Programme

Mr. Comeau is responsible for overall strategic and operational leadership at Phocuswright. Pete oversees all aspects of Phocuswright’s commercial activities including product, sales and service, and marketing. He also plays a key role in product development and business development strategy for Phocuswright research, events and media businesses globally. Pete is a frequent speaker at industry events and heads Phocuswright’s coverage of startups and innovation.

Mr. Comeau’s travel industry career spans over two decades. Previously, he managed strategic partnerships at Orbitz in Chicago, where he assisted in growing and managing accounts for the Orbitz Partner Network. Prior to Orbitz, Pete was the sales leader at Moguls Mountain Travel, a ski tour wholesaler in Boulder, CO. He helped design, implement and maintain four reservation systems during his tenure and managed and mentored a team of successful sales agents.

Based in the Denver, Colorado area, Pete holds an M.B.A. from Daniels College of Business and graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College with a degree in government and economics.

Siew Hoon has been covering the travel industry beat in Asia Pacific for decades, starting off as a rookie reporter and going on to lead and launch the region’s key industry media titles. In 2005, she founded WiT (Web in Travel) to tackle how technology was changing travel in Asia Pacific and created a new space in the fast-growing, dynamic region with a dedicated media and events platform.

Over the years, she took WiT to new places, launching editions in Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Middle East, Europe, Africa and most recently New Zealand to keep the world’s attention focused on the three pillars of travel, technology and Asia.

Following the acquisition by Northstar Travel Group in 2014, she led the launch of Travel Weekly Asia and M&C Asia and formed the editorial team to execute the entry of Northstar Travel Group to Asia.

Her work has been recognised by numerous institutions including the Singapore Tourism Board which recognised her as Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014. The WiT Singapore conference, which remains its tentpole event, has won several awards including Most Innovative Marketing Initiative and Trade Conference Of The Year.

In 2020, WiT Singapore became the first travel conference to go fully hybrid, paving the way for a new model in events.

Other than writing about travel, Siew Hoon is also a published author of titles such as “Around Asia In One Hour: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries”, children’s books such as “Adventures of Habibie The Turtle” and “The Story of Baitong and Boon” and host of “A Life In Travel” podcast.

Ross is CEO & Co-Founder at Wego, which is online travel marketplace that provides top ranked mobile apps and websites for users living in the APAC and MENA regions. Wego harnesses powerful technology that simplifies the process of searching, comparing and booking flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels and online travel agency websites. Wego is has dual-HQs in Singpaore and Dubai and is backed by top-tier investors including Tiger Global, Crescent Group, Square Peg Capital and the MBC Group.

Ross is a veteran of the Asian internet industry having established Yahoo!s Southeast Asian operations in Singapore back in 1998 and leading product development efforts across the region for 6+ years. He is also Singapore Co-Chair of H2, the premier global leadership network for the digital industry. Ross has been an active angel investor in the technology sector for a decade and enjoys working with other passionate entrepreneurs. He has worked in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Kuala Lumpur and is now splits his time between Singapore and Dubai. He travels frequently for business but not nearly enough for leisure.

Muzzammil is the CEO of Almosafer, Saudi Arabia’s leading Travel Company, elevating the journey for travelers from Saudi Arabia, the region & beyond, while harnessing Seera Group’s 40+ years of expertise. Muzzammil is passionate about creating teams that use the power of digital technologies and data to deliver delightful customer experiences at scale.

Muzzammil holds an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Irvine.

Mr. Albert Fernando is a visionary leader and the CEO of Travelwings, a leading online travel platform headquartered in Dubai. Mr. Fernando is one of the rare insiders who built Travelwings with a passion for travel, keen business acumen, and hypersensitivity to the customer experience.

Inspired by the idea of taking customers on an enchanting journey without bounds, he established Travelwings as an enduring travel brand that offers authentic and exclusive travel experiences made possible with innovative technology and firsthand knowledge of every destination. Ever attentive to consumer demands, Albert is driven by a vision to position Travelwings as the world’s most trusted e-commerce tourism brand, known for its world-class technology, exceptional customer service, customer-centric approach, and seamless user experience.

