The Full Speaker Lineup Is Here: Join us at Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026 (Updated)

Da Nang is about to become the center of the travel world for two days — and you’re invited.

Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026 (August 21–22) brings together the travel industry’s brightest founders, creators, and marketers for two days of learning, connection, and big ideas at Ariyana Convention Centre with HorecFex (Day 1) and Namia River Retreat (Day 2) in Da Nang, Vietnam — where travel innovation, creation, and marketing take center stage.

Join Top Travel Innovators, Creators, and Marketers at Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026.

Across two days, expect expert-led workshops, industry panels, founder interviews, a startup pitch competition, tourism and creator masterclasses, and community activations. This year, we’re also introducing a hands-on masterclass program on Day 2 at Namia River Retreat — a five-star villa resort and meeting space in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An. Plus, the team behind Secret Experiences will be revealing the venue for an exclusive afterparty on the day itself.

Travel Massive Asia Conference is produced in partnership with HorecFex (taking place August 21–22) — the premier technology event for the tourism and hospitality industry in Vietnam which attracts over 4,000 attendees and 80 exhibitors.

Here’s your first look at who will be on stage — a lineup that spans hospitality tech leaders, veteran journalists, YouTube creators, market researchers, startup founders, and extreme travelers, all united by a passion for where travel is heading next. Ready to join them? Grab your ticket now.

Crystal Phuong, Head of Account Management, APAC at Aven Hospitality

Crystal Phuong is an accomplished leader in sales, marketing, and account management, with 20 years across Asia Pacific and the Middle East—over a decade of which has been in hospitality technology. As Head of Account Management, Asia Pacific at Aven Hospitality, Crystal leads a regional team focused on strategic partnerships, customer success, and helping hoteliers capture new opportunities through distribution, retailing, and AI solutions. A frequent conference speaker, Crystal is passionate about AI-driven personalization, digital transformation, and the future of guest engagement.

• Moderator: Travel Tech Showdown: Leaders Debate OTAs vs Direct Booking in the age of AI

Tracie May, PR, Marketing & Communications Executive

Tracie May (Instagram) is an award-winning American PR and Marketing Executive, Event Producer, Magazine Editor, and internationally recognized content creator with more than 27 years of experience across hospitality, travel, fashion, beauty, and luxury lifestyle. A highly visible social-media KOL, she is known for creating engaging digital content spotlighting destinations, hotels, dining, fashion, and culture throughout Vietnam and beyond. Tracie hosted Chat.Travel, a popular YouTube series focused on hospitality, travel, and lifestyle in Vietnam, and has contributed hundreds of published features to leading U.S. media outlets. She currently serves as Brand Ambassador for Oriental Media and TravelThru, and has appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef Vietnam and Super Cake – Siêu Bánh.

• Panel: The Creator Economy in South East Asia: What’s Working in 2026

Ivy Nhi Chau, Founder at Ivy+Partners

Ivy Nhi Chau is the CEO & Founder of Ivy+Partners, a culture-focused Communications Consultancy in Vietnam. With over a decade of experience in PR & Communications, she has worked with diverse brands across Vietnam and the region, providing strategic direction and leading high-performing teams at Ivy+Partners to drive impactful success. Since 2021, Ivy+Partners has partnered with 80+ brands from 15+ countries, helping international brands enter Vietnam while supporting local brands in expanding beyond borders.

• Moderator: The Creator Economy in South East Asia: What’s Working in 2026

Lina Gedvilaite, Co-Founder and COO at Seek Sophie

Lina Gedvilaite is the Co-Founder and COO of Seek Sophie, the curated travel marketplace that’s redefining travel as a force for good. Originally from Lithuania and shaped by many years in the US, she and co-founder Jacinta Lim launched Seek Sophie from Singapore in 2018. From the very start the intention has been that every experience benefits local communities, protects wildlife, and respects the planet.

