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I'm Sam, co-leader of the Travel Massive chapter in Lagos. I also run TWS Global, a Lagos-based tourism firm offering travel booking and services, including immigration advisory. Part of my work is helping people move abroad safely.
Nigeria is home to around 237 million people, and millions more Nigerians live and work abroad. A travel agent or immigration adviser is often the first professional people speak to before moving, so we're well placed to spot the warning signs.
A conversation I had recently is a reminder of why that matters. I spoke with a young Nigerian woman I'll call Ada. She is a client who had initially contacted us about relocating to Canada. But somewhere along the line, a friend from her polytechnic days called with what sounded like a better opportunity: a Project Manager position with a construction company in Benin Republic, Nigeria's neighbour to the west.
She trusted him since they knew each other from school, and everything looked legitimate. So she travelled… but got a shock on arrival. Ada was asked to pay 1 million CFA francs, about ₦2.7 million (roughly US$1,750), for documentation before she could start work. That's more than a year's salary for many young Nigerians. Surprisingly, Ada paid, using money borrowed from her boyfriend's parents, with the hope of paying it back monthly from her salary. Then they told her to wait a week before resuming. In her own words, "The day I started was the day I was introduced to network marketing instead of the actual job I came for." From Project Management to Network Marketing!
I felt a mix of anger and compassion as she narrated this story. I asked why she didn't decline and immediately ask for a refund from the friend who introduced her. Apparently, "he's working for the company so he definitely had to join them in convincing me to do it. It was more like a brainwashing." Moreover, "the company had accommodation and there was feeding [meals were provided]. They also promised a Benin Republic International Passport after 6 months to 1 year of working with them, which was the main reason I stayed." So she worked from January to August this year, hoping things would improve, until the police raided the office and arrested some of the leaders. According to her, they are in Cotonou prison as I write this.
Ada left Nigeria seeking a job opportunity in Benin Republic, but she returned with a ₦2.7 million (roughly US$1,750) debt that is yet to be repaid to her future in-laws. Today, her relationship is under strain, and the job that was supposed to change her life has left her dealing with consequences she never anticipated.
This is why I keep talking about safe migration and ethical recruitment. Sometimes the danger isn't that an opportunity looks suspicious. It's that it looks so convincing that we stop asking questions. She admitted that she never properly researched the company before leaving Nigeria. She simply trusted this former schoolmate of hers, who was part of the scam.
For starters, before you travel for any kind of job, ensure you verify the employer independently. Confirm the role, the contract, the salary, and every fee you are asked to pay. Most importantly, speak to people who have no connection to the recruiter, especially professionals like us. Never allow the excitement of a foreign opportunity to silence your instincts. A job offer is not proof of a job. A familiar face is not proof of good intentions. And a promise of a better life is not a guarantee that your life will be better than it is now.
Finally, remember: the goal is not just to emigrate by all means. It is to arrive safely at your destination with your dignity, your money and your future intact.
Selah.
Have you or someone you know been offered a job abroad that turned out to be something else? Share your story or advice in the comments.
Hello everyone! Greetings from Texas, my name is Emit and I created Globebug.
Planning a trip today often means piecing it together across multiple apps and websites: saving ideas in one place, researching destinations somewhere else, building an itinerary in another tool, using a separate map for getting around, tracking expenses elsewhere, and leaving your photos scattered across your phone once the trip is over.
Globebug is my answer to that. Instead of another tool that handles one part of travel, the trip itself is the center of the experience, and Globebug stays with the traveler before, during and after a trip.
Travel Inspiration
Explore destinations and travel ideas visually, save places that interest you, and use them as the starting point for a new trip. You know those TikTok links you saved? Save them in Globebug!
Planner and Trip Pulse
The Planner is the center of Globebug. Build multi-city trips, organize activities by day, manage accommodations and flights, track your budget, add travel routes, and see your journey geographically rather than as a list of reservations. Trip Pulse looks at the pace and overall load of your itinerary. It isn't there to tell you how to travel, but to give you more context about the trip you're creating.
Gladys, the AI assistant
I didn't want Globebug to be built around typing a prompt and receiving a generated itinerary. The traveler stays in control of the plan. Gladys works with the trip you're already building: she can answer questions, make suggestions and help with changes. Because she understands the context of your trip, it's more like "asking a local" than starting from scratch with every question.
On the road
The iOS app gives you your itinerary, planned places, activities and routes while you travel, so you don't have to rebuild the trip in another app once you arrive.
Memories
After the trip, upload your photos and, where location and date information is available, Globebug places them on the right day and place of your trip. You can share public links by photo, trip day or entire trip. Here's a shared trip day:
www.globebug.com/s/r7Jr6rQDrX9j1FXrPUNmWQ
Why I'm sharing it here
Globebug touches several areas of travel technology, from AI assistants to mapping and discovery, and I'd love to connect with others in the Travel Massive community working on those problems. Globebug is live today with a public demo, and I'm happy to provide Guest access to the full platform for anyone who wants to explore further. You can also see feature demos on the Globebug YouTube channel: youtube.com/@Globebugtravel
It's that time of year when World Travel Market London (3-5 November) rolls around!
👉 Feel free to share if you're attending, speaking, exhibiting, hosting an informal meetup or event, or anything else worth sharing about WTM London!
