WiT Singapore conference explores AI agents and the travel value chain
Etraveli’s Mathias Hedlund: The odds are in the back end
On October 9, 2026, Web in Travel reported that the WiT Singapore conference discussed agentic AI and the future of travel. Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern and CTO Idan Zalzberg said at the conference that the travel business is too complex and needs dedicated agents rather than general assistants, and argued for building trust before talking about exposure; executives from Agoda, Klook, AirAsia and other companies participated in related discussions. On October 14, Web in Travel reported that Viator founder Rod Cuthbert said at WiT Singapore that his view of AI's impact on the travel industry had shifted from confusion and anxiety to "relatively calm" and even "Zen," because travelers are not a single type—some prefer searching, some need inspiration, and some are willing to let AI do the work—and these approaches will coexist. On October 15, Web in Travel reported that at WiT Singapore, the author discussed three possible paths for travel agents: general agents, vertical travel agents, and a collective agent jointly built by the industry. On October 23, Web in Travel reported that in an interview at WiT Singapore, the Agoda CEO and CTO again said that travel is highly complex and deserves a dedicated travel agent, rather than treating travel as just another chore for a general personal agent. On November 5, Web in Travel reported that Etraveli Group CEO Mathias Hedlund said at WiT Singapore 2026 that AI or large models have not yet solved the complete challenges of airline ticket back-end from procurement, pricing, fulfillment to service, and that this is precisely the business the company has bet on for twenty years.
Etraveli 首席执行官把竞争焦点从 AI 前端拉回机票后端,并给出 B2B 平台模块化与反欺诈能力的具体经营口径。
Source:Web in Travel · webintravel.com