimigo), Fran Dieguez (Nuna), Natalya Wissink (Secret Experiences)
  Moderator: Ian Cumming (Travel Massive)

• ☕️

  Tea Break

  3:15pm - 3:30pm
• ✈️ Travel Tech Showdown:
  Leaders Debate OTAs vs Direct Booking in the age of AI

  3:30pm - 4:10pm

  OTAs or direct booking — where should hotels and operators place their bets as AI reshapes distribution? Headout's Hoang Le Duy, Seek Sophie co-founder Lina Gedvilaite, and direct-booking specialist Samuel Walter go head to head, moderated by Crystal Phuong. Expect a frank debate on who really owns the guest relationship in the age of AI.
  Panel: Hoang Le Duy (Headout), Lina Gedvilaite (Seek Sophie), Samuel Walter (Heads on Pillows)
  Moderator: Crystal Phuong (Aven Hospitality)

• 🔥 Founder's Interview (One Life Adventures)

  4:15pm - 4:45pm

  From co-founding one of Asia's largest hostel chains to building the award-winning One Life Adventures, Sean Mulhern has spent his career redefining adventure travel. In this fireside chat with Tracie May, he shares the story behind the brand — the risks, the lessons, and what it takes to grow a travel company across Asia and beyond.
  Fireside chat with Sean Mulhern (Co-Founder & Global CEO, One Life Adventures) and Tracie May (PR & Marketing Executive)

• 🏆 Startup Pitch Awards

  4:45pm - 5:00pm

  The moment of truth — our judging panel announces the winner of the Travel Startup Pitch Competition. Find out which of the five finalists won over the judges and takes home the title.

• 🥂

  Networking Drinks sponsored by Airwallex and 5 Elements Brewing Co.

  5:00pm - 6:00pm
• 💻

  Visit the Travel Massive / Travel Startups Booth for live demos and meetings

  20 - 21 August

• ✅

  Registration at Namia River Retreat

  9:30am - 10:00am (Lobby)
• ⭐️ Travel Massive Villa Lounge

  All day

  Anytime during the day — make use of the Travel Massive Lounge with private pool and lounge area at our 5-star luxury villa, for 1:1 meetings or a space to relax.

• 👋 Welcome & How to Make the Most of Your Day

  9:50am
  (Upstairs)

  Start the day with hosts Ian and Natalya for a quick orientation — how the day flows, what's on around the resort, and the little things that help you get the most out of it. A relaxed way to settle in before the sessions begin.

• Morning Activities

  Namia River Retreat
• 🍫 This is not a chocolate buffet.
  60 minutes, 2 chocolates, and your full attention.

  10:00am - 11:15am
  (Workshop on Boat)

  Two chocolates. Sixty minutes. Your full attention. This hands-on sensory tasting from Why Ventures walks you through sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste to reveal the difference between mass-produced and genuinely crafted chocolate, and why that difference matters to anyone who sells experiences for a living. It's also a rare chance to slow down and reset mid-conference. You'll leave with a sharper palate, a way to talk about craft, and a genuinely different kind of break.
  Christine Ng (Founder, Why Ventures)
  Workshop Limited to 20 People

• 💳 The Payments Playbook for Travel Businesses: How to Cut Hidden Fees, Protect Margins, and Scale Globally

  10:00am - 10:30am
  (Workshop Upstairs)

  With 75% of travel businesses relying heavily on cross-border revenue, outdated payment systems are quietly eating your profit margins. Every international booking can cost you 3–5% in bank fees and poor exchange rates, and those losses compound as you grow. Airwallex's Son Pham shows how to modernize your operations to scale across borders: collecting in local currencies, eliminating forced FX conversions, and paying overseas suppliers securely. You'll leave knowing exactly how to plug margin leaks as you expand.
  Son Pham (Airwallex)

• 🤖 AI and the Future of Commerce:
  How AI Is Rewriting Discovery, Decisions and Revenue

  10:30am - 11:00am
  (Workshop Upstairs)

  AI isn't just changing how travel companies operate, it's rewriting how travellers discover destinations, make decisions, and spend. In this workshop, Crystal Phuong explores how AI is transforming travel commerce end to end, drawing on industry research and real-world examples. You'll leave with a practical framework you can take back and apply to your own business, and a clear-eyed view of where discovery, decisions, and revenue are heading next.
  Crystal Phuong (Aven Hospitality)

• ✍️ The Art of Storytelling:
  How to Respectfully Speak of a Place and its People

  11:00am - 11:45am
  (Masterclass Upstairs)

