Why data quality is becoming the foundation of travel innovation

As travel becomes increasingly digital, the industry’s next phase of transformation is being shaped in part by the quality of the data and systems behind them. In a Changemaker session at The Phocuswright Conference, the focus was on how data infrastructure, artificial intelligence and connectivity are redefining what’s possible across the travel ecosystem.

The session featured a presentation by Jeff Kim, CEO of Yanolja Cloud and chief strategy officer of Yanolja Group, followed by a one-to-one conversation with Phocuswright senior research analyst Robert Cole. Together, Kim and Cole explored why fragmented, low-quality data remains one of the biggest barriers to innovation in hospitality and how cloud-based platforms are changing the way suppliers, intermediaries and travelers interact.

The discussion also looked beyond today’s generative AI hype to examine what comes next, including the emergence of agent-based AI, real-time inventory differentiation and the operational realities of delivering more personalized experiences at scale. 

Rather than framing technology as a silver bullet, the conversation emphasized integration, execution and the long-term implications for distribution, operations and traveler expectations.

Watch the full session below.

Later, Kim joined PhocusWire executive editor Linda Fox for a discussion in the PhocusWire studio. Watch that interview below.