Being curious as to the reason why time seems to fly faster as we get older, we intelligently asked AI for the answer.
And it seems there is science behind it, the simplest explanation being that “Each year becomes a smaller fraction of your life. When you’re 5, a year is 20% of your life. When you’re 50, a year is 2% of your life. Your brain compares new experiences against the total you’ve lived – so every year feels shorter relative to your lifespan.”
So having got that out of the way, it’s time to reflect on the year that just went faster by and look ahead to the year that will fly even faster by.
Best to hang on to your seats for the wilder, faster ride coming even as we slow down (a tad) to take in the trials, tribulations and triumphs of 2025.
Here’s what our friends in the industry thought of 2025 and what they are looking forward to in the new year – the first instalment.
Amy Wei, Senior Product Director, Trip.com Group
Looking back – one word to describe 2025
Agent. Because 2025 was the year AI graduated from “chatting” to “doing” real tasks.
One word you wish would disappear from the vocabulary
Disruption. We are building bridges to connect the ecosystem, not just breaking old systems.
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) do you feel about 2026? Briefly, explain why
9 – We have moved from novelty to utility. The technology is no longer just a demo; it is seamlessly solving real friction in daily travel scenarios – from menu assistant to context-aware widget.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2026
Agency. The ability of AI to independently perceive, plan, and execute complex actions across apps on behalf of the user.
What are you most looking forward to?
The rise of “GUI Agents” (Graphic User Interface Agents). I am excited to see AI that doesn’t just rely on APIs, but can navigate apps and websites like a human – clicking buttons and scrolling screens to book long-tail services that were previously digitally inaccessible.
What’s the biggest question you are asking yourself as a leader?
Human Touch. In a world of automated agents, how do we design for empathy so that efficiency doesn’t kill the romance of discovery?
What’s the one key thing you’ll be doing over the next six months to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Mastering “Visual-Action” capabilities.
Building the “Eyes and Hands” of our AI.
We are moving beyond just a central “brain” (Controller Agent) to mastering Visual-Action capabilities. Besides the “traditional” agentication work, we are exploring a hybrid architecture – using fast, on-device models to “read” screens and cloud-based reasoning to “act” on them. This ensures our agents can navigate real-world apps as fluently as humans do leveraging existing GUI capabilities.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2026?
Hyper-personalization through “User Memory”. Leveraging the data from 2025’s interactions to offer suggestions that feel telepathic, not just algorithmic – remembering your preferences across years, not just sessions.
What’s the biggest problem you want to solve for the traveller?
The Burden of Planning. Giving travellers the confidence to let go, knowing their Agent can handle the logistics better than they can.
One important trend that no one is talking about yet
VLM (Vision-Language Models) as the “Universal Adapter”. While the industry waits for expensive API integrations to build Agents, the pragmatic breakthrough is using VLM to let AI “see” and click existing user interfaces. It’s not just a stopgap, but a powerful “Universal Adapter” that unlocks the “long tail” of travel inventory immediately, without requiring suppliers to upgrade their tech stacks.
What’s the trip you want to make in 2026 to add to your memory bank?
Safari in Tanzania.
What’s the most interesting thing you read or watched in 2025?
“Simulacra and Simulation”/The rise of Humanoid Robots (e.g., recent T800 demos).
It challenges us to define what is “real” interaction as digital agents become indistinguishable from human operators.
Ethan Lin, Co-founder & CEO, Klook
Looking back – one word to describe 2025
Expansion.
One word you wish would disappear from the vocabulary
Fragmentation. With the tech we’ve built, many of those old barriers in the travel experiences industry are already dissolving. So here I am, wishing that the word won’t apply in our world anymore.
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) do you feel about 2026? Briefly, explain why.
10 – A new year opens a new chapter, and I’m entering 2026 with fresh energy and optimism. Headwinds will come, challenges will surface, and not everything will be within our control. But I believe in our collective ability to navigate all of it. We’ve proven we can. And we will again.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2026.
Leading.
What are you most looking forward to?
Experiences are the next chapter in travel, and we are ready for it. We’ve been championing experiences since day one, and that puts us in the strongest position to lead what comes next.
What’s the biggest question you are asking yourself as a leader?
How can I continue to grow so that I am the leader that Klook needs in its next chapter.
What’s the one key thing you’ll be doing over the next six months to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
My job is to stay focused on what we do best. Focused on delivering the best travel experiences for our Millennial and Gen Z travellers; focused on digitalizing the experiences ecosystem especially when only 34.2% of global experiences bookings were made digitally in 2024. There’s still so much runway ahead of us; and focused on leading Klookers with more clarity, conviction, and care.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2026?
Not going to say AI, I think we’ve heard enough of it. The biggest opportunity for us in 2026 remains to be social commerce. We placed our bet early in 2023, and today, Klook is recognized as one of the leaders shaping this space. More players are entering, which only validates the direction we’re headed. The future of travel is social, powered by community, storytelling, and shared discovery. This future will be built through deeper collaboration: with partners, with Klook Kreators, and with communities.
