What makes WiT, well… WiT? Is it the debates and data? The big names and the startups? The art, music and poetry? Or is it the people – and the stories they bring with them?
As WiT turns 20, our new documentary The Meaning of WiT takes a step back to capture the essence of the event through the eyes of those who’ve lived it – from founders and industry veterans to first-time delegates. What comes through is a recurring theme: WiT has always strived to be more than just a conference.
Timothy O’Neil-Dunne, Principal of T2Impact, put it best: “At WIT, you come to have your Left and Right brains expanded.” From poetry battles to hard-edged debates about technology and sustainability, WiT has never shied away from blending the unexpected with the deeply serious. That willingness to experiment has left lasting impressions.
For Rod Cuthbert, the founder of Viator, his first WIT was “kind of shocking.” A haiku-writing contest, a session on DJ-ing, and then the realisation that all of it tied back to business and creativity. “That was when I started to realise that maybe this isn’t just different to other conferences… maybe it was actually better,” Rod says in the documentary.
Others recall how WiT reshaped their relationship with the industry itself. Rob Rosenstein, founder of Agoda, admitted he initially dreaded attending: “I thought, oh, you know why am I doing this? I’m so busy and I really don’t want to be here. And then I went to this show, and it changed my whole attitude. People were having so much fun.” That sense of belonging, of being part of a wider community, is a thread that runs throughout our documentary; something we didn’t plan for but gladly welcomed.
For Deep Kalra of MakeMyTrip, the journey of WiT mirrored that of his own company. He saw WiT evolve from a “smallish conference with a spark” to one that showcased both “the big boys and big gals of travel” as well as up-and-coming startups.
That idea of community – not just networking – resonates strongly with the newer generation too. Jacinta Lim of Seek Sophie called it “a breath of fresh air… this is not a conference; this is a community. I came away making friends.”
The creative touches – from the big opening musical numbers to the gorgeous art sold at the WiT For Good auction, to personal storytelling – are remembered just as vividly as the serious industry discussions and hot topics. Expedia’s CCO, Greg Schulze, recalled how striking it was to see performance art woven into a travel tech event: “I had never been to a conference that started with drums or poems… it really had an impression on me.”
Kei Shibata of Venture Republic summed it up by likening WiT to a living classroom. “It was full of energy, passion, wisdom, ideas, learning, and a lot of laughter… since then WIT has become my greatest classroom, not just in the industry but in my life too.”
Across all the stories – whether from Lighthouse VP Christine Tan recalling WiT’s early bets on digital transformation, Travelstart CEO Stephan Ekbergh recalling impactful sessions through the years, Traveloka’s former president Caesar Indra sharing how it helped the company tell its Asian story, or Ross Veitch, co-founder of Wego, crediting it with helping the brand build both business and friendships – a clear picture emerges. WiT is where ideas, people and possibilities collide in ways that leave a mark long after the event ends.
As much as we made this documentary to celebrate two whole decades of WiT, we truly made it to celebrate you – the people who have come together to make WiT the community it is today. We hope you enjoy our trip down memory lane. Please tell us your WiT memories in the YouTube comment section as well.
The industry experts, pioneers and next gen voices featured in this documentary will also be at WiT Singapore: The Next 20 (Oct 6 ~ 8), to continue the discussion on the tech and trends that are fuelling the new age of travel in Asia Pacific. Join in on the conversation. Get your tickets now.
