Tuesday 5 April 2016

Pitch your startup to the biggest investors in the European travel space

Be the best on line travel start up in 2016!


Pitch to the biggest investors in the European travel space, including the founders of STA Travel, Holiday Autos, CEOs and heads of travel-focussed investment funds – 1 week left to apply

London April 19-20:  The Start-up and Innovation in Travel Awards, Tower Bridge Hilton, April 19-20 can change your business. It is the annual competition that allows innovators and start-ups to pitch their product straight to 10 of the biggest investors in European travel innovation and potentially 400 heads of marketing, distribution and ecommerce from the world’s top hotels, airlines, OTAs, travel groups and ground transportation providers. Exactly the people who will pay your start -up wages. See the attendee list here

Crucially our awards are subsidised by the Travel Distribution Summit. Unlike our competitors we don’t try and make struggling start-ups invest their valuable marketing dollars. We provide, at cost, an unbeatable forum for you to talk about your innovation in front of 10 judges who have an unbeatable record of spotting the winners in this space.

The competition kicks off with a ‘boot-camp’ style session.  Audience members will have the opportunity to quiz 10 of Europe’s top travel entrepreneurs including Clive Jacobs (founder of Holiday Autos), Dick Porter (founder of STA) and Jason Katz from Kings Capital, (the man that reunited the 2 Hilton Hotel groups). The judges, all entrepreneurs/investors with proven investment credentials will be on hand to share vital tips you need to succeed. 

The next stage of the competition gives the start-ups and innovators a chance to pitch to these judges:
  • Jason Katz, Partner, Kings Capital
  • Timothy Hentschel co-founder and CEO, HotelPlanner.com 
  • Callum Lee, Investment Analyst, Angel Capital Group
  • Clive Jacobs, Chairman, Travel Weekly Group
  • Sean Seton-Rogers, Partner, Profounders Capital
  • Suzanna Chiu, Principle, Amadeus Ventures
  • Charlie Woolnough, Hedge fund professional, Quorum
  • Christopher Persson, General Partner, Recapex
  • Stephane Cheikh, Ventures and Innovation Manager, SITA Ventures
  • Dick Porter, Portfolio Chairman and Investor (founder and former CEO, STA Travel)


Our judges choose the 2 best companies to pitch again during the keynote debates of the Travel Distribution Summit, Europe’s biggest meeting of online travel, and distribution experts. This audience decides on the winner.

The potential for innovation in our sector is still huge. There may only be room for 2 really big, all singing and all dancing OTAs, but high growth companies such as Airbnb, Uber and Skyscanner are all the proof you need that travel start-ups and innovators can disrupt and thrive.

Since 1997 EyeforTravel has identified these companies. With mobile, data, and social media driving how we purchase travel at a frenetic rate, this year’s awards are once again set to reveal a future success.

“EyeforTravel’s Start-up & Innovation Awards are an affordable way for Europe’s travel start-ups and innovators to talk about what they are doing to a highly influential audience and get a foothold in the cut-throat online travel industry,” says Tim Gunstone, MD, EyeforTravel.
The Summit is packed with networking and strategy setting opportunities. Marketing and distribution deals abound at the event and for decades travel start-ups and innovators have attended to get the advice, contacts and potentially the investment they need to succeed.  

We have 2 spaces left. EyeforTravel’s Start-up Awards are open to all travel start-ups or existing companies that have launched a new industry shaking product or service.  All entries must be received by April 10, 2016. 


For all event enquiries contact:

Tim Gunstone
MD
EyeforTravel Ltd.
London, UK: +44 (0)207 375 7557
US Toll Free: 1 800 814 3459 ext. 7557