Mr. Fernando’s extensive experience in the travel and hospitality sector has enabled him to understand the evolving needs and preferences of modern travellers. With an acute focus on personalised travel experiences, Albert has revolutionised the way we explore the world. Under his guidance, Travelwings has become renowned for its emphasis on customised travel ventures, tailoring every journey to meet the unique requirements of customers. Through innovative technologies and a customer-centric approach, Mr. Fernando has ensured that Travelwings remains at the forefront of the industry. His impressive career trajectory is marked by his unwavering commitment to excellence and his relentless pursuit of innovation in the travel sector.

Mr. Fernando possesses a wealth of experience and expertise, making him a respected leader in the industry. His visionary leadership has propelled Travelwings to become a trusted platform for travellers around the world. Under the guidance of Mr. Albert Fernando, the company has recorded over 300K bookings catered to over 1 million travellers, and gained a strong foothold in 32+ nations across the Middle East, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Morocco, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and many more.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Fernando has been recognized for his outstanding contributions. Recently, Albert was felicitated with ‘Africa’s Flight Booking Brand CEO of the Year 2023.’ The award celebrates the “Best Brains and the Most Successful Visionary Brands in Africa.” Moreover, in 2022, CEO Insights 2022, a program that honours emerging chief executives across the Middle East, bestowed Albert Fernando with the title of “Top 10 Leaders in the Middle East,” while the CEO Monthly program felicitated Mr. Albert with the “Most Influential CEO of 2022 in the United Arab Emirates” award. Additionally, he has been featured in CEO Insights India as a self-motivated leader setting an exemplary standard for others to follow.

Moreover, as a thought leader in the travel industry, Mr. Fernando has also been featured in various publications and industry journals. His efforts to offer well-curated travel experiences have been celebrated in The Guardian’s special focus on iconic drivers of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector. His insights and expertise have been sought after by many, and he has inspired many others in the tourism sector. These prestigious accolades are a testament to his exceptional leadership skills and his ability to drive positive change within the organisation.

Driven by his relentless pursuit of excellence, Mr. Albert Fernando continues to steer Travelwings toward new horizons, ensuring that every traveller’s journey is nothing short of exceptional. He envisions offering his customers a journey filled with unforgettable memories and unparalleled experiences.

Guided by his vision to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction and his ability to navigate the ever-changing travel landscape, Albert Fernando continues to be a driving force in the tourism industry, shaping the future of online travel platforms.

As Regional Director for Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Alberto is responsible for leading the Regional teams to achieve the commercial and operational objectives set for the regions.

With more than 20 years experience in the industry, in the last 15 years at Booking.com between Italy and Australia he has been able to support the growth of the business working with his team to create a strong business relationship with accommodation partners and the wider industry ecosystem.

Boon Sian Chai currently serves as Managing Director and Vice President of International Markets at Trip.com Group. Based in Singapore, Chai oversees the entire International Hotel Supply team spearheading the growth of supply partners internationally.

Prior to joining Trip.com Group, Chai progressed through the ranks during his more than 14 years in the online travel agency (OTA) space. With an extensive knowledge and in-depth experience of the OTA space, Chai enjoys spending time consulting with hotel partners on their pricing, distribution and marketing strategies. His geographic coverage includes Asia Pacific, having spent time in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and he has extensive networks in these markets.

Before moving into the online travel space, Chai was the COO of an IT startup company specialising in online human resource systems and held corporate planning and e-commerce positions with various enterprises working on strategic planning, business development and sales and marketing.

Chai holds an MBA from the Chicago Booth School of Business and a BSc with first-class honours from Loughborough University. Boon Sian Chai Managing Director and Vice President, International Markets Trip.com Group

Mr. Comeau is responsible for overall strategic and operational leadership at Phocuswright. Pete oversees all aspects of Phocuswright’s commercial activities including product, sales and service, and marketing. He also plays a key role in product development and business development strategy for Phocuswright research, events and media businesses globally. Pete is a frequent speaker at industry events and heads Phocuswright’s coverage of startups and innovation.

Mr. Comeau’s travel industry career spans over two decades. Previously, he managed strategic partnerships at Orbitz in Chicago, where he assisted in growing and managing accounts for the Orbitz Partner Network. Prior to Orbitz, Pete was the sales leader at Moguls Mountain Travel, a ski tour wholesaler in Boulder, CO. He helped design, implement and maintain four reservation systems during his tenure and managed and mentored a team of successful sales agents.

Based in the Denver, Colorado area, Pete holds an M.B.A. from Daniels College of Business and graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College with a degree in government and economics.

