Online event on June 23 to feature experts from TikTok, Travelport, Lufthansa City Center and MakeMyTrip
WILMINGTON/Delaware – RateHawk, the global B2B platform for booking hotels, flights and transfers, has announced the full agenda for Futurecast 2026, its flagship online event taking place on June 23, 2026. The conference will bring together leading voices from the travel, technology and digital innovation sectors to discuss the trends and technologies expected to reshape the travel industry over the next decade.
The discussions will be informed by insights from a joint research study conducted by RateHawk and Phocuswright, one of the world’s leading travel, tourism and hospitality market research organizations.
Opening Fireside Chat: Creating the Future of Travel
The event will open with a fireside conversation titled “The Future of Travel We Create”, featuring Felix Shpilman, President and CEO of Emerging Travel Group, and Matthew Parsons, travel technology journalist and contributor to PhocusWire.
The discussion will examine how agentic AI and data-driven decision-making are creating new opportunities across the travel ecosystem. Topics will include the potential emergence of a fully agent-to-agent travel environment, the next generation of travel technology innovation, and how RateHawk’s mission to empower travel professionals may evolve in the years ahead.
Industry Experts Discuss the Trends Shaping the Next Decade
Following the opening session, Futurecast 2026 will host a panel discussion titled “Supercharged Travel: Trends That Will Shape Travel in the Next Decade.”
Moderated by Matthew Parsons, the panel will feature:
- Ilya Kravtsov, Chief Commercial Officer, Emerging Travel Group
- Vaibhav Singh, Chief Commercial Officer – Hotel Supply, MakeMyTrip
- Siiri Palisaar, Senior Director Sales Steering, Lufthansa City Center
- Sinead Reilly, Senior Director Global Enterprise Sales, Travelport
Drawing on experience across multiple markets and sectors, the speakers will explore:
- How travel brands can meet the expectations of Generation Z and Generation Alpha
- Where artificial intelligence is already improving operational efficiency
- Why the industry is likely to experience a new wave of API-driven innovation
- Which areas of travel expertise will continue to require a human touch
TikTok Keynote: Turning Inspiration into Bookings
The event will conclude with a keynote presentation titled “From Inspiration to Booking: Winning the Modern Traveler on TikTok.”
Presented by Mikel Njeim, Client Partner, Tourism & Events, MENA at TikTok, the session will provide practical insights into how travel companies can leverage user-generated content and digital communities to engage audiences, influence travel decisions and drive business growth.
The keynote will also highlight emerging consumer behaviors and effective strategies for reaching travelers throughout the digital customer journey.
Free Registration Open for Travel Professionals Worldwide
The event will be streamed live online and will be accessible to all registered participants.
Registration and additional information are available at:
https://futurecast2026.ratehawk.com/
About RateHawk
RateHawk is an innovative B2B travel booking platform developed by Emerging Travel Group, offering hotels, flight tickets, transfers, car rentals and other travel services through a single interface.
The platform features a fast and user-friendly API and provides 24/7 customer support. Today, RateHawk gives travel professionals access to more than 3.2 million accommodation options worldwide, including 250,000 directly contracted properties and inventory sourced from over 350 global suppliers.
In addition, RateHawk offers access to tickets from more than 450 airlines and transfer services across 150+ countries.