What’s the biggest problem you want to solve for the traveller?
The biggest problem is still access – access to experiences in-destination, on-the-go, and at the very last minute. Historically, this has been fragmented, offline, and difficult to navigate. This challenge is amplified as travel behavior becomes increasingly mobile and spontaneous. In 2024, more than 50% of experiences on Klook were booked within a week of participation. We already support this behaviour with instant confirmation, real-time availability, and a mobile-first interface – but there’s still more we can unlock. For example, once travellers land, they often struggle to find experiences that align with their schedule, weather, location, and the time they have left in their day. Can we do something about that? I think we can.
One important trend that no one is talking about yet.
More travellers are now buying experiences first, destinations second. Concerts, festivals, sports, all these are becoming the anchors of travel. We’re watching a new experience economy take shape, powered by FOMO and accelerated by social media. We see it in the rise of people flying out for live music, from Taylor Swift to Lady Gaga. We see it in sports too: from Formula 1 Grand Prix (yes, I went to Singapore for it) to Hyrox (still training for that one).
What’s the trip you want to make in 2026 to add to your memory bank?
I’d love to explore the Northern Lights in Iceland. To witness nature’s most spectacular light show would be an unforgettable experience, the ultimate bucket list moment that captures the magic of travel.
What’s the most interesting thing you read or watched in 2025?|
I watched the documentary “Mountain”, narrated by Willem Dafoe. It wasn’t just about the visual beauty; it was about the profound human motivation to challenge boundaries and seek new perspectives, which resonates so well with the spirit of Klook and our travellers.
Darrell Chan, Deputy General Counsel, Airbnb
Looking back – one word to describe 2025
Fulfilled
One word you wish would disappear from the vocabulary
Deglobalisation
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) do you feel about 2026? Briefly, explain why
5 – Asia holds a lot of promise and opportunities; the world is also filled with much uncertainty and change
Looking forward – one word to describe 2026
Intensify
What are you most looking forward to?
Unlocking the untapped opportunities of travel in Asia, especially India
What’s the biggest question you are asking yourself as a leader?
How do I lead with clarity in an environment of ambiguity
What’s the one key thing you’ll be doing over the next six months to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Getting more ahead of the risk factors to mitigate the downside
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2026?
We’ve hardly scratched the surface of potential in Asia. Biggest opportunity is to penetrate the emerging markets.
What’s the biggest problem you want to solve for the traveller?
Putting the magic back into travel. Or maybe something simpler like making going through airport security screening not feel like such a harrowing process. At this point, just being able to travel with more than 100ml of gels and liquids will be a massive achievement unlock!
One important trend that no one is talking about yet
Luxury yachts & cruises (or maybe they have already?)
What’s the trip you want to make in 2026 to add to your memory bank?
My week long cruise in the Mediterranean to celebrate my 20th anniversary. Hopefully that’s on trend!
What’s the most interesting thing you read or watched in 2025?
Living Life Backwards by David Gibson – puts life into perspective by looking at the one certain thing in our life – death – and working out priorities from there. I think it’s important for us to figure out how we want to die, so we know how we should live. Life’s too short.
Filip Filipov, COO, OAG
Looking back – one word to describe 2025
Acceleration. 2025 was the year the industry finally realised that AI isn’t an experiment, it’s an architectural shift.
One word you wish would disappear from the vocabulary
Experimenting. We can’t experiment our way into the future forever. At some point, leaders need to commit to a point of view.
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) do you feel about 2026? Briefly, explain why
9 – because we’re finally aligning around the hard work that matters: modernising infrastructure, unifying data, and building systems designed for machine-paced decision making. The foundations for the next decade are being set now.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2026
Build. This is the year the industry stops talking about potential and starts delivering tangible capabilities.
What are you most looking forward to?
Professionally, an amazing traveller experience. Personally, I hope for a healthier and calmer year.
What’s the biggest question you are asking yourself as a leader?
Are we building for the next 10 years or shipping features for the next 6 months?
What’s the one key thing you’ll be doing over the next six months to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Speed of execution. Most companies don’t have a strategy problem, they have an execution problem.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2026?
I believe making access to our incredible information fast, easy, and intuitive is the biggest opportunity for us at OAG.
What’s the biggest problem you want to solve for the traveller?
Removing effort. I think it is still laborious to find, book, and experience travel and I think we can make it easier for others by providing the necessary data to enable these experiences.
One important trend that no one is talking about yet
Unit economics and business models. I think we are collectively focusing on the opportunity and AI build out and not paying too much attention to how this will pan out for the businesses. I think the trend will be defining for the new age of how we experience the internet, via AI – is it subscription? Is it free, supported by ads? Is it per transaction?
What’s the trip you want to make in 2026 to add to your memory bank?
I’d love to take my family to Japan.
What’s the most interesting thing you read or watched in 2025?
Amp it up by Frank Slootman.