Here's a roundup of Travel Massive events in London during World Travel Market
AI Workshop: Building The Agentic Travel Journey (Mon 2 Nov)
Watch, or build alongside us, as an AI-native travel booking journey is created live at Stripe's London HQ with Christian Watts.
travelmassive.com/events/3322430638
London Live Show with Stripe and Travel Trends (Mon 2 Nov)
Our annual WTM Eve gathering hosted at Stripe's London HQ, with two panels and a live recording of the Travel Trends Podcast with Dan Christian.
travelmassive.com/events/3976790834
London WTM Creators Social with Stay22 (Tue 3 Nov)
Travel creators take over the Museum of Illusions on WTM opening night, with two trips to be won in the room (apply via the waitlist).
travelmassive.com/events/2497786467
London Travel Massive with Hoppswap & NaviSavi (Wed 4 Nov)
Lose the lanyard for cocktails and live DJs on the Village Underground rooftop in Shoreditch. Reserve your place now.
travelmassive.com/events/9386484161
WTM London: Investor & Entrepreneur Meet-Up (Thu 5 Nov)
Founders and investors connect over drinks on the Future Stage at WTM London. Hosted by Matthew Gardiner (Travel Massive London) and Natalya Wissink (Travel Massive Vietnam).
travelmassive.com/events/6051685035
Thank you Ian for this round up! I just got my media pass approved and was getting lost trying to find all the events. You're my WTM saviour. I'm on the waitlist for Travel Massive and Stay22 - fingers crossed!
Can’t wait! Will be attending as many events as I can. Will also be at ICRT on the Monday if anyone is heading along :)
I'd love to attend ICRT. Where is it? I'm assuming that is before the London Live w/Stripe on Monday evening?
Contact @debbie-hindle for details (email Debbie@icrt.global)
Yas
Yes. This will be my first time attending. Other than scheduling appointments and attending different events, what are some things that I should look out for or the best way to navigate this event?
I think this is our 5th or 6th WTM. Been in the industry for over a decade now. Always a good time to be had at WTM and Travel Massive meet-ups whether at WTM or other travel conferences.
Yes I am attending! I would like to connect with content creators and travel writers.
I'm going to be there - I think I've probably been about 10 times now! Looking forward to connecting with fellow content creators and travel brands/DMOs, and to the Travel Massive Tuesday evening event.
Hello Everyone! Eimy Santos from Maya here, attending for the 2nd year to WTM. Exciting to meet new faces and connect with those ready to power their communications and process with AI made for travel, if any one has that on their radar let's meet at the event or at one of the after-work gatherings 💃.
Odessia (odessia.com) just launched as an always-on AI travel concierge. You can text it and it will book hotels, flights and experiences for you. As it's IATA-registered, it books like a real agency and the launch post has had over 2 million views on X.
I'm curious, with the rise of agentic bookings, what hoteliers and travel startups think?
Is anyone already seeing bookings from AI agents?
Here's a good interview with Francis Davidson (founder of Odessia, and previously Sonder) from a few months ago: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hrzA92x264
And here's the X launch video that got 2 million views for anyone that missed it: x.com/FDavidsonT/status/2110417685486141697
I haven't followed the launch, but I am not convinced of agentic travel booking just yet 🤔
Cheers for sharing these to give better context Ian. Didn't want to share them for being spammy!
Every day, it becomes clearer that AI agents can take on tedious tasks. But I don’t think they’ll replace every existing business. They’ll likely create a new space alongside what’s already there.
Some users will prefer booking hotels and activities through conversational AI. Others will still enjoy exploring options, comparing prices, and planning their perfect trip themselves.
Either way, everyone in travel needs to take a closer look at their content and platforms, and strengthen their SEO and GEO strategies to stay on the radar! ;)
Replace, no. Work alongside, yes.
Totally agree it’s a wake-up call. Beyond SEO/GEO, I think the important thing for businesses is making sites agent-ready: structured data, machine-readable availability and pricing, and a way for agents to actually book.
fwiw, was at the AI tech talk at ITB Asia in Singapore today and @david-peller asked the audience who has booked with an AI agent and not a single hand went up! So, let's see how that changes in a few months...
Wow thanks for that contribution, really useful. Interesting.
Hi everyone!
SAO is a luxury hotel journal and personal hotel map for travelers who want one place to save hotels they love, remember past stays, and discover properties worth planning around. We built this app for all the hotel lovers out there.
Being the packrat that I am, I collected everything from keychains and foreign coins to those souvenir travel spoons when I traveled growing up. As I got older, I started to value material “things” less and memories more.
I’ll always remember staying at a $2 hostel outside Hampi, India, where the advertised A/C broke down in the middle of the night. Or the time I saved up enough points to take my partner to the Park Hyatt Busan. Very different hotels, but both became part of how I remember those trips.
The hostels of my early twenties eventually gave way to destination ryokans and hotels that were experiences in themselves. I’ve realized that hotel memories, for those who care, can vividly define the travel experience.
Those memories often end up scattered across photos, booking emails, map pins, notes, and spreadsheets. SAO brings them together so travelers can rebuild years of stays, browse them on a map, and keep a record of the hotels that shaped their travels.
