Phocuswright Announces Innovators Competing at the 2016 Phocuswright Conference

We are pleased to announce the innovators competing at the 2016 Phocuswright Conference. A total of 62 companies take the stage this November – selected through a rigorous vetting process from hundreds of applications across 11 categories.

"We have tracked and analyzed more than 1300 digital travel startups worldwide over the past decade," said Phocuswright’s Douglas Quinby, vice president, research. "For most startups, the entrepreneurial dream encounters a fierce battle for relevance."

According to Phocuswright's Travel Innovation: The State of Startups 2005-2016:

• More than US$33 billion has poured into travel startups since 2005
• Startups in Asia Pacific attracted more than half of all funding since 2015, up from 25% from 2005-2009
• Hotels, ground transport and private accommodation has been the most pursued travel verticals by entrepreneurs and investors
• Since 2015, funding has become increasingly concentrated in a handful of late-stage startups across several sectors

"Investment in travel startups continues to grow," said Quinby. "And we're going to see some of the industry's most innovative companies battle it out on stage at The Phocuswright Conference this November."

View the full line up of innovators here.

"We're excited to partner with Phocuswright again as a sponsor of Summit," says Brand USA’s vice president, research and analytics, Carroll Rheem. "At Brand USA, we are committed to driving the future of tourism marketing, and through Summit we are able to connect with the best new companies entering the travel innovation arena."

Each group of innovators will vie for a variety of awards. Three Battleground companies move on to take the stage at Summit, a panel of judges – comprised of investors and travel industry experts – determine the category winners, audience voting decides the People's Choice winners, Brand USA selects the best tourism marketing innovator, and General Catalyst awards one company with a $100,000 convertible bridge loan.

Phocuswright has also partnered with Virtuoso, the international network of travel agencies to source travel technology startups for its 2017 Incubator Program.

Watch the battle live and gain exclusive interview access to this year's best innovators. Apply for your press pass here.

For ringside seats to this year's travel innovation battle register here.