Chris Hemmeter, Managing Director, Thayer Ventures
Looking back – one word to describe 2025
Acceleration
One word you wish would disappear from the vocabulary
Disruption (used too often as marketing spin rather than meaningful innovation)
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) do you feel about 2026? Briefly, explain why
9 – 2026 will be the first full year when travel companies move from experimenting with AI to deploying it widely. The gap between leaders and laggards will grow, and those focusing on data, personalization, and next-generation distribution will capture significant market share. For investors, this creates an unusually rich environment: a massive global industry still significantly underinvested in technology compared to its size, entering its first true platform shift in decades.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2026
Convergence (Travel’s fragmented systems finally begin aligning with the new AI-native architecture)
What are you most looking forward to?
Seeing the travel industry make significant progress into the AI era, where personalization, merchandising, revenue optimization, and guest experience finally operate on a modern system. We are entering a time when long-standing structural barriers, distribution complexity, data silos, operational inefficiencies, can actually be solved, not just analyzed.
What’s the biggest question you are asking yourself as a leader?
How do we empower our founders and strategic partners to adapt fast enough in a cycle where technology is compounding exponentially, but organizational change progresses linearly?
What’s the one key thing you’ll be doing over the next six months to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Doubling down on the information advantages that come from our construction strategy – seeing 50+ companies up close each year gives us pattern recognition that’s impossible to replicate from a distance. We’re systematizing that learning so we can write conviction checks more quickly and clearly than ever.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2026?
Owning the intersection of AI, distribution, and commerce in travel. The largest industry in the world remains fragmented and under-optimized. The next decade will be about replatforming everything from booking to operations to loyalty. As the leading travel-tech-focused investor, Thayer is positioned to be the “co-pilot” for that transition.
What’s the biggest problem you want to solve for the traveller?
Decision overload. Travellers face a confusing tangle of disconnected systems, inconsistent content, unclear pricing, and irrelevant options. The opportunity is to replace search-and-compare fatigue with genuine guidance, a model where itineraries, merchandising, and service are intelligently tailored to the individual from planning to checkout.
One important trend that no one is talking about yet
The rise of vertical AI operating systems in hotels, restaurants, and experiences—quietly changing cost structures long before consumers notice.
What’s the trip you want to make in 2026 to add to your memory bank?
A family trip to the Galapagos or a long-overdue visit to New Zealand, places where nature recalibrates your sense of scale and gratitude.
What’s the most interesting thing you read or watched in 2025?
1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How it Shattered a Nation.
Tao Tao, Co-founder & COO, GetYourGuide
Looking back – one word to describe 2025
Record-breaking.
One word you wish would disappear from the vocabulary
Queues. I’d rather design a world where smart time slots and better discovery mean there’s no line in the first place.
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) do you feel about 2026? Briefly, explain why
9 – Travel experiences are emerging as the driving force in travel.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2026
Growth.
What are you most looking forward to?
Bringing even more unique and remarkable experiences to customers. Looking at our recent Hidden Trends report on the unexpected interests set to shape 2026, one takeaway shows that birdwatching is a trending activity for 2026. Destinations known for birdwatching, like Oman’s Daymaniyat Islands, Vietnam’s Cat Ba National Park, and Thailand’s Doi Inthanon, have experienced some of the highest increases in searches on our platform in 2025. But it’s not just about birds or trends. I’m excited to continue building a curated platform that encourages experience creators to create unique experiences for curious, modern travellers.
What’s the biggest question you are asking yourself as a leader?
How can we effectively use AI to drive growth and solve problems for our travellers and supply partners?
What’s the one key thing you’ll be doing over the next six months to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead
AI will only continue to ramp up and with tech evolving at this pace, it’s essential we come to a shared understanding of direction to take and how to use it. We’re getting there and I’m excited to continue working with partners and our team to really show how AI isn’t going to replace guides or human connection. Rather, it will augment it.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2026?
We’re here to revolutionize a fragmented and deeply offline industry (70% of tour operators still transact offline). Our platform simplifies the entire experience for operators and travellers alike.
What’s the biggest problem you want to solve for the traveller?
The biggest problem we’re solving for the traveller is eliminating their fear of wasting precious vacation time on a disappointing experience. We do this through a commitment to quality and originality, building the trust that allows our customers to book curated experiences with confidence and turn their trip into a collection of great memories.
One important trend that no one is talking about yet
Early morning tours are booming. Our recent data shows a 44% year-over-year increase in morning bookings as travellers—especially younger ones—seek to beat the crowds. Sunrise destinations like Mt. Batur and Snowdon Peak are leading internal search growth.
What’s the trip you want to make in 2026 to add to your memory bank?
Patagonia!
What’s the most interesting thing you read or watched in 2025?
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. It contrasts a play‑based childhood with the phone‑based childhood we’ve drifted into. He shows how smartphones and social media correlate with roughly a 3x rise in teenage anxiety and depression. While his data focuses on young people, the broader point resonated for adults too: real‑world experiences and human connection aren’t nice‑to‑haves, they’re non‑negotiable for a healthy life.