• Panel: Travel Tech Showdown: Leaders Debate OTAs vs Direct Booking in the age of AI

Richard Burrage, Founder at Cimigo

Richard Burrage (LinkedIn) has 35 years of experience in market research and consulting, including 28 years in Vietnam helping numerous brands achieve market leadership. He is the Founder of Cimigo (cimigo.com), a leading market research agency, and has facilitated the creation of over 60 brands in Vietnam. A regular speaker on consumer trends, innovation, and customer experience, Richard also teaches Asian Consumer Behaviour at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan Business School. He is a trustee of the Saigon Children’s Charity and resides in Ho Chi Minh City with his three children. A passionate runner, he has completed 27 marathons worldwide.

• Panel: Top Travel Trends for 2027

Hao Tran, CEO and Co-Founder at Vietcetera

Hao Tran is the CEO and Co-Founder of Vietcetera, Vietnam’s leading digital media network connecting the country with the world since 2016. Through editorial content, podcasts, and live events, he has created a platform where Vietnam’s next generation of leaders, founders, and innovators share ideas that matter. His mission is simple: bring Vietnam to the world, and the world to Vietnam.

• Host: Founder’s Interview with One Life Adventures

Hoang Le Duy, Business Development Manager at Headout

Hoang Le Duy leads Vietnam market expansion at Headout, the global booking platform behind 50 million guest experiences across 500+ cities. German-born and Saigon-based, he brings a dual perspective as both a distribution operator and experience creator — having co-founded Vibeji, an experience booking platform, and produced the Mystic Night Show, one of Saigon’s most beloved live productions with 350+ performances.

• Panel: Travel Tech Showdown: Leaders Debate OTAs vs Direct Booking in the age of AI

Anne Somanas, Thailand Correspondent at TTG Asia Media

Anne Somanas (LinkedIn) is is a hospitality media and travel trade journalist with TTG Asia Media, contributing news reports, analyses and opinion pieces about matters that are impactful to the tourism industry. Anne is also a passionate community builder who helms numerous communities with united interests in Bangkok, most notably the Bangkok Recycling Chain - a grassroots movement to divert waste from landfills, find new homes for unused items and educate people about circular economy.

• Moderator: Top Travel Trends for 2027

Stephanie Hays, YouTube Creator (@StephAndPete), and Travel Advisor with Fora Travel

Stephanie Hays (YouTube) is the co-creator of travel YouTube channel Steph and Pete (115K subscribers), and a travel advisor with Fora Travel. Her career spans digital marketing at G Adventures in London, CEO of a Mumbai-based social enterprise offering community tours across India, and Brand Director for Chattanooga’s tourism board. After 18 months of full-time family travel, she settled in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she creates content, advises clients, and this past February led a student trip to Hoi An and Chiang Mai. Having visited 65 countries, Asia remains her favorite place to travel and live.

• Panel: The Creator Economy in South East Asia: What’s Working in 2026

Ric Gazarian, Founder at Counting Countries

Ric Gazarian is an extreme traveler who has visited over 190 countries, and is host of the Counting Countries podcast, where he interviews the world’s most traveled and interesting travelers who are pursuing the goal of visiting all 193 U.N. countries. Ric is also the founder of the Extraordinary Travel Festival — a global event that brings together the world’s most accomplished and adventurous travelers.

• Host: Travel Startup Pitch Competition — 5 Finalists Pitch To An International Judging Panel

Samuel Walter, Founder at Heads on Pillows

Samuel Walter (LinkedIn) is the founder and CEO of Heads On Pillows. Based in Australia and Vietnam, his company supports hospitality, travel, and tourism businesses in building their digital presence across the APAC region through tailored digital marketing that focuses on increasing direct bookings. Samuel is a passionate digital entrepreneur and a. As the founder of two digital marketing agencies, his experience spans extensively across SEO, Performance Marketing, web design and social media for enterprises of all sizes.

• Workshop: Get Found in the AI Era: SEO and AI Search Visibility for Travel Brands
• Panel: Travel Tech Showdown: Leaders Debate OTAs vs Direct Booking in the age of AI

Paul Hewett, CEO at In Marketing We Trust

Paul Hewett (LinkedIn) is is CEO of In Marketing We Trust, a distributed global digital marketing agency specialising in data-driven services to help brands grow their online presence — serving global travel clients including Expedia, ClubMed, and Globus. Originally from the UK and now based in Sydney, Paul is an advisory board member for Australia’s largest Association for Data-driven Marketing & Advertising, ADMA.