Viren is the co-founder and CEO at VIDEC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in emerging markets in the East, especially UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, China & SEA. He specializes in tech enabled high growth businesses and provides research, commercial due diligence and buy and sell side M&A advisory to companies across leisure and corporate travel categories.

Viren served as the head of Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions for Phocuswright for more than a decade before co-founding VIDEC in 2016.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and M.B.A. with dual specialization in marketing (major) and finance (minor).

In his downtime, Viren is a doting father to a 5-year old munchkin named Ori.

Carolyn Turnbull is an accomplished global leader in luxury hospitality and was appointed CEO of Nammos Hotels & Resorts in June 2025. With more than 25 years of international experience, she is recognised for building iconic brands, leading complex developments, and delivering long-term results.

At Nammos, Carolyn is transforming the brand from its iconic Mykonos restaurant and beach club origins into a global ultra-luxury lifestyle hospitality platform. The portfolio includes Nammos Hotel Mykonos, Nammos Resort AMAALA (2026), and Nammos Resort Maldives (2027), supported by a strong international pipeline.

Carolyn’s most formative professional years were spent working alongside industry pioneer Adrian Zecha at Aman. Over more than a decade, she helped shape Aman’s global brand strategy and operating philosophy across some of the world’s most exclusive destinations. She subsequently remained with Mr Zecha as the founding CEO of Azerai, leading the launch of the portfolio.

Prior to joining Nammos, Carolyn served as CEO of one of Australia’s largest hotel and residential developments, overseeing a landmark $1 billion mixed-use project at Perth’s Elizabeth Quay. Earlier, as Managing Director of Tourism Western Australia, she delivered a transformational $18 billion in economic impact and repositioned the state as a globally complete tourism destination.

Carolyn is known for her purpose-driven leadership style, combining commercial rigour with authenticity and strategic vision. She holds an Executive MBA from Nanyang Business School, Singapore, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

Mehdi Hemici joined the Accor group in September 2018, from American Express where he spent 10 years in designing international consumer strategies for premium credit cards, developing travel and lifestyle services for their most affluent customers. Prior to that, he spent over 10 years in commercial roles in the hospitality industry; working for Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Barrière Hotels & Casinos as a few examples.

As Chief Loyalty & E-Commerce Officer, Mehdi Hemici oversees Accor’s global booking platform & loyalty program, called ALL Accor, including E-commerce, Loyalty, Customer Engagement, Partnerships, Sponsorships and Customer Marketing. His role encompasses business and product strategy development as well as comprehensive team management across these verticals.

Chee Chong is passionate about the tourism industry, so much so that his 15-year career has been centered around it. He has founded not one, but two start-ups to better meet the needs of the buoyant travel/tourism industry.

He is currently Chief Executive Officer and visionary of GlobalTix, an e-ticketing travel marketplace. Chee Chong was also one of the co-founders of Adventure Glamping, which has pioneered and built the first-ever “glamping” (glamorous camping) resort called Canopi, located in Bintan.

He began his travel industry career with SilkAir, the regional carrier owned by Singapore Airlines and subsequently was seconded to Singapore Airlines.

During his seven-year career with the two carriers, he handled various job functions, including postings to Thailand, Indonesia, and Central Japan which gave him invaluable exposure in the airline industry. In Central Japan, he started many initiatives, including several that continue to today, and the team was recognized with a CEO’s Merit Award for operational excellence.

Chee Chong next joined Sentosa Development Corporation as a member of the management team. He started as the Leisure Operation, Director where he was responsible for ongoing daily operations, from beach operation, attractions to ticketing and subsequently became the General Manager of Mount Faber Leisure Group.

Chee Chong holds a Bachelor of Engineering (2nd Upper) degree from the National University of Singapore.

Leyla El Guermai is an innovative entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of RAFINYA, an AI-driven travel companion designed to revolutionize how the world explores Africa. Her mission is to elevate the travel experience by matching individual tastes and real-time contexts with high-quality local experiences, transforming a traditionally time-consuming planning process into a seamless, minutes-long interaction. By leveraging an LLM-native marketplace, Leyla is dedicated to making the continent’s hidden gems accessible to a global audience through cutting-edge technology.

Leyla’s career in the travel sector began in North America, where she led the supplier acquisition strategy for Planned.com, a prominent platform focused on corporate travel and events. While her time in Canada provided a deep foundation in travel tech and logistics, her strategic vision eventually led her back to Morocco to apply those global insights to her own startup. Today, she sits at the forefront of the African travel-tech landscape, building digital tools that bridge the gap between modern discovery and authentic local exploration.

