BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//IFITT - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:IFITT X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ifitt.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for IFITT REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Vienna BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20240331T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20241027T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Helsinki BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20280326T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20281029T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20250514T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20250514T170000 DTSTAMP:20260520T234113 CREATED:20250409T091916Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250505T100334Z UID:10000014-1747238400-1747242000@ifitt.net SUMMARY:IFITT Webinar: Bitcoin and Tourism: Hype\, Hope or Game-Changer? DESCRIPTION:IFITT Webinar: Bitcoin and Tourism: Hype\, Hope or Game-Changer?\nDate & Time:Wednesday\, May 1416:00 CEST / 10:00 EDT / 15:00 BST\nThe International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT)  proudly presents the IFITT Webinars. These seminars aim to bring together global experts to share knowledge\, inspire innovation\, and explore the evolving landscape of technology and tourism. \nJoin us for an insightful session that opens the door to a rapidly emerging tourism market that might have gone unnoticed. This presentation will provide a concise introduction to Bitcoin\, followed by a discussion grounded in publicly available research data. \nDiscover fresh perspectives and potential research avenues: from early observations to entirely new greenfield opportunities waiting to be explored. \nWhether you’re a researcher\, industry professional\, or simply curious\, this IFITT Webinar promises to spark ideas beyond the obvious. \nSpeakers:\nJames Dewar and Irem Onder. \n(More information about the speakers at the end of the page). \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n Registration for IFITT Webinar: "AI & Big Data in Tourism: From Research to Practice"\n \n \n Personal informationFirst name(Required)Last Name(Required)Email(Required)\n \n University / Institution(Required)Consent(Required) I agree to the privacy policy.If you have any issues\, please contact us at ifitt@ifitt.net.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n James Dewar is a qualified accountant who spent twenty years working in financial services. Most of this time James had one foot in finance and one in IT implementing\, building and maintaining finance systems.Moving away from corporate life in 2020 James completed a research masters degree in finance and accounting and is a founding partner of Bridge 2 Bitcoin\, a director of Laser Eyes Cards Ltd\, Chair ofTrustees of The Sustainable Society Trust and the founder and lead of a community education group.James is a co-writer of an education curriculum to be published in 2025 which focuses on risk analysis – the threats to and opportunities for organisations of the rise of Bitcoin. The curriculum is intended tohelp organisations begin to identify and address strategic and operational threats and opportunities that may emerge across a range of dimensions.James’ engagement with IFITT began with developing a workshop with Irem Onder at the University of Massachusetts which they delivered at the Wroclaw conference in February\, 2025. \nIrem Onder is an Associate Professor and Ph.D. Coordinator in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She holds a master’s degree in information systems management from Ferris State University\, Michigan\, and a Ph.D. from Clemson University\, South Carolina. After earning her Ph.D.\, she spent over a decade at MODUL University Vienna.Irem’s research interests focus on information technology and tourism economics\, particularly big data analysis\, machine learning\, and blockchain. She recently edited a book on blockchain in tourism and hospitality services\, published by Taylor and Francis. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Travel Research\, Annals of Tourism Research\, Tourism Economics\, and the Journal of Information Technology and Tourism. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n James_Dewar\n \n \n \n \n Irem_Onder URL:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-bitcoin/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ifitt.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IFITT-Webminars.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="IFITT":MAILTO:ifitt@ifitt.net LOCATION:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-bitcoin/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20250710T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20250710T170000 DTSTAMP:20260520T234113 CREATED:20250701T125757Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T074855Z UID:10000016-1752163200-1752166800@ifitt.net SUMMARY:IFITT Webinar: Metaverse in Tourism: From Virtual Experiences to Real Value DESCRIPTION:IFITT Webinar: Metaverse in Tourism: From Virtual Experiences to Real Value\nDate & Time:Thursday\, July 1016:00 CEST / 10:00 EDT / 15:00 BST\nThe International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT)  presents the next IFITT Webinar. These webinars aim to bring together global experts to share knowledge\, inspire innovation\, and explore the evolving landscape of technology and tourism. The next webinar is titled “Metaverse in Tourism: From Virtual