We’re focusing on luxury hotels because, for the travelers we’re building SAO for, the hotel is often part of the reason for the trip—not simply a place to sleep. The design, service, history, and setting can become some of the most memorable parts of traveling.
SAO is available on the iOS App Store, and we recently revamped the design to make the personal hotel map the focus of the experience. You can learn more at saostay.com.
And if you’re curious about new hotels in the development pipeline, we also built a hotel openings engine at saostay.com/hotel-openings.
We’re trying to make the app as beautiful as the memories it holds, so we’d appreciate anyone willing to help test it—and tell us what you like and dislike. Totally open to feedback, good and bad.
If it earns a place on your phone, an honest App Store review would mean a lot to us. For a fledgling app, every review makes a real difference.
The map interface looks super clean. I'm especially curious about the 'hotel openings engine' you mentioned. How far in advance do you track new properties opening up? Is it global or focused on specific luxury hubs?
Thanks! We're tracking up through 2028 although honestly more than one year out it really is more developer fever dreams than anything else. We try to stay up to date as frequently as we can with opening dates within a 6 month period firming up more realistically.
We cover all hotels globally — do you like exploring new hotels in particular?
I love hotels! I've been adding some of my favorites over the past few days, and it's fun to see a map of my past stays with all the hotel details in one place.
I especially like the idea of building a taste profile from hotels I'm adding. I'm curious to see how that might help me discover places to stay in the future. That's the part that has me interested: I can tell you what I like but I think my past bookings will give you a better picture.
I've built and launched a bunch of apps myself and am always up for beta testing or just talking apps if you want.
Congrats on the launch!
Love that you love hotels too! Thanks for giving the app a try and glad to hear you've been having fun! I'll reach out to you directly to chat more!
I'm Armando, the founder of CarFree.
When I was 13, I spent a summer visiting cousins in New York and became fascinated by the freedom public transportation gave teenagers like me who didn't have a car.
Back home in Miami, I went to Government Center, picked up every bus brochure they had and studied them at home. Then I talked my friends into taking the bus to the mall, the beaches and Bayside.
As I got older, I wanted to help with one of our city's biggest problems: traffic. To encourage more people to use public transportation, I created CarFree. I don't own a car myself and use public transportation all the time.
During my many years working at Miami International Airport, I noticed that lots of travelers used public transportation but got frustrated with the app options and ended up asking strangers for directions.
I've always loved giving directions and telling people about the interesting places I like to visit as a local. I built both into CarFree, so you can discover places around the city and find your way there without a car.
CarFree covers Miami and 65 other U.S. cities, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC. You can find attractions, neighborhoods, events and tours, then compare bus, rail, walking, bike and rideshare options to get there. Once you're on your way, it guides you step by step, with live transit info and spoken alerts for when to board, transfer and get off.
CarFree is for the people I can't meet on the bus or out and about, and for family visiting from out of town. They don't have to ask me where to go and how to get there. Now they can use CarFree.
Try CarFree at carfreeapp.com or download it on the App Store or Google Play. You can check if your city is covered at carfreeapp.com/coverage. I'd love to hear what you think, so please share your feedback in the comments!
Really interesting concept, Armando. What stands out to me is how you've connected local discovery with practical transportation options.
Making destinations easier to explore without a car can also help visitors discover neighborhoods and local businesses they might otherwise overlook.
I'm curious whether you've considered expanding this approach to smaller destinations, where transportation can be one of the biggest barriers for independent travelers.
Wishing you continued success with CarFree!
I shared your app with a friend who has just moved to Miami. She really likes the platform and is now using it.
That sounds really great!
Thanks to everyone from the [Lagos Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/lagos-travel-massive-534345503) community for attending this month's [October Hangout](www.travelmassive.com/events/the-lagos-october-hangout-1391512252), featuring a day of networking, money talk and culture at [Terra Kulture](www.instagram.com/terrakulture/) on Victoria Island. The day opened with a prayer by Tobbie Lawrence and brought together over 40 participants from diverse professional backgrounds, including tour operators, travel bloggers, ticketing agents, bankers, travel tech and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods).
The gathering provided a valuable platform for networking, knowledge sharing, professional development and collaboration among stakeholders across the travel and tourism value chain.
Icebreakers, history and speed networking
Moderated by Lagos chapter leader [Sam Adeleke](www.travelmassive.com/@samadeleke), the event opened with an icebreaker session designed to help participants connect, share experiences and get to know one another. Participants responded to engaging questions that encouraged interaction and created a welcoming atmosphere.
Next, fellow co-leader [Dozie Obi](www.travelmassive.com/@dozie-obi) took us down memory lane: from how Travel Massive originally started in Sydney, to the many chapters and activities around the world today. This was a very valuable part of the event, especially for the many who attended for the first time. About 10 first-timers were in attendance.
Up next were the speed networking sessions, which enabled attendees to meet one another, exchange contact details, learn about each other's businesses, and identify areas of professional expertise and potential collaboration. This fostered meaningful connections among participants and encouraged relationship-building within the travel industry.
One of our leaders, [Segun Abisagbo](www.travelmassive.com/@segun-abisagbo), CEO of [Passportmonie](www.usepassport.co), shared his growth journey as a member of Travel Massive. His travel-tech platform is an "African travel wallet" that allows tourists, nomads, expatriates and cross-border businesses to easily make payments, convert currencies and access local currency funds across various African nations without relying heavily on US dollars.
