NEWS: Westminster fly-in highlights the growing recognition of online travel at the intersection of travel and technology
Online Travel UK members came together for our first-ever Westminster fly-in this week (8-9 June), spending two days meeting with regulators, government departments, parliamentarians and travel industry experts.
The fly-in coincided with the start of London Tech Week, with a programme that included meetings with key stakeholders at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Members also met with parliamentarians and enjoyed an engaging breakfast fireside discussion with Rhys Williams, Partner and Travel Lead at Fox Williams, exploring issues and opportunities facing the sector over the next 12 months.
Since OTUK was established in 2023, our mission has been to provide a constructive voice for the online travel sector on issues affecting consumers, competition and innovation. The programme highlighted just how much the policy landscape surrounding online travel continues to evolve.
Alongside travel-specific discussions on ATOL reform, package travel regulation and the new Civil Aviation Bill, our members discussed digital markets, competition, online consumer journeys, search, platform regulation and the future implications of AI.
This breadth of discussion reinforces a simple and important point; online travel businesses sit at the intersection of travel and technology. Every day, millions of consumers use our members’ platforms to research, compare, book and manage their travel. As a result, many of the most important conversations affecting our sector sit within wider discussions about digital regulation, competition and consumer choice online.
The fly-in also demonstrated the growing recognition of OTUK as a credible and constructive voice for the online travel sector. Across the two days, there was clear interest in the practical insight our members can provide into how consumers navigate digital marketplaces, make purchasing decisions and engage with online travel platforms.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to meet with us. The fly-in marks an important milestone for OTUK and reflects the growing role the online travel sector can play in helping shape policy that supports innovation, competition and positive outcomes for consumers.
If you are an online travel business and would like to discuss membership, please contact us.