Experiences to Real Value”. \nThe webinar will provide a comprehensive exploration of the Metaverse and its promising potential to revolutionize diverse activities\, with a particular emphasis on virtual conferences. The Metaverse is conceptualized as an immersive\, interoperable 3D environment that\, although not fully realized yet\, offers transformative opportunities similar to the advent of the Internet in the 1990s and smartphones in the 2000s. Among the most valuable prospects\, the Metaverse promises to enhance accessibility\, enabling broader participation by eliminating geographical and economic barriers associated with traditional face-to-face events. Conferences held in the Metaverse can substantially reduce travel costs and time investments\, while simultaneously fostering more inclusive and dynamic engagement across global audiences. \nOne of the key advantages lies in the ability to create immersive\, interactive presentations through technologies\, which increase participants' involvement and enjoyment. The Metaverse facilitates novel networking opportunities by allowing attendees to interact through customized avatars in uniquely designed virtual spaces. This can stimulate more creative and informal exchanges compared to conventional conference settings. The presentation also highlights successful applications of\nMetaverse environments in cultural and social contexts. In summary\, the Metaverse holds significant potential to reshape the way conferences and professional gatherings are conducted\, offering accessible\, cost-effective\, and engaging alternatives that can foster active participation\, global collaboration\, and community building in increasingly digitalized societies. \nDiscover fresh perspectives and potential research avenues: from early observations to entirely new greenfield opportunities waiting to be explored. \nWhether you’re a researcher\, industry professional\, or simply curious\, this IFITT Webinar promises to spark ideas beyond the obvious. \nSpeakers:\nCarlos Flavián and Danielle McConnell \n(More information about the speakers at the end of the page). \nRegistration for the Webinar\nRegistration closes at 11:59 CEST on Wednesday\, July 9th. \n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row]\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration for IFITT Webinar: "AI & Big Data in Tourism: From Research to Practice"\n \n \n Personal informationFirst name(Required)Last Name(Required)Email(Required)\n \n University / Institution(Required)Consent(Required) I agree to the privacy policy.If you have any issues\, please contact us at ifitt@ifitt.net.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nCarlos Flavián is Professor of Marketing at University of Zaragoza (SPAIN)\, leads the METODO Research Lab and is Spain’s most impactful marketing author. His research explores human-technology interactions (including Internet\, AI\, AR/VR/XR)\, studying both particularities of technology (usability) and perceptions\, behavioral intentions and actual behaviors of consumers (adoption\, recommendation\, eWOM\, satisfaction\, loyalty…) on contexts such as tourism\, retailing\, etc. He holds editorial roles in several academic journals (including Strategy Editor of Service Industries Journal and Spanish Journal of Marketing-ESIC\, Europe Regional Editor of International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management) and has guest edited several special issues in prestigious journals (International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management; Service Business; Service Industries Journal; Journal of Service Management; Journal of Service Theory and Practice; Psychology & Marketing). Clarivate Analytics has highlighted him as a highly cited researcher. He is the Spanish author with the highest scientific impact in the field of marketing according to the Stanford University list and several of his papers have been included among the top 20 most influential papers in the field of marketing internationally (according to the University of Florida). \n \nDanielle McConnell is Head of Marketing at Virtway (Spain)\, a company specializing in enterprise-focused virtual environments and immersive technologies. She leads strategic initiatives that support the adoption of 3D virtual spaces and AI-based solutions for business applications. Her expertise lies in the integration of immersive technologies into marketing and business strategies\, particularly within corporate training\, virtual events\, and internal communication. With degrees in International Business and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington\, she began her career in event marketing and transitioned early into the virtual space\, where she has remained since 2015. Danielle has guided the development of marketing frameworks for hundreds of projects in emerging tech sectors. Her work emphasizes measurable business outcomes through immersive engagement and digital innovation. As a bilingual professional\, she collaborates with international organizations to implement scalable metaverse strategies aligned with enterprise goals. She maintains a strong interest in the evolution of immersive technologies and their impact on business performance\, customer interaction\, and organizational culture. Her approach combines creativity\, behavioral insight\, and strategic planning to help companies adapt to the rapidly changing digital landscape. URL:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-metaverse-tourism/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ifitt.