From booking travel to owning assets: a session with Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank
A major highlight of the hangout was an insightful session facilitated by the team from [Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank](www.imperialmortgagebank.com), led by Lola Shonowo and her colleague Aderemi Onifade. The team spent time educating participants on the opportunities, processes and financing options available for sustainable asset ownership among travel professionals.
Across the travel value chain, many professionals operate primarily as intermediaries. They facilitate flights, hotel bookings, transportation, meals, tours and other travel-related services without necessarily owning the underlying assets through which these services are delivered.
The session therefore challenged participants to think beyond facilitating transactions and begin exploring opportunities to own income-generating and appreciating assets, such as residential properties, land and commercial real estate.
Recognising that many professionals may not have the capital required to acquire such assets outright, the discussion explored the role of mortgage financing and other available funding options.
The engagement with Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank provided useful insights into the dynamics of asset acquisition, the financing options available within Nigeria's financial sector, and how travel professionals can approach asset ownership more sustainably, particularly where access to capital and prevailing interest rates present challenges.
Overall, the conversation was robust and practical, encouraging participants to consider long-term wealth creation, financial planning and asset ownership as important parts of their professional and business growth.
Tour and cultural experience at Terra Kulture
Following the knowledge-sharing session, participants went on a guided tour of [Terra Kulture](www.instagram.com/terrakulture/), our event host and partner. Located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Terra Kulture is a cultural and tourism destination that celebrates Nigerian and African heritage through food, theatre, cinema, live performances and other cultural experiences.
As part of its partnership with Travel Massive Lagos, the Terra Kulture team gave participants the opportunity to explore the facility and experience its various offerings. The tour took attendees through the venue's cinema, theatre, stage and other facilities, showing its potential as a destination for cultural experiences, entertainment, tourism and related business opportunities.
As a result, the hangout went beyond the usual networking and informal conversations. Participants also experienced firsthand the cultural and tourism offerings of one of Lagos's notable cultural destinations.
Thanks to our community
Thank you to Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank for bringing valuable financial insights to our travel community, and to Terra Kulture for their hospitality and tour. Together, they helped build a more connected, knowledgeable and financially empowered travel industry in Lagos.
Big thanks to all our members who attended, and to the chapter leaders and volunteers who made the event a success: [Oluwakemi Ojo](www.travelmassive.com/@kemite) (Photography and Media), [Kazeem Olanrewaju](www.travelmassive.com/@olanrewaju-kazeem-1182733930) (Protocol), Daniel Olabimtan (Liaison), Merit Sholaye Dottie (Protocol) and [Modeenat Olushola](www.travelmassive.com/@modeenat-olushola-5146897090) (Venue and Partnerships).
Photos by Oluwakemi Ojo.
*Want to be part of events like this? Join the [Lagos Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/lagos-travel-massive-534345503) to stay in the loop for the next event. Contact chapter leaders [Sam Adeleke](www.travelmassive.com/@samadeleke), [Dozie Obi](www.travelmassive.com/@dozie-obi) and [Oluwakemi Ojo](www.travelmassive.com/@kemite) to host an event.*
Great photos and recap! Always great to see the Lagos Travel Massive community and thanks for sharing our story with members.
Are there any new travel startups in Lagos we should know about?
Love the pictures
The finalists are in. Ten social enterprises from Bolivia, Malawi, Egypt, the Philippines, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Rwanda, Uganda, Nepal and Sri Lanka have been selected as finalists in the [2026 Social Entrepreneurs in Tourism Competition](socialtourismcompetition.com/finalists-2026).
This year the competition received 238 applications from 74 countries, making it the most global edition yet. Behind every submission is a person with a vision for a better, more just tourism industry. The 10 finalists stood out for bold, community-rooted solutions that are making tourism more inclusive, sustainable and socially just.
Article image #large-0
All 10 finalists now enter a 6-week mentorship phase (28 September to 9 November), working one-on-one with dedicated mentors to strengthen their ventures. They will then pitch at the Final Pitch Contest and Award Ceremony on 23 November, livestreamed worldwide. [Register to watch online](www.travelmassive.com/events/2026-pitch-contest-awards-social-entrepreneurs-in-tourism-competition-6848645129).
The 2026 SET Competition is supported by Amadeus, Travel Massive, ITB Berlin, Lufthansa City Center, WIIF, Neusta Destination One, Social Innovation Academy (SINA), Tourism Cares, FutureTravel, Social Impact Award, Social Enterprise Thailand and the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development.
The finalists compete in two tracks, with winners awarded in each:
- Launch Track: for early-stage ventures in the ideation phase that don't yet have a registered company and are looking for guidance and structure.
- Growth Track: for ventures that already have a registered company and a clear business model, and are ready to scale their impact with expert input.
Now, let's meet the finalists!
Launch Track finalists
Five early-stage ventures turning bold ideas into community-rooted tourism businesses.
#Ampuy (Bolivia) — Stephanie Guarachi Ayala
Article image #square-l2tlysyms2x4beklcopo
Ampuy is a destination management company that connects Indigenous communities with researchers and student travellers, keeping academic knowledge local and directing tourism income to artisans, guides and homestay families.
