explore ‘19: Eight Reasons to Attend

Every year we bring together our travel partners around the world for our annual travel industry conference, explore.

Held from November 13-14, 2019 at The Venetian in Las Vegas, explore ‘19 will be Expedia Group’s most innovative and exciting conference yet. From expanded content offerings and breakouts, to an all-star lineup of speakers, explore ‘19 will provide numerous opportunities to network and brainstorm with highly-motivated industry leaders.

UPDATE: If you’re looking for information on explore ’20, please visit www.exploreexpediagroup.com.

1. Choose your own adventure

explore ‘19 has something for everyone. This year’s conference provides a variety of breakout sessions. Some address universal topics such as what the latest data and research reveals about the travel purchase process, while others cover more specific subjects, such as the impact of technology on the guest experience. No matter your unique goals, explore ‘19 offers the right insights and know-how to continually improve the travel experience for your customers.

2. Hear insights on leadership from special guests

explore ‘19 will feature an all-star lineup of influential speakers including General Colin Powell, Robin Roberts, Billie Jean King, Colin O’Brady and Expedia Group executives such as Cyril Ranque, and many others.

3. Take a selfie with the Roaming Gnome

He’s adventurous, fashionable, and like any great gnome, has a deep affinity for the earth. While there’ll be no shortage of seasoned travelers at explore ‘19, the conference is your big chance to snap a photo with the globetrotting, mythological mascot.

4. Attend the Insights Summit

Our annual Insights Summit event will share how travel marketers can use our data, technology, and media expertise to engage and convert some of the hundreds of millions of travel consumers across Expedia Group’s global network of sites. You’ll get a look at our latest custom research into traveler trends, which will be the focus of our breakout session, “Explore Traveler Trends by Generation and Geography.”

Marissa Coslov, VP for eMarketer, will share insights on the coming year with a talk, “What to Watch and Track This Year to Prepare for 2020.” Finally, fellow travel marketing experts will speak on their most successful campaigns and digital marketing strategies and provide a glimpse inside new digital advertising tools.

You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to optimize the true value and effectiveness of your digital marketing, and better connect with travel shoppers through their consumer journey.

5. Discover traveler trends across generations

Our own business leader Hari Nair, Senior Vice President of Media Solutions, will be revealing which trends influence traveler decisions around the world in the breakout session “Explore Traveler Trends by Generation and Geography.” You’ll walk away with a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the mindsets and motivations driving different types of travelers of all ages and learn how to turn these insights into action to connect with your audience.

6. Experience the ambiance

Vibrant, iconic, and filled with nightlife and fine dining, there’s no place to hold a conference quite like Las Vegas. explore ‘19 will take place at acclaimed resort The Venetian, which “brings the soul of Renaissance Venice to Las Vegas.” The event has been upgraded with more premium accommodations and an enhanced conference space.

Named by San Diego magazine, as the “best Las Vegas hotel” the resort has suites which nearly double the size of an average Las Vegas hotel room, in addition to a wide offering of restaurants, pools, entertainment, and a spa. You can learn more about all The Venetian’s amenities here.

7. Work hard, play hard

It wouldn’t be explore’19 without a collection of Vegas-worthy soirees. Put on your dancing shoes and hit one (or all three) of the parties, including a closing celebration at Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub.

8. Return home with meaningful, applicable insights

From the speaker lineup of leaders and industry experts to 1:1 conversations in the networking pavilion to an array of breakout sessions fine-tuned to a variety of business goals, explore ‘19 provides two days of continuous opportunities to discover how to improve the travel experience for your customers. You’ll leave with actionable insights on how to attract more of the right customers, maximize your engagement with Expedia Group, and gain competitive edge.

Above are just some of the activities attendees can see and discover at explore ‘19. Whether you’re already headed to the conference, or are looking to register, we invite you to add the above activities to your list to get the very most out of explore ’19.

See you in Las Vegas!

Hari Nair

SVP & GM Account Management, Expedia Group

Hari is the SVP & GM Account Management with Expedia Group. Previously, Hari was the senior vice president of Expedia Group Media Solutions, the digital advertising arm of Expedia Group for four years. In that role, Hari Nair oversaw all facets of the business globally including product development and execution, engineering, operations, marketing, media sales and business development. Prior to that role, Hari was vice president and general manager of Orbitz.com and CheapTickets.com, responsible for overseeing retail operations and profitability of the business, brand strategy, marketing efficiency, and customer lifecycle management. Hari joined Expedia Group in 2002, and has managed and led market management operations in a variety of offices, including Dallas, New York and London. He also oversaw the company’s hotel supplier relations and directed lodging strategy and business for North America. Prior to joining Expedia, Hari worked in corporate training and food and beverage operations at Oberoi Hotels, a leading luxury hotel chain that owns and manages thirty hotels and five luxury cruisers across six countries under the ‘Oberoi’ & ‘Trident’ brands. Hari holds a master’s degree in Hotel Management from Cornell University.

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