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IFITT-Webminars.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="IFITT":MAILTO:ifitt@ifitt.net LOCATION:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-metaverse-tourism/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20250910T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20250910T170000 DTSTAMP:20260520T234113 CREATED:20250722T063911Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T122656Z UID:10000017-1757520000-1757523600@ifitt.net SUMMARY:IFITT Webinar: The Economics of Service Robots in Hospitality DESCRIPTION:IFITT Webinar: The Economics of Service Robots in Hospitality\nDate & Time:Wednesday\, September 10\n16:00 CEST / 15:00 BST / 10:00 EDT\nThe International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT)  presents the next IFITT Webinar. These webinars aim to bring together global experts to share knowledge\, inspire innovation\, and explore the evolving landscape of technology and tourism. The next webinar is titled “The Economics of Service Robots in Hospitality”. \nThis session will feature both academic and industry perspectives on the growing use of service robots in hospitality. The academic part will present a conceptual framework exploring how robots affect tasks\, processes\, jobs\, and performance metrics. Hospitality operations are seen as front-of-house (e.g. check-in\, dining) and back-of-house (e.g. housekeeping\, maintenance) processes composed of various tasks. Robots operate at the task level\, and by automating tasks\, they can transform entire processes. The likelihood of automation depends on task nature\, frequency\, standardisation\, and complexity. Robots may substitute\, augment\, or reshape human roles\, while also eliminating or creating new tasks. \nRobot implementation requires alignment with employee skills and attitudes\, as well as integration with legacy technologies. Robots may depend on\, compete with\, or operate independently from these systems\, often requiring upgrades or replacements with cost implications. The presentation will also explore how companies pursue cost-saving\, revenue-generation\, or mixed strategies\, shaped by factors such as robot costs\, customer willingness to pay\, competitor actions\, and regulation. \nThe industry segment will address the financial and operational impact of integrating service robots into hotels\, restaurants\, and similar environments. Drawing on international case studies\, it will highlight business drivers\, investment decisions\, and returns on automation. Participants will gain practical insights into how robotics is transforming service delivery\, improving efficiency\, and creating new value for operators. This session bridges theory and practice\, offering strategic guidance for evaluating and scaling robotics adoption in hospitality. \nGain a deeper understanding of how robotics is reshaping hospitality—from theoretical frameworks to real-world applications. Whether you are a scholar\, professional\, or simply curious about the future of service\, this IFITT Webinar will offer perspectives that challenge assumptions and inspire innovation. \nSpeakers:\nProf. Stanislav Ivanov & Francisco Javier Martín Romo\n(More information about the speakers at the end of the page.) \nRegistration for the Webinar\nRegistration closes at 11:59 AM CEST on Monday\, September 8th. \n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row]\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration for IFITT Webinar: "AI & Big Data in Tourism: From Research to Practice"\n \n \n Personal informationFirst name(Required)Last Name(Required)Email(Required)\n \n University / Institution(Required)Consent(Required) I agree to the privacy policy.If you have any issues\, please contact us at ifitt@ifitt.net.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nStanislav Ivanov\nDr. Stanislav Ivanov is a Professor at Varna University of Management\, Bulgaria (http://www.vum.bg)\, and Director of Zangador Research Institute\, Bulgaria (https://www.zangador.institute/en/). He is the Founder and (Co-)Editor-in-chief of two academic journals: European Journal of Tourism Research (http://ejtr.vumk.eu)\, indexed in Scopus and Web of Science\, and ROBONOMICS: The Journal of the Automated Economy (https://journal.robonomics.science). He has (co-)authored over 250 publications. His current research interest includes robonomics\, robots/artificial intelligence/automation in tourism/hospitality\, the economics of technology\, tourism economics\, etc. For more information about Prof. Ivanov please visit his personal website: http://www.stanislavivanov.com \n \nFrancisco Javier Martín Romo\nFrancisco Javier Martín Romo\, born in Salamanca\, Spain\, is a technology enthusiast with a strong passion for robotics and its real-world applications. He firmly believes in the positive impact automation can have on both business operations and people’s lives. Francisco holds a Law degree from the University of Salamanca\, an MBA in Business Administration\, and has completed additional training in robotics and artificial intelligence. His professional journey began in the hospitality sector\, where he gained international experience in cities such as London\, Dubai\, and Oman. In 2015\, a pivotal encounter with the Moley Robotics project in London sparked his interest in the role of robotics in service industries. This led him to found the Hospitality Robotics Group in 2019\, one of the first digital communities focused on service automation. Francisco currently serves as Country Manager at KEENON Robotics EMEA and leads the organization of the annual Foodservice Robotics Pioneers summit\, held at the HIP Expo in Madrid since 2020. URL:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-service-robots-hospitality/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ifitt.