#Chipatso Recycling Center (Malawi) — Ilia Carson-Letelier
Article image #square-jn3sq5yg2qebsirhptvu
Chipatso Recycling Center is a community recycling and cultural tourism project that turns household waste into crafts and art, and supports education and nutrition for nearly 60 learners.
#SOCYT (Egypt) — Salma Osman
Article image #square-crpcwplrwo98jvk8ngnq
SOCYT is a conscious travel platform that turns community initiatives in Egypt and Cyprus into bookable, measurable experiences, linking travellers with NGOs, artisans and local businesses.
#TahaK: Tahanan sa Kalikasan (Philippines) — Jovit C. Camata and team
Article image #square-bxradmgzhxhs41blrfan
TahaK is an eco-wellness tourism brand and booking platform in Quezon Province that revives traditional Filipino healing and creates income for local healers, women and artisans. The team is Jovit C. Camata, David Apigo, Jeanwie Buhalog, Jiezel Costuna, Mark Ella, Eliza Margallo and Buhawie Santos.
#Mancub (Czech Republic) — Alix Guillard
Article image #square-isa1veejeh6fo7srojhl
Mancub is a proposed cooperative in which small tourism creators jointly own and maintain their own digital booking tools, instead of relying on large platforms.
Growth Track finalists
Five established social enterprises ready to scale their impact.
#Xperience Stockholm (Sweden) — Francisca Leonardo
Article image #square-waitsedxpbp9tjwy9jzj
Xperience Stockholm is an inclusive, majority women-led micro-enterprise that designs community-based experiences for visitors and creates quality tourism jobs for neurodivergent and underrepresented talent.
#Red Rocks Initiative for Sustainable Development (Rwanda) — Bakunzi Gregory
Article image #square-hm8s3czfsczxcjxoj0wh
Red Rocks Initiative is a national network of community-owned eco-tourism hubs that connects conservation, cultural heritage and inclusive economic development in rural areas.
#Joint Indigenous Tourism Hub (Uganda) — Roice Bwambale Kalengyo
Article image #square-l11x9wpub6fgv8tcsx20
Joint Indigenous Tourism Hub is a platform linking ten local organisations in the Rwenzori Mountains for product development, market access and capacity building, rooted in Indigenous knowledge and conservation.
#3 Sisters Adventure Trekking (Nepal) — Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Karki Chhetri
Article image #square-ngieusjzylz8j3xez0op
3 Sisters Adventure Trekking is a women-led social enterprise, operating since 1994, that trains and employs female trekking guides and challenges gender barriers in the industry.
#Nagenahiru Environmental Learning Center (Sri Lanka) — Sajeewa Emmanuel
Article image #square-ybyvzm7u7alwg83lhkh0
Nagenahiru Environmental Learning Center is a community-based tourism initiative at Madampa Lake that trains local youth as nature guides, supports fishers, artisans and women's cooperatives, and works to restore mangroves and wetlands.
Congratulations to all the finalists! We're looking forward to seeing you pitch in November.
Also recognised: 20 shortlisted projects
With so many strong entries this year, the competition is also recognising 20 additional projects with shortlist honours. They won't be pitching in the final, but each one stood out among the 238 applications and deserves a mention.
- Launch Track: Enrrutadores (Mexico), Echoes in Between: Living Archive Tourism Penang (Malaysia), Voices of the Land (Kenya), Wonder Ventures (Cambodia), NODE: Network for Open Destination Experiences (Indonesia), XenDirekt (Rwanda), The Rooting (Spain), Safe Trail (Botswana), Ruta de las Chacras Trevelin (Argentina), NUN Eco Tourism (South Africa)
- Growth Track: Trip Hive (Tunisia), KISEKI (Rwanda), SEE Turtles (USA / Costa Rica), Equera (USA), Camino Wayúu (Colombia), ECPC Travel (USA), Tropical Trekking (Vietnam), Karamoja Climate Peace Tourism Initiative (Uganda), The Travel Better Project (Australia), SmartGuest (Spain / South Africa)
[Learn more about the shortlisted projects](socialtourismcompetition.com/finalists-2026)
Want to see the finalists pitch? Join the Award Ceremony online on 23 November!
Watch all 10 finalists pitch live at the Final Pitch Contest and Award Ceremony, livestreamed worldwide. [Register to watch online](www.travelmassive.com/events/2026-pitch-contest-awards-social-entrepreneurs-in-tourism-competition-6848645129) and be part of this growing movement for impact-driven tourism.
I’m so proud that Travel Massive is supporting the Social Entrepreneurs in Tourism Competition again this year!
For anyone new to it: SET is the first worldwide competition focused on social innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism. It was founded in 2019 by @claudia-brozel and gives founders and change-makers from all over the world access to expert mentoring, international visibility, and industry recognition to help get to the next level.
We've been a supporting partner of this competition since the start and I'm always so glad to see so many of our members involved as either judges, mentors, entrants, and even on the SET team over many years (including @maria-stoyanova and @okev).
To the finalists.. good luck with the mentorship phase, and we can’t wait to see you pitch!
If you care about the future of sustainable tourism, please join us online for the Final Pitch Contest and Award Ceremony on 23 November. It’s a great way to hear from the entrepreneurs who are building it.
