Swayy will be awarded a full-size stand at the 2019 event worth £8,000 plus marketing support. Swayy successfully applied for the event’s Launchpad, which supported 15 of the most innovative start-ups in the travel technology industry this year.
David Gabriele, CEO Swayy commented:ÊÒWinning this award is symbolic of the hard work and dedication we have put into providing accountability and transparency to hoteliers and travel companies around the world, both small and large. It’s no secret that the current way in which hotels and influencers work together is inadequate, time consuming and frustrating. We have streamlined the process and finally given much needed control back to the hotel industry.Ó
Judge Lee Hayhurst, head of news, Travel Weekly Group, said:ÊÒSwayy offers something really different to what other people are doing in the sector. We saw recently what happened with an influencer who’d been turned away from a Dublin hotel and it really divided opinion on who was in the right. Swayy offers a solution for hotels to vet their influencers, which is what they really need.Ó
Judge Renee Tsielepi, consultant, Transcendence said:ÊÒThe finalists all showed huge potential to disrupt the industry, Swayy particularly impressed by offering a much-needed solution to a difficult problem. Swayy’s platform quickly matches hotels and influencers and removes much of the pain for hoteliers in finding the right influencers to work with.Ó
Judge Martin Cowen, contributing editor, Tnooz added:ÊÒSwayy’s algorithm that identifiesÊÒfake followersÓ is a great innovation and one that has massive potential in travel and beyond.Ó
Swayy’s fellow finalists were Protected Trust Services, Wanup, Live2Leave and GuidewiserÊÐÊall shortlisted from the event’s 15 Launchpad exhibitors. They were chosen during a three-week online vote, which was open to the public and received over 1,000 nominations. The shortlist then presented to a panel of esteemed judges in a Dragons’ Den style pitch to battle it out for this year’s crown:
- Walter Toscano, senior advisor, Travel & Telecom
- Martin Cowen, contributing editor, Tnooz
- Renee Tsielepi, consultant, Transcendence
- Sergio Gonzalezg, CTO, Regency Resorts
- Lee Hayhurst, head of news, Travel Weekly Group
Travel Technology Europe,ÊOlympia London, 21-22 February 2018Êwww.traveltechnologyeurope.com
About Travel Technology Europe:
Travel Technology Europe, held annually in London for 15 years, is Europe’s largest specialised exhibition and conference bringing together 6,000+ travel technology professionals. This long established and reputable event connects travel technology buyers and managers with the suppliers, knowledge and contacts to help innovate for the future of travel. It is the largest travel technology event in Europe, allowing travel technology buyers and managers to evaluate thousands of products and services from over 130 global travel brands and innovative start-up companies across the travel technology sector. Running alongside the exhibition is Europe’s largest conference programme designed to meet knowledge requirements of beginners through to experienced travel buyers. Independently produced and supported by over 120 expert speakers, the 70+ topical sessions cover the full spectrum of travel technology facilitating peer to peer learning and debate to enable companies to drive the industry forward.
