Innovation Takes Center Stage at Arival 360 | Berlin

Arival is launching a brand-new interactive forum at Arival 360 | Berlin, sponsored by Stripe, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating extraordinary innovation in our industry

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by | 19 February 2024

If there’s one constant in the in-destination experiences industry, it’s change. From evolving traveler trends to rapidly evolving new technologies, operators must constantly adapt to stay ahead of the curve. Thankfully, creative and forward-thinking members of the tours, activities and attractions space are rising to meet the challenge. 

That’s why we’re excited to launch the Arival Innovation Showcase, sponsored by Stripe, at Arival 360 | Berlin to spotlight some of the most out-of-the-box thinkers in our industry. This live “pitch” showcase will feature five finalists presenting their innovations from the stage to a panel of three experts handpicked by Arival.   

Arival attendees are invited to participate in the showcase as part of a live audience to help choose the final winner. Not only will you get to crown the “Most Innovative,” you’ll also receive a firsthand look at some of the innovative tech, tools, and products that could prove to be a game changer for your own business. 

How the Showcase Works

As the leading authority on in-destination experiences, Arival has its finger on the pulse of the biggest challenges facing our industry today. We’ve vetted and selected five “Innovator Finalists” who embody an original and solutions-oriented approach to tackling an industry challenge to present their innovations from the stage on Monday, March 4, at Arival 360 | Berlin. Each of our finalists’ innovations demonstrate a new technology or approach that is directly applicable to the in-destination experiences industry and usable by companies in the sector.

Our panel of experts—who themselves have established backgrounds in cultivating innovation in our industry—will provide insightful feedback and host a Q&A with each finalist. Then, the live audience of Arival attendees will crown the “Most Innovative.”

Each finalist receives one free ticket to Arival 360 | Berlin, $10,000 Stripe processing credits and one year free of Insider Pro Access Membership. The audience-selected “Most Innovative” winner will receive an additional $25,000 Stripe processing credits, an invitation to attend and provide a short presentation at Arival 360 | San Diego, and two tickets to The Phocuswright Conference including entry into the Startup Program. Thank you to Stripe and Phocuswright for your contribution to the Most Innovative Prize! 

ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA

28-30 APRIL 2025

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Meet the Experts

Our experts will bring their discerning eye and decades of industry experience to the Innovation Showcase as they share their insights into each Innovator’s pitch. These experts include: 

  • Linda Fox, Senior Reporter at PhocusWire 
  • James Lemon, GTM Global Industry Lead at Stripe 
  • Stephen Oddo, Founder and CEO of Walks 

Meet the Innovator Finalists

Our five innovator finalists were chosen because their new technology, service, or concept has the potential to shake up our industry in a big way—and potentially solve some of the toughest challenges we collectively face as our industry evolves. 

These finalists and their innovations are:

1. Curated Planet

Curated Planet Founder and CEO Benjamin Sann will present a communication platform for tour operators that reaches guests wherever they are, keeping tour operators and travelers in sync. Curated Planet recently teamed up with Arival as a research partner to produce our Power of Chat report, available to Arival Insider members.

2. TourConnect

TourConnect Founder and President Michael Herrmann will present a booking automation tool that uses AI to automate manual reservation processes, eliminating the need for time-consuming data entry. Read more of Herrmann’s insights into the many uses of AI for experience operators on Arival.

3. TourReview

TourReview CEO Jose Arozarena will present a purpose-built software that helps tour operators manage their online reviews from all major platforms in one place, addressing the common problem of fragmented review data. This system was used to identify the top review-earning operators to select as finalists for the Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards.

4. TipDirect by TripAdmit

TripAdmit CEO John Maguire will present TipDirect, a digital tipping app for tour and activity providers that also provides the opportunity to engage with guests via customized reviews, social connection options, and tour upsells. TripAdmit initially launched this tap-to-tip product last year at Arival 360 | Berlin 2023, and was featured in this Arival list of AI resources for experience operators.