Register here: www.travelmassive.com/events/2026-pitch-contest-awards-social-entrepreneurs-in-tourism-competition-6848645129
The Ampuy project caught my attention, especially the way it connects tourism with local families and communities. I think there's a lot to learn from this approach, particularly for smaller destinations that are struggling to keep their local economies alive. Interested to see how these projects develop.
Fantastic! So good to see this.
Such an inspiring movement! Impact-driven tourism is exactly what the travel industry needs more of right now. Looking forward to watching the ceremony online and seeing how we can implement these sustainable practices at Usari Safaris & Tours."
Important, impressive
Hi, I'm Matteo, a Digital Product Manager based in Italy. I'm also an avid traveler and the one who usually organizes trips for friends and family.
Here's the problem I kept running into.
You want to plan a trip with a friend, partner or family member. You live in Turin. They live in Munich.
So you start checking flight routes, opening multiple tabs, comparing airports… and trying to figure out: "Where can we both fly directly?"
That's how I came up with FlyMatch (flymatch.app).
The idea is simple:
1. Enter two or more departure airports.
2. FlyMatch finds the destinations that everyone can reach directly.
So instead of starting with "Where should we go?", you start with "Where can we actually go?" You begin with the possible direct destinations, and then check the prices.
I've built the first version and I'm now trying to understand whether this is actually useful beyond my own experience. So I'd really appreciate some feedback from people working in travel.
Would you use something like this? And even more importantly:
- Who do you think would benefit most from it?
- Do you see interesting use cases I haven't considered?
- Would this be useful for travel agencies, OTAs, travel communities or other travel businesses?
- What would make you actually come back and use it?
I'm not looking for compliments — I'm looking for honest feedback. If you have 2 minutes to try it, I'd genuinely love to hear what you think.
Hi Matteo, interesting concept! I can see this being particularly useful for friends and families living in different countries who want to meet somewhere without complicated connections.
From a travel planning perspective, I think adding flexible dates, approximate flight prices, and arrival time comparisons would make it even more practical.
It could also be useful for travel planners organizing small group trips from different departure cities.
Good luck with the project, and thanks for sharing it here!
Hi Ihsan! Thank you so much for your feedback . You know in the first version of the website there was the flexible dates (like that you can highlight days you want to depart and days you want to come back) but we thought it would have been confusing for some users.
Now that you tell this, we have to think abount a UI that doesn't confuse but that allow you to do that!
And thanks, yes the price indication would be great, we're working on that trying not to call too many APIs just for an indication
Thank you, appreciated!
p.s. did you manage to login and check features inside?
Hi Matteo! Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
I completely understand the challenge of keeping the interface simple while offering more flexibility. I think an optional flexible dates feature could be a good balance, especially for travelers who are still exploring their options.
It's great to hear you're also working on price indications.
I appreciate your openness to feedback, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the platform develops!
I think this is a good idea
Thank you Thomas! really appreciated! Did you had the chance to try it? do you have any feedbacks on flymatch? Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone, Victor here. I’m Product Manager at GemsAround, and travel has been a big part of my life for years. I’ve visited more than 50 countries and worked in hospitality, so I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how people discover places, plan trips, and share what they find along the way.
Travel inspiration is everywhere, but turning it into an actual trip still feels surprisingly fragmented. I’ll see a place on Instagram or TikTok, save it, maybe send it to someone, and then forget about it until weeks later when I’m planning a trip and trying to remember where I found it in the first place.
GemsAround grew from that gap between “I’d love to go there” and actually knowing how to fit that place into a trip. The question we kept coming back to was: how can we make inspiration easier to use, not just save?
If I find something interesting on social media, I can bring it into GemsAround instead of letting it disappear into another folder of saved posts. From there, it becomes part of a collection I can actually work with.
Discovery doesn’t have to start with social media, though. I can open the app and see interesting places around me, browse locations through videos and photos shared by other travelers, and get a sense of a place through someone else’s perspective rather than just a pin on a map.
And that works both ways. If I find somewhere worth sharing along the way, I can add my own video, perspective or place and contribute it back to the community.
Once I start saving places, the planning side becomes much simpler too. Instead of manually figuring out what to visit first, second or third, GemsAround can help organize the route and logistics between the places in a collection. And if I want to continue navigating elsewhere, I can export that collection to Google Maps rather than rebuilding everything again.
What interests me most is that whole journey from inspiration to discovery, then planning, and eventually sharing something back.
💎 Try GemsAround: visit www.gemsaround.com or download the app on iOS and Android, and let me know what you think.
I’m curious how others here manage that process today. When you find a place you want to visit, what usually happens next, and where does it still become unnecessarily complicated?
HERE'S THE NEXT 5 UPCOMING EVENTS:
🌴 10 days where remote work meets island life
Nomads in Paradise (NIP) returns to Siargao Island, Philippines — and it's more than a conference. It's a 10-day festival that blends world-class talks with surf, wellness, and the kind of networking that actually leads somewhere.
Set in General Luna during peak October weather and consistent swell, NIP brings together 150 location-independent professionals for keynotes and workshops by day, and beach parties, island hopping, and bioluminescence tours by night — all on fast fiber and satellite internet so you never miss a beat.