  As hospitality brands rush to weave themselves into local cultures, where does honouring a place end and exploiting it begin? For over 15 years, Saigoneer has told stories rooted in genuine cultural curiosity and become a trusted partner for brands that want to reach discerning audiences. In this masterclass, Brian shows how creators and hospitality brands can build content and brand assets that resonate and respect the people and places behind them. You'll leave knowing where that line sits, and how to stay on the right side of it.
  Brian Letwin (Founder, Saigoneer)

• 🍜

  Catered Lunch at Namia Merchant Restaurant

  12:00pm - 1:00pm
  (Downstairs)
• Afternoon Activities

  Namia River Retreat
• 📸 Shoot to Sell:
  Hotel & Experience Photography That Converts

  1:00pm - 1:45pm
  (Masterclass on Boat)

  Beautiful photos are easy. Photos that actually convert are not. Drawing on 20+ years shooting Vietnam for brands like Four Seasons, Hyatt, Accor, Zannier, and Condé Nast Traveller, Frederik Wissink shows how to capture hotels and experiences that book — not just collect likes. You'll leave with practical, repeatable techniques for composition, lighting, and framing that turn images into bookings.
  Frederik Wissink (Author & Professional Photographer)

• 📱 Lost Your Google Traffic?
  How I Know The Pilot Gets 200k Monthly Visitors From Facebook — No Ads, and Gets Paid by Meta

  1:00pm - 1:45pm
  (Masterclass Upstairs)

  Google's changes have gutted organic traffic for a lot of travel brands. Garth Adams, founder of I Want That Flight and I Know The Pilot, with 400k+ newsletter subscribers and 550k Facebook followers, built one of the region's most engaged travel audiences without depending on Google, and turned it into direct revenue, including payments from Meta itself. He shares the concrete tactics: how to grow a genuinely engaged following, and how to qualify for and get paid through Meta's monetisation programs. You'll leave with a playbook for building an audience you own and turning it into income.
  Garth Adams (Founder, I Know The Pilot)

• 📣 How to Build a Tour Company
  People Can't Stop Talking About

  2:00pm - 2:45pm
  (Masterclass on Boat)

  How does authentic, human-first storytelling turn a tour company into one people can't stop recommending? P.S Yeo, founder of Singapore's Everyday Tour Company, draws on a 15+ year tech career and her pivot into travel to show how to build a word-of-mouth brand around curated food, culture, and community experiences. You'll leave with a practical approach for designing story-driven experiences that turn customers into advocates.
  P.S Yeo (Founder, Everyday Tour Company)

• 📰 How to Become the Source Everyone Cites

  2:00pm - 2:45pm
  (Masterclass Upstairs)

  Most travel businesses publish content. Few become the reference point everyone else relies on. Drawing on six years of running Pear Anderson's weekly industry report, Hannah Pearson shows how a small team — no research department, no big budget, no PR agency — can systematically become the source that associations, partners, and press cite. You'll leave with a practical framework for building credibility through original, consistent, well-sourced reporting.
  Hannah Pearson (Director, Pear Anderson)

• 🧭 The Journey Behind the Brand:
  Building a Career in Hospitality, Wellness & Entrepreneurship

  3:00pm - 3:45pm
  (Masterclass Upstairs)

  From leading Asia's first spa-inclusive resort to founding her own wellness hospitality company, Michelle Ford has built a career at the intersection of hospitality, wellness, and entrepreneurship. She shares the pivots, risks, and lessons behind brands like Namia River Retreat, and how she brings nature-based, human-centred practices into guest experiences and company culture alike. You'll leave with candid, first-hand insight into building a purpose-driven career and business.
  Michelle Ford (GM, Namia River Retreat and Founder, Lumina Wellbeing)

• ☕️

  Tea Break

  3:45pm - 4:00pm
• Travel Massive Quiz:
  50 Travel Questions to Challenge Your World Expertise

  4:00pm - 4:30pm
  (Upstairs)

  Think you know travel? Fifty questions to put your world knowledge to the test — expect friendly rivalry, a few surprises, and bragging rights on the line.
  Ian Cumming (Travel Massive)

• Happy Hour on The Merchant

  4:30pm - 6:00pm

  Hang out with the community and relax on Namia River Retreat's luxury "The Merchant" upper deck, parked on the Thu Bon River with views of Hoi An.

• Evening Activities

  Hoi An
• ⛴️

  Sunset Cruise to After Party by Boat (limited spots)

  6:00pm - 6:30pm
• 🪩

  Secret After Party by Secret Experiences

  6:30pm - late
• 🎉 After Party sponsored by Nuna

  🤫 secret location

  An exclusive evening event at a secret venue in Hoi An to celebrate two days of learning, connection, and inspiration with new friends from across the travel industry. The venue is a secret... it will be announced on the day!