• Workshop: Building AI Campaigns: The Future of Discovery in Marketing

Frederik Wissink, Author and Professional Photographer

Frederik Wissink (LinkedIn) is the author of Expat and photographer behind Vietnam Uninterrupted. He has spent over 20 years photographing Vietnam for leading travel and hospitality brands including Condé Nast Traveller, Four Seasons, Hyatt, Accor, and Zannier Hotels. His work has appeared on more than 60 magazine covers, and he has created multiple exhibitions. Frederik also leads photography walks for Secret Experiences, sharing the art of street photography and the history of Saigon.

• Masterclass: How to take photography for Hotels and Experiences that will sell them

Fran Dieguez, Co-Founder at Nuna

Fran Dieguez (LinkedIn) grew up in his family’s guesthouse and never left the industry — he just decided to change it. As CEO of Nuna, he helps hotels break free from the grip of online travel agencies through direct sales strategy, booking technology, and smart marketing. His belief is straightforward: booking platforms shouldn’t earn more than hotel owners. Fran combines a hotelier’s instincts with a technologist’s toolkit to put more revenue back where it belongs — with the people running the hotels.

• Panel: Top Travel Trends for 2027

Garth Adams, Founder at I Want That Flight & I Know The Pilot

Garth Adams (LinkedIn) is the Founder of I Want That Flight and I Know The Pilot; Flight deal platforms with over 400k newsletter subscribers and 550k on Facebook. Since launching in 2016, Garth has built one of the most engaged travel communities in the region — powered by great deals and an obsessive focus on what travellers actually want.

• Masterclass: How to monetize your Social Media audience (and get paid for it)

Pei Shyuan (P.S) Yeo, Founder at Everyday Tour Company

Pei Shyuan (PS) Yeo (LinkedIn) is the founder of Everyday Tour Company, a Singapore-based travel company specialising in curated culinary, culture, and community experiences. After a 15+ year career in digital transformation and technology, she followed her passion for food, design, and storytelling to build a travel brand rooted in authenticity, human connection, and meaningful local experiences. Today, Everyday Tour Company works with travellers, educational institutions, and global organisations to uncover the stories, people, and places that make destinations unique.

• Masterclass: How to build a Tour Company people can’t stop talking about

Keith Van, Head of Community & Partnerships at seats.aero

Keith Van (LinkedIn) leads community and partnerships at seats.aero, the world’s leading award travel search engine. With experience in corporate travel management, business development, and tech startups, he helps both travelers and companies unlock value at scale. He has worked in four countries and visited over 100 UN member countries. He is a recognized voice in the points and miles community, frequently speaking on award travel trends, airline and hotel loyalty programs, partnership strategy, and travel technology.

• Judge: Travel Startup Pitch Competition

Elsa Verzijl, Growth Manager EMEA, APAC at Skift

Elsa Verzijl (LinkedIn) works with travel brands across EMEA and APAC at Skift on content, events, and research-led initiatives. London-based and travel obsessed, Elsa is drawn to projects that not only move the industry forward, but also create a more thoughtful and sustainable future for travel.

• Panel: Top Travel Trends for 2027
• Judge: Travel Startup Pitch Competition

Michelle Ford, General Manager at Namia Wellness Resort

Michelle Ford is the Founder and CEO of Lumina Wellbeing, a wellness hospitality management company that creates and operates wellness-inclusive resorts and retreats, including the award-winning Namia River Retreat — part of the Small Luxury Hotels Considerate & Wellbeing Collection. Michelle previously led Fusion Maia, Asia’s first spa-inclusive resort, and oversaw 15 luxury spas across Thailand and the Maldives with Minor Group. A systemic and nature constellation practitioner, she integrates nature-based rituals and embodied practices into guest experiences and organizational culture, building wellness ecosystems that inspire connection, purpose, and long-term wellbeing across the hospitality industry.