Because proximity creates opportunity. NIP is where the international nomad community and the Philippines' digital talent meet, mingle, and make deals happen naturally.
👉 Who Nomads in Paradise is for
Digital nomads and remote workers, Filipino freelancers and creators, founders and entrepreneurs, developers, marketers, and VAs — anyone building a life that isn't tied to a desk.
✨ On the program
- Keynotes & workshops from nomad-world speakers
- Coworking sessions with reliable, fast internet
- Wellness day — yoga, ice baths, and fitness meetups
- Island hopping, surf lessons & bioluminescence tours
- Networking dinners and beach parties
📍 The details
🗓️ October 16–25, 2026 (10 days)
📍 General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
🎤 Featuring Ace Gapuz, Lian Carla De Ocampo, Tressia Lee, Stefan Williams, Nat Barbosa, and more
🎟️ Multiple ticket tiers available — from social passes to full festival access
Organized by NIP & Baybayin Hub, supported by the Department of Tourism Caraga.
👉 Grab your ticket — Spots are limited to 150
View the full program and speakers at nomads-in-paradise.com
Link to event pageAsia's largest travel trade show
ITB Asia, Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show, is an annual 3-day B2B trade show and convention designed to bring together the key travel industry leaders in the region. It convenes international exhibitors and buyers from the MICE, Leisure and Corporate segments.
Today, ITB Asia is the premier meeting place for the travel trade industry for forging new partnerships and strengthening existing business relationships with the most important players in the region.
ITB Asia 2026 will be held in Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from 21-23 October 2026. The show is organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovXgWileF7k
Why Attend ITB Asia
Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show
Bringing more than 18,000 attendees from the MICE, Corporate, Leisure sectors
Buyer & Exhibitor Ratio
Approximately 1:1 ratio between buyers and exhibitors
Most International Travel Trade Show
Over 132 countries & territories represented; the most international travel trade show in the region
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ITB Asia?
ITB Asia, Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show, is an annual 3-day B2B trade show and convention designed to bring together the key travel industry leaders in the region. It convenes international exhibitors and buyers from the MICE, Leisure and Corporate segments.
Today, ITB Asia is the premier meeting place for the travel trade industry for forging new partnerships and strengthening existing business relationships with the most important players in the region.
Where is ITB Asia held?
ITB Asia 2026 will be held in Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from 21-23 October 2026. The show is organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.
Who should attend ITB Asia?
ITB Asia is a B2B travel trade event for industry professionals, including buyers (corporate travel managers, MICE planners, agents), exhibitors (tourism boards, hotels, airlines, travel tech providers), and trade visitors seeking to network, source products, and explore business opportunities across leisure, MICE, corporate travel, and travel technology.
What industries are represented at ITB Asia?
ITB Asia represents key sectors across the travel and tourism industry, including leisure travel, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), corporate travel, and travel technology, alongside related industries such as hospitality, aviation, cruise, destinations, attractions, and tourism boards.
Learn more at www.itb-asia.com
Link to event pageMeet Fellow Travelers At The Extraordinary Travel Festival 3rd Edition in Bangkok, Thailand
Join us in Bangkok, Thailand from October 22-25 for The Extraordinary Travel Festival 3rd edition and meet with the world's most accomplished travelers for 4 days of keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking that shines a spotlight on extraordinary travel and adventures.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OctJwxUt3w
Three reasons why you should join us:
Community; meet new & old friends who share your passion of travel
Content; listen in to over 30 incredible travel speakers
Chart a course; explore the destination & nearby region
We bring travelers together from around the world, the Marco Polos of the 21st century; Who are any of the following:
• Accomplished, avid, and adventurous travelers
• Traveling to every country in the world
• Passionate to explore extreme destinations
• And love to have fun and network with likeminded people
Learn more and secure your ticket at www.extraordinarytravelfest.com
Link to event pageBangkok Travel Massive, Extraordinary Travel Festival, and Pangea invite our communities to an exclusive celebration at one of Bangkok's newly launched rooftop bars.
Join us on Thursday, 22nd October for drinks, rooftop views, and great conversations with the Bangkok Travel Massive and Extraordinary Travel Festival community. This gathering brings together the travel industry and adventurous travelers from around the world — timed for the opening day of the festival. This is a great opportunity to unwind with fellow attendees and celebrate the opening of the festival. RSVP is essential.
We'll be hosted at Oasis Rooftop Bar on the 8th Floor of Paradox Bangkok Sukhumvit with a welcome drink courtesy of Extraordinary Travel Festival, Travel Massive, and Pangea.
👉 Attendees from 40+ companies including: 12Go Asia, Abercrombie & Kent, Airwallex, Apex Capital Partners, avisell, BYK*S, CM Communications, Don Gale & Co, EXO Travel, Filipino World Travelers, Flytrippers, Go Bangkok Tours, GRM Group, Grovio AI, HolaDear, Islandii Ltd., Just One Way Ticket, Manzil Reps, OnlyACarryOn.com and ThePackingPrincess.com, Oriental Hospitality Experts, Platform 195, Saffron Asia Media, Trasys, Travel Compositor, Travel Massive, TTG Asia Media, Very Local Trip, Waypoint Journeys, and more.