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IFITT-Webminars.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="IFITT":MAILTO:ifitt@ifitt.net LOCATION:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-service-robots-hospitality/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260127 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260131 DTSTAMP:20260520T234113 CREATED:20250515T172541Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T143750Z UID:10000015-1769472000-1769817599@ifitt.net SUMMARY:ENTER26 eTourism conference DESCRIPTION:The International Federation for IT and Travel & Tourism (IFITT) is delighted to announce Breda as the host city for the ENTER26 eTourism Conference. Nestled in the south of the Netherlands\, Breda is a picturesque mid-sized city renowned for its rich history\, vibrant culture\, and exceptional connectivity. Located at the crossroads of major European cities such as Amsterdam\, Rotterdam\, and Brussels\, Breda offers an easily accessible and inspiring venue for this landmark event from 27th to 30th January 2026. \nBreda University of Applied Sciences: Our Esteemed Partner\nENTER26 will be organized by Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUAS)\, a premier higher education institution celebrated for its commitment to excellence in teaching\, research\, and innovation. With approximately 7\,500 students hailing from over 60 countries\, BUAS offers 17 bachelor’s and 12 master’s programs across a diverse array of disciplines\, including Tourism\, Hospitality\, Leisure\, Gaming\, Media\, and Logistics. \nSince its founding in 1966\, BUAS has earned numerous accolades\, establishing itself as a leader in applied sciences education. Its unique teaching and learning approach seamlessly integrates academic theory with practical industry experience\, creating an exceptional environment for student success. More information about BUAS’s innovative programs can be found here: BUAS – Creating Meaningful Experiences. \nA Hub for Innovation in eTourism\nAs a long-standing member of the IFITT community\, BUAS boasts expertise in areas such as digital experience design\, digital skills development\, online communication\, and AI & data science in tourism. Recently\, the university launched the Hospitality\, Tourism\, Innovation & Technology (HTIT) knowledge platform to enhance academia-industry collaboration\, establish a national research agenda\, and foster innovation through hubs and best practices. \nGlobal Connections and National Leadership \nBUAS is also one of the founding members of CELTH\, the Dutch National Centre of Expertise in Leisure\, Tourism\, and Hospitality. Furthermore\, it serves as the home of ATLAS (the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research)\, a global network of 150 universities committed to advancing tourism and leisure studies. \nJoin Us in Breda for ENTER26\nIFITT and BUAS are thrilled to invite you to Breda for the ENTER26 eTourism Conference. This event promises to be an extraordinary opportunity to explore cutting-edge developments in IT and tourism\, network with global experts\, and immerse yourself in the inspiring atmosphere of Breda. \nMark your calendars and get ready to experience the future of eTourism in one of Europe’s most dynamic and welcoming cities. We look forward to seeing you in Breda in 2026! URL:https://ifitt.net/event/enter26-etourism-conference/ LOCATION:Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUAS)\, Monseigneur Hopmansstraat 2\, 4817 JS\, Breda\, Netherlands ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ifitt.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ENTER26_1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="IFITT":MAILTO:ifitt@ifitt.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20260529T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Vienna:20260529T170000 DTSTAMP:20260520T234113 CREATED:20260519T121306Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T122542Z UID:10000019-1780070400-1780074000@ifitt.net SUMMARY:IFITT Webinar: AI & Big Data in Tourism: From Research to Practice DESCRIPTION:IFITT Webinar: AI & Big Data in Tourism: From Research to Practice\nDate & Time:Friday\, May 29\n16:00 CEST / 15:00 BST / 10:00 EDT\nThe International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT)  presents the next IFITT Webinar. These webinars aim to bring together global experts to share knowledge\, inspire innovation\, and explore the evolving landscape of technology and tourism. The next webinar is titled “AI & Big Data in Tourism: From Research to Practice”. \nThis presentation provides an overview of the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data Analytics in the tourism domain. It introduces the historical development of AI\, explains key concepts and discusses the main strengths and limitations of AI technologies. Building on this foundation\, the presentation explores a range of AI applications in tourism\, including recommender systems\, intelligent travel assistants\, and data-driven personalization. Several case studies illustrate current research and practical implementations\, including LLM-based point-of-interest recommendation and AI-based multi-agent systems for automated travel planning. Finally\, the presentation highlights current trends and future developments in the field\, with a particular focus on Large Language Models (LLMs)\, AI agents\, knowledge graphs\, and decentralized inter-agent networks. These emerging technologies are discussed as key building blocks for the next generation of intelligent\, adaptive\, and personalized tourism systems. \nSpeakers:\nProf. Wolfram Höpken & Mirko Lalli\n(More information about the speakers at the end of the page.) \nRegistration for the Webinar\nRegistration closes at 11:59 AM CEST on Wednesday\, May 27th.