Ruta is the Director of Partnerships for B2B Travel at Visa, where she is responsible for global travel partnership opportunities and relationships. With over 15 years of experience in the travel and distribution industry, Ruta previously led the Strategic Growth team at Trainline, enhancing partnerships with channel partners. Prior to that, she headed the Hotel Distribution Sales team for the EMEA region at Amadeus. Ruta’s extensive industry background also includes roles at AC Tours Miki Travel and Novatours.

Angelica is the co-founder of SocialSeal, a startup that helps travel brands see what travelers are searching for and resonating with on video platforms across different countries and languages.

A growth marketer and data geek for over 10 years, Angelica has lived through the rise of apps at M&C Saatchi Performance, hopped on the Klook rocket ship to scale it into today’s unicorn, and grew Google’s consumer cloud storage through partner marketing.

Jeremy, is a serial entrepreneur, investor and the Founder/CEO of Beautiful Destinations. The Financial Times has called him the “world’s most influential traveller”, and Fast Company voted Beautiful Destinations one of the most innovative companies in the world. Jeremy built Beautiful Destinations to over 50 million followers on social media and a global client base of leading governments, hotels, airlines and OTAs.

Florian Sengstschmid is the CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) and the Chief Advisor of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (STA). An Austrian-born leader that combines multiple perspectives on tourism development with a strategic and operational approach, Florian is instrumental in leading the transformation of brand Azerbaijan and launching the iconic ‘Take another look’ campaign on a global platform.

Prior to his current role, Florian was the Chief Operating Officer of Pasha Travel in Baku and the Executive Director of Azerbaijan Convention Bureau.

For more than two decades, Florian held a wide range of leading roles in the international travel and tourism industry, from marketing manager of a luxury hotel, to Commercial Attaché at the Austrian Embassy in Moscow and Representative of the Austrian National Tourism Board in CIS countries. Culminating his diverse career in the tourism industry Florian founded his own consultancy, EUDS Tourism Development and Solutions, in Vienna in 2004.

Florian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Vienna.

Phillipa Harrison is a transformative leader in global tourism, bringing decades of expertise to her role as Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA). She joined RAKTDA during a period of strong momentum, tasked with steering the Emirate’s bold ambition to attract over 3.5 million visitors by 2030. Her role is focused on accelerating progress and ensuring sustainable growth that delivers long-term value for the region and its people.

With decades of experience across global tourism markets and a proven track record of driving strategic growth, developing world-class marketing campaigns, and forging high-impact international partnerships, she is now shaping the next chapter of Ras Al Khaimah’s innovative tourism strategy.

Prior to her current role, Phillipa served as Managing Director of Tourism Australia, where she guided the organisation through a period of significant growth and transformation while expanding the destination’s appeal across key markets. Her tenure placed renewed emphasis on indigenous, regional, and experiential tourism, building cross-industry collaboration and positioning “Brand Australia” for sustainable long-term growth. By 2024, Australia welcomed 8.3 million international visitors, the strongest inbound performance in five years.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Psychology from Macquarie University and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales.

Tania is the Global Head of B2B Travel for Visa Commercial Solutions, where she responsible for the creation and execution of the business strategy for this rapidly evolving, high growth vertical segment. Bringing more than 25 years of experience in the payments, financial services and telecommunications sectors, Tania has led successful businesses around the world. Prior to joining Visa in early 2024, she managed the Commercial team at Outpayce from Amadeus, serving the global travel ecosystem with new advances in payments. Tania has also previously held senior business development roles at American Express, MasterCard Payment Gateway Services, Vodafone and IDT.

Timothy O’Neil-Dunne has spent most of his career in Aviation, Travel and Technology. He has been an entrepreneur, investment analyst and founding team member of some notable companies in Tech, such as Expedia. Several of these entities have valuations in billions. Today, he provides consulting services to different companies both in startup phase and amongst mature businesses addressing tough challenges.

Timothy is a recognized analyst and commentator in Aviation and Travel with a focus on Technology. He is frequently called on to speak at conferences. He has published several books in this subject area. Further he has authored four patents. Timothy was educated in the United Kingdom and now lives in Kirkland, WA USA. He is a surrogate parent to a boisterous Fox Red Labrador.