About the Extraordinary Travel Festival (ETF). The Extraordinary Travel Festival 3rd edition (October 22-25 ) brings the world's most accomplished travelers for 4 days of keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking that shines a spotlight on extraordinary travel and adventures. Learn more at extraordinarytravelfest.com
Venue: Oasis Rooftop Bar (8th Floor, Paradox Bangkok Sukhumvit)
📍 Map link: maps.app.goo.gl/r6cmfY5u6yJTVqEe8
🗓️ Thursday, 22nd October
⏰ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
🍷 Happy Hour 7pm - 9pm
🪩 Live DJ & Lucky Door Prizes
👉 Capacity is limited — register early to secure your spot.
We look forward to welcoming you on the 22nd October!
— The Bangkok Travel Massive team
About Travel Massive Bangkok
Travel Massive is a global community of travel industry professionals, connecting people across 100+ cities worldwide. The Bangkok chapter brings together hoteliers, tour operators, travel tech founders, and destination marketers for regular events that celebrate collaboration and innovation in one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic travel hubs. Join the Bangkok Travel Massive community to stay updated on upcoming events. www.travelmassive.com/posts/bangkok-travel-massive-309854891
About Pangea
Pangea is a social travel app built to help you keep track of where and when your friends are traveling. Coordinate schedules, get recommendations from friends who have been before, and meet other like minded travelers IRL, anywhere in the world. Pangea also hosts social group trips to off the beaten path destinations. Learn more: www.pangeatrips.com
About the Venue — Oasis Rooftop Bar at Paradox Bangkok Sukhumvit.
Take your evenings to new heights at Oasis Rooftop Bar. With crafted cocktails, light bites, and sweeping views over Sukhumvit, it’s the perfect spot to gather, celebrate, or simply watch the city come alive at night. Here, we tempt guests with delicious cocktails, smoothies, and juices, as well as restaurant-style light bites. Follow on Instagram at instagram.com/paradoxbangkoksukhumvit
Questions about this event? Contact ian@travelmassive.com
Capacity is limited, so we recommend registering in advance.
Link to event pageThe NomadMania Travel Awards is the annual event to celebrate achievements in travel organized since 2021. They are meant to celebrate travelling efforts in the past year.
Our aim is not to make people travel for the award, but rather to award the ones who travel regardless of that and to inspire new generations of travellers!
This year the NomadMania Travel Awards is held as part of the Extraordinary Travel Festival.
This year the NomadMania Travel Awards is happening live in Bangkok, Thailand on October 25th as a part of the Extraordinary Travel Festival. Join us in person, or watch the livestream online.
• When: Sunday 25th October
• Time: 5pm - 7pm
• Location: Ambassador Hotel (Grand Ballroom)
• Map: maps.app.goo.gl/ktT1MNnPjuJeCQzR8
👉 See this year's finalists: nomadmania.com/awards2026-voting/
🍺 There will be a cash bar and people you can also order food.
🇹🇭 All members of Bangkok Travel Massive are welcome to attend in-person
Travel Trends Summit V3 is where the global travel industry comes to learn, connect, and prepare for what’s next.
In 2024, we launched the first AI Summit built exclusively for the travel industry.
In 2025, over 2,000 founders, executives, and innovators joined us to explore how AI is transforming travel.
In 2026, we’re evolving. Travel Trends Summit V3 will expand beyond AI to cover the full spectrum of what it takes to build, grow, and lead in the global travel industry today.
Across two days of keynotes, panels, demos, and candid conversations, you’ll hear from the people actually doing the work, not just talking about it.
Hear from 60+ speakers including: Travis Pittman (Founder & CEO, TourRadar), Frank Marini (CEO, Railbookers), Jake Peters (Co-Founder, Fora), Janette Roush (Chief AI Officer, Brand USA), Marilyn Markham (Amex GBT), Susan DeBottis (Lonely Planet), Sally Bunnell (Founder, NaviSavi), and leaders from Travel Massive including Matthew Gardiner (London Director) and Ian Cumming (Founder).
Learn more at www.traveltrendspodcast.com/travel-trends-summit-2026
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN AT V3
We’re bringing together leaders from across every sector of travel to deliver practical, real-world insights:
🤖 AI & Emerging Technology. What’s real, what’s working, and what’s next.
📢 Marketing & Customer Acquisition. How to reach and convert travelers.
🚀 Building & Scaling Travel Companies. Honest lessons from operators.
🌍 Distribution & Revenue Strategy. Smarter, more profitable routes to market.
🤝 Partnerships & Ecosystem Growth. The relationships that unlock scale.
Who is this event for? If you're a travel founder, executive, marketer, technologist or investor who wants to know what's next, this summit is for you.
Virtual-First. Built for a Global Industry.
We’re keeping our Summit V3 fully virtual so anyone, anywhere can join.
With attendees from 50+ countries and speakers across every major travel vertical, you’ll get a truly global perspective without leaving your desk (or couch).
REGISTER NOW FOR FREE
Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners, we're able to offer this global event free for everyone to register and attend, so we can maximize reach and benefit for our global audience.
A big thanks to the Travel Massive team for our ongoing collaboration. We love this community, and we can't wait to have Ian Cumming, founder of Travel Massive, as a speaker this year as we go Beyond AI. Please join us.
Secure Your Spot Today!
Link to event pageHere's the 10 latest classified ads:
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