5. WeGoTrip

WeGoTrip’s Vitaly Vinogradov will present an AI generated self-guided audio tour product that allows travelers to set parameters like location, duration, and tour theme and then enjoy an instantly generated narrated tour with route. With this tool, operators can deliver on-demand, customized self-guided tour experiences to their guests with an AI-powered personalized self-guided tour platform. 

Save Your Seat for the Innovation Showcase

To ensure you’re in the audience for the inaugural Arival Innovation Showcase, reserve your ticket to Arival 360 | Berlin. Innovation will be a key theme of the overall event as well, with theater sessions, roundtable discussions and breakout workshops offering operators actionable insights and practical takeaways to position themselves for growth and success in a rapidly evolving landscape. See a sneak preview of the overall event here.

Reserve your ticket for Arival 360 | Berlin today, starting from €639+VAT. Attendance at the  Innovation Showcase is included with your ticket, along with access to special breakout tracks including the Attractions Forum, the Culinary Dialogues double session,  expert-led roundtables and workshops, exclusive networking opportunities, the Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards, and more. 

Become an Insider Pro Access member today and save 20% on Arival 360 | Berlin. You also get access to the full library of Arival research, plus many other benefits such as free consulting sessions and special discounts from our partners, starting from $179 per year.

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Tags: Featured, TripAdmit, Innovation, Arival 360 | Berlin, TourReview, TourConnect, travel innovation, innovation in tourism, innovation in experiences, Curated Planet, innovation in tours, innovation in travel, innovation showcase, WeGoTrip

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIVAL | ACTIVATE EDINBURGH AND ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA AND WHICH SHOULD I ATTEND?

Since 2019, Arival has hosted one major event in Europe each year. For 2024-2025, we’re thrilled to offer two exciting events: Arival 360 | Valencia and Arival | Activate Edinburgh. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which event to attend—or why you might want to come to both:

Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
  • Arival Theater Content: Global topics including: over-tourism and sustainability, technology, distribution, European consumer and operator trends.
  • Breakout Sessions: In-depth workshops on operational best practices, product expansion, AI, channel management, marketing tech, a Spain-specific track and an Innovation Showcase highlighting the most tech-savvy companies in our industry.
  • Networking: Connect with leading OTAs and distribution companies, and build valuable partnerships.
  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
Arival | Activate Edinburgh (23-25 November 2024)
  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
  • Audience: Operators and industry professionals from the region.
  • Content: Gain insights on regional topics like technology, distribution strategies, and hear from top regional tourism leaders.
  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
Why attend both?

With limited opportunities for business development, learning, and networking in our industry, attending both events is a strategic move. By participating in both Edinburgh and Valencia, you maximize your exposure to diverse markets and influential contacts. 

However, if budget constraints or a specific regional focus dictate your decisions, choose the event that best aligns with your primary business goals. Join us in Edinburgh for regional insights or Valencia for global perspectives—or better yet, attend both to fully leverage the potential of Arival’s expansive network.

For service providers such as a restech or ticketing platform, distribution company, or other services including marketing, AI tools, etc., attending both gives you access to attendees from both markets to connect with your current customers and to meet new ones!

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At Arival, we believe travel can make the world a better place. Our mission is to establish and inspire a diverse community of individuals and companies in the In-destination Industry by providing opportunities to gain insight, share knowledge and build connections. To make it possible for true collaboration, creativity, innovation, and idea exchange to thrive, we are committed to facilitating a welcoming and respectful community for all. This Conference Code of Conduct shares our community expectations and applies to all attendees, employees, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and other participants at Arival- produced and sponsored events. We empower all participants in our community to actively engage in creating a friendly, inclusive and safe environment for all.

Arival’s core values include the following, and create an expectation for conduct at our events and in online community spaces:

We demonstrate a deep respect for human beings inside and outside our company and for the communities in which they live.
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If you have questions regarding this Conference Code of Conduct or its implementation, please contact us at [email protected].

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