This year’s Passenger Experience Conference will define the future of the passenger experience industry

The Passenger Experience Conference opens Passenger Experience Week in April with a full line-up of industry experts

Senior strategists from airlines, cruise, rail and across the industry supply chain will come together on 1 April 2019 to discuss the latest trends and future of passenger experience at this year’s Passenger Experience Conference at the Hamburg Messe.

The one-day, highly-acclaimed conference will kick off Passenger Experience Week, firstly by welcoming delegates in a plenary session to consider ideas and issues that will define passenger experience over the coming years. The day will culminate in the unmissable Industry Networking Party, giving attendees a chance to meet with the who’s who of the industry and celebrate 20 years of co-located show, Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) which follows the conference over the next three days (2-4 April 2019).

During the conference, delegates will split into three concurrent streams, focused on different elements of passenger experience, with opportunities to hear from experts.

The Competitive Cabin
Scott Savian, EVP ZEO and Research & Technology at Safran Cabin, Andrew Masson, Director of Interior Modifications and Leasing at Boeing Global Services, and Airline Monetisation Expert Oliver Ranson of Ranson Pricing will be challenging the status quo, exploring how innovative products and services, and new ways of carving up cabin space will deliver better passenger experience as well as increased revenue and ROI.

Additionally, a Bombardier commercial aircraft case study will offer insight from a senior executive on maximising cabin space.

Ensuring cabin space is accessible for all can be a challenge, but it also provides an opportunity to engage with new customers and strengthen brand loyalty. Geraldine Lundy, Passenger Accessibility Manager at Virgin Atlantic, and Paul Priestman, Chairman of Priestmangoode will offer insight about industry solutions to specific problems that passengers with restricted mobility face.

The Competitive Cabin keynote speech will be given by Mariel Brown, Director of Futures at Seymourpowell, who will present exclusive research about the travellers of tomorrow.

Digital: The New Reality
Experts Russell Holmes, from ico Design, Simon Krasowski, from Diehl Aviation, Elizabeth “Bess” Chapman, Operating Principal at JetBlue Technology Ventures and David Bartlett, from Panasonic Avionics Corporation, will join the second stream to explain how to think like a digital native and use technology to develop a seamless passenger journey. A strong ecosystem to support different digital and mobile tools is also crucial – Konsta Hansson, Managing Director of Reaktor Aero and Dennis Bauer, Head of conichiwa, will discuss how to avoid a disconnected experience.

From a digital entertainment perspective, Fabian Bergfeld from W12 (a TCS Interactive Digital Design Studio) looks at the use of augmented, virtual and mixed realities to create an immersive experience for passengers, more of which can be found at Passenger Technology Solutions and AIX’s Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) Zone, which are located next to each other in the Hamburg Messe from 2 April.

Revitalising The Journey
Peter Wilander, Vice President of Passenger Experience & Product Development at AMTRAK, Andreas Koukas of Hilton Luxury Division Europe & Middle East, and Dr Stathis Kefallonitis, Founder & President of branding.aero and Noesis Analysis Labs, will offer lessons from the rail industry on passenger hospitality.

With biometrics opening up the journey through the airport and onto the aircraft Christopher Forrest, Vice President, Global Airports at Collins Aerospace will join the conference to discuss the role of facial recognition in a world where passengers increasingly expect self-service.

Elsewhere, tapping into emotions through technology, Luc Van Stiphout, Head of Music & Brands at MassiveMusic, will explain how the industry use music to tap into passenger’s emotions and shape brand perception. Sleep, a vital aspect of the journey, will be explored by Dr Jacques Durand, Chief Innovation Officer of AeroHealth.ai, an expert in digital wellness solutions using AI. For more on ensuring an enjoyable passenger experience, World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) will showcase retailers and catering offerings from 2 to 4 April 2019.

Polly Magraw, Event Director said: “This is a jam-packed Passenger Experience Conference, with experts from across the globe. The insights and forecasts from the best and brightest are not to be missed by anyone in the passenger experience industry.

Register to attend by 8 March and receive an earlybird saving by visiting https://www.passengerexperienceconference.com or join the conversation online:

Follow PEC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pec_hamburg