• Masterclass: Designing Rituals That Reconnect: Harnessing Nature in Modern Hospitality

Mandy Nguyen, Operation Director at Startup Vietnam Foundation

Mandy Nguyen is the Operation Director at Startup Vietnam Foundation. She leads the development of critical projects that address national and local economic challenges. Mandy’s human-centric approach focuses on designing programs that empower leaders and communities to achieve innovative excellence. She is a strong advocate for Vietnam’s innovation and entrepreneurship landscape, developing strategic initiatives and fostering collaborations that drive economic development and societal improvements through innovation. Her mission is to create robust pathways for Vietnam’s entrepreneurial talent, ensuring both immediate impact and long-term, scalable changes that enhance Vietnam’s position on the global innovation map.

• Judge: Travel Startup Pitch Competition

Hannah Pearson, Founding Partner at Pear Anderson

Hannah Pearson (LinkedIn) is the director of Pear Anderson, a research and marketing representation consultancy specialising in the Southeast Asian travel industry. She also serves as Regional Director APAC for the Adventure Travel Trade Association and co-hosts The South East Asia Travel Show podcast. An accomplished conference programme editor, Hannah designed the World Islamic Tourism Conference 2024, the ASEAN Tourism Conference 2024 and 2025, and the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2024. Since 2020, she has published a weekly report tracking COVID-19’s impact and the region’s tourism recovery. Her insights have featured on BBC World News, Bloomberg, the Straits Times, Skift and Deutsche Welle, among others.

• Judge: Travel Startup Pitch Competition
• Masterclass: How to become the source everyone cites

Sean Mulhern, Co-Founder & Global CEO at One Life Adventures

Sean Mulhern is the CEO and Co-Founder of One Life Adventures, an award-winning adventure travel company operating across Asia and beyond. With a background in hospitality, Sean previously co-founded Slumber Party Hostels, one of Asia’s largest hostel chains, helping redefine the backpacker experience through community-focused accommodation and exceptional guest service. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, he serves as a senior advisor to the Indonesian government on international business and investment initiatives. Passionate about innovation, leadership, and sustainable tourism, Sean continues to drive growth while building strategic partnerships and inspiring travellers to explore the world through meaningful adventures.

• Founder’s Interview with One Life Adventures

Casey Mead, Director at CM Communications

Casey Mead (LinkedIn) is an award-winning public relations practitioner with more than 20 years of experience specialising in travel communications across the UK, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Prior to launching CM Communications, Casey served as the head of global communications for community tourism pioneer, G Adventures. Over her career she has represented multiple sectors of the travel industry including hotel chains, OTAs, tourism boards and cruise lines, among other travel businesses. Casey’s personal passion for travel has led her to visit more than 100 countries and territories, and she thrives on immersing herself in local cultures and exploring emerging destinations.

• Panel: The Creator Economy in South East Asia: What’s Working in 2026

Ian Cumming, Founder end Developer at Travel Massive

Ian Cumming (LinkedIn) is the founder and developer of Travel Massive — the global professional network that connects thousands of innovators, executives and creators who are creating the future of travel. Ian is also a founding partner of Social Entrepreneurs in Tourism which provides industry support and recognition for social entrepreneurs to develop sustainable tourism projects in their local destinations.

• Conference Co-Organizer and Travel Quiz Night Host

Natalya Wissink

Natalya Wissink (LinkedIn) is founder and CEO of Secret Experiences — providing cultural experiences and customized activities focused on food and beverage, and urban exploration. The company also hosts private events and corporate activities for global companies, including Google, Apple, Instagram, Deloitte, and Airbnb. Residing in Vietnam since 2013, Natalya also leads Travel Massive Vietnam and is actively involved in various programs supporting entrepreneurship and innovation across Vietnam’s tourism sector.

• Conference Co-Organizer and Experiences Director

Don’t Miss Out: Join Travel Massive Asia Conference 2026 Da Nang!

Da Nang is about to become the center of the travel world for two days — and you’re invited.

The full speaker lineup is now live — hospitality tech leaders, veteran journalists, YouTube creators, market researchers, startup founders, and extreme travelers, all on stage across two days in Da Nang.

👉 View the full program with more details about each day’s activities and events — including our secret afterparty!

Early bird tickets are gone, but prices go up soon — get yours now before the next price increase.

👉 Secure your early bird ticket now

Drop a comment below and tell us which speakers you’re most excited to see in Da Nang! Mention a friend or colleague who should be there too.

— See you this August in Da Nang, Vietnam!