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Registration for IFITT Webinar: "AI & Big Data in Tourism: From Research to Practice"\n \n \n Personal informationFirst name(Required)Last Name(Required)Email(Required)\n \n University / Institution(Required)Consent(Required) I agree to the privacy policy.If you have any issues\, please contact us at ifitt@ifitt.net.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n Wolfram Höpken\nWolfram Höpken is professor for Business Informatics and eBusiness at the University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten and director of the Institute for Digital Transformation as well as director of the LAB4DTE (LAB for Digital Transformation & Entrepreneurship). His main research fields are artificial intelligence\, data science and big data analytics\, semantic web as well as ICT systems in Tourism. Wolfram Höpken has been vice-president\, commercial director and member of the management board of IFITT for more than 15 years. He has been research track chair of the ENTER conference and overall chair of ENTER. He has chaired the CEN/ISSS workshop eTOUR dealing with harmonization in the field of tourism. Wolfram Höpken is a regular speaker on the topic of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Tourism. He has been invited as an expert of the Committee on Tourism of the German Bundestag on the topic “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics – Opportunities for Tourism” and has been a member of the task force “Digitalization” of the National Platform for the Future of Tourism (NPZT) initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Wolfram Höpken has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Information Technology & Tourism. \n \nMirko Lalli\nMirko Lalli founded The Data Appeal Company in 2014 within H-Farm. At the time\, the idea of “big data in tourism” seemed like science fiction. Most industry operators were still making decisions based on intuition and outdated market research.Lalli believed there was a better way. He built a platform powered by artificial intelligence\, capable of analysing millions of online signals (reviews\, social media\, booking patterns\, sentiment) and turning them into actionable intelligence for destinations and hospitality businesses.Over the following decade\, the company grew from startup to scale-up\, raised several funding rounds\, expanded internationally\, and in 2023 acquired Mabrian Technologies\, the Spanish leader in travel intelligence\, creating a global player in tourism data. Along the way\, Data Appeal pioneered the category of Destination Intelligence: the discipline of measuring and acting on everything the world says about places\, properties\, and experiences\, across reviews\, social conversations\, and the broader digital footprint. The company continues to grow under new leadership. Lalli exited the CEO role in March 2026.He is now Senior Advisor and Investor at rankwit.ai\, focused on the travel vertical (rankwit.ai/travel)\, the first Generative Engine Optimization suite designed for hotels\, hotel groups\, and destinations.The platforms he built at Data Appeal analyse over 5 million pieces of online content per minute and have mapped more than 251 million points of interest across over 180 countries. They serve 300 national tourism bodies in 51 countries: destination management organisations\, global hotel chains\, and financial institutions that need to understand traveller behaviour and destination performance.He is an Independent Expert for the European Commission on data and artificial intelligence initiatives. He is a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council. He has completed executive education programmes at Harvard Business School and Singularity University. He hosts the Italian podcast Il Futuro del Turismo. He speaks at dozens of international conferences each year\, from FITUR in Madrid to Phocuswright in Los Angeles\, from WTM London to tourism summits around the world. URL:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-ai_big_data/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ifitt.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IFITT-Webminars.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="IFITT":MAILTO:ifitt@ifitt.net LOCATION:https://ifitt.net/event/ifitt-webinar-ai_big_data/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270112 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270116 DTSTAMP:20260520T234113 CREATED:20260204T144421Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T144421Z UID:10000018-1799712000-1800057599@ifitt.net SUMMARY:ENTER27 eTourism conference DESCRIPTION: URL:https://ifitt.net/event/enter27/ LOCATION:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid\,\, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco\, 28049 Madrid\, Madrid\, Madrid\, Spain ORGANIZER;CN="IFITT":MAILTO:ifitt@ifitt.net END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR