In 1999, the companies that are now doing business as Booking Holdings and Expedia Group were newcomers in the nascent online travel-booking space as the Internet steadily took hold among consumers.
A small organization, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), was established to help grow online travel services and advocate for their interests with lawmakers.
Today, Booking and Expedia are the country's two largest travel companies, according to Travel Weekly's 2023 Power List. Travel Tech now represents an industry with $289 billion in revenue, and for the first time since its founding, it is broadening its membership categories to welcome the next generation of trailblazers.
"We're looking for all different types of innovators in the travel tech space, knowing that 25 years ago, the Bookings and Expedias got their start the same way," said Travel Tech CEO Laura Chadwick.
Last week, Travel Tech launched its Advocate member tier aimed at startup and small to midsize companies (already existing are the Associate and Executive categories). At launch, four companies -- Group Travel Odyssey, DCX Travel & Technology, Dream Guest and UCPlaces -- joined under the Advocate tier.
Travel Tech's legislative priorities
Laura Chadwick
Chadwick just celebrated her one-year anniversary at Travel Tech. In that time, the association has filed 14 comments with government bodies, worked with legislators to introduce member-friendly bills, rebranded and relaunched its website and expanded membership.
"I'm so excited about this next chapter, this next year, to bring industry members in," she said. "I'm a big believer in trade associations and the good that they can do."
Travel Tech's main legislative priorities include how airline refunds are paid and ancillary fee disclosure on search pages. Front and center, Chadwick said, is the Biden administration's crackdown on "junk fees." Travel Tech's main goal is to ensure there is a national standard for resort fee transparency.
As such, Chadwick said the association has been working closely with the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the creation of the No Hidden Fees on Extra Expenses for Stays Act.
The FAA reauthorization bill is also a priority. Travel Tech has a number of asks when it comes to the bill, but chief among them is a goal shared with ASTA: getting a "ticketing agent" representative on the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee.
"Because consistently, over the last decade, we have sold 50% of all airline tickets," Chadwick said. "We touch that many consumers on a regular basis. We feel that we should have a voice in that forum."
It does appear that seat will be added into the legislation, she said, which would be a win for both trade groups.
AI on the horizon
Next year marks Travel Tech's 25th anniversary. Chadwick is planning an event on Capitol Hill to connect members and policymakers. She is targeting National Travel and Tourism Week in May.
Chadwick also said that next year the industry will be hearing more from Travel Tech about AI and its place in the industry.
"We think travel is a wonderful use case to highlight the technology," she said, "and also talk about how it can be used in the most responsible way to ensure travelers' safety."