The technology company HBX Group was presented at the ATM fair in Dubai

In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Carlos Muñoz, Commercial Director of HBX Group.

What are your expectations when participating in this fair?

It is a very important event, it is a global passenger hub, but it is also a meeting point for the entire industry. What we see here is that, firstly, virtually all source markets have a share, considering how important the Middle East has become as a style and in particular Dubai. And then, most of our large partners, which are large chains, utilities, also have a significant presence. It is a unique place for us, one of the four or five reference points worldwide along with World Trade Market, ITB, etc. We are present strongly. 

What is the current situation of the company?

The company is always in constant transformation. Our main product is accommodation, but now we are evolving towards a more transversal value proposition, where we also offer other services that some are already in our portfolio, others we are going to add. Among those we already have there are activities at destination or transfers, others that we are adding are new fintech services, travel insurance, data services, etc. So the idea is to combine all these products so that the value proposition for the client is better, but also that the proposition for our clients' clients has less friction, is easier to consume and generates fewer difficulties in the traveler experience. 

The company continues to grow. How many members does it have today?

Today we have nearly 4000 employees in the company. It is also important to say that an important part of these employees are of course the technological function. We are increasingly a technology company within travel, a travel tech, and this is the model we have, we invest very heavily there. And of course the relationship with our partