The Phocuswright Conference 2025 – Part 1 highlights

San Diego set the stage for a lively opening to The Phocuswright Conference 2025, where more than 600 travel leaders debated the industry’s next chapter.  Across sessions, one theme rang clear: AI is no longer a future disruptor, it’s a present reality – but loyalty, trust, and human connection remain the anchors.  From OTAs morphing into financial institutions, to TikTok and Reddit defending the value of authentic recommendations, to hoteliers wrestling with fragmented systems, the conference spotlighted both the promise and the pitfalls of technology in travel.