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What Two Major Travel Trade Shows Taught Us About the Industry in 2026

The altovo (formerly easyGDS) team was present at two of the travel industry's most significant events in early 2026: ITB Berlin and Aviation Festival Asia. Their observations revealed three key industry trends that are shaping the year ahead.

Travel Agencies Face Mounting Pressure

Independent travel agencies and online travel platforms are experiencing compression from multiple directions: supplier costs rising on one end, OTA competition driving down booking fees on the other. Agencies are seeking operational efficiency rather than expanded inventory.

altovo's white-label booking platform directly addresses this challenge by providing enterprise-level technology without transaction fees or brand loss. The response from agencies at both shows confirmed the appetite for this kind of solution is real and growing.

Airlines Refocus on Ancillary Revenue

Aviation Festival Asia attendees repeatedly emphasised ancillaries: seat upgrades, baggage fees, lounge access, and stopover packages. The message was clear: the margin is not in the base fare anymore.

Airlines are seeking effective distribution channels while preventing revenue leakage through intermediaries. altovo's stopover engine, operating with Etihad Airways, enables airlines to offer branded packages directly through travel agencies while maintaining complete revenue transparency.

Technology Gap Persists

Many mid-market travel businesses still juggle disconnected systems across multiple platforms. The demand for consolidation at both shows was strong and consistent: one platform, one login, one view of their inventory and their revenue.

Market Outlook

altovo concludes that the travel sector possesses significant ambition but lacks affordable, enterprise-grade technology that is accessible to smaller businesses. The company is positioned to fill this market gap, and both events confirmed that the industry is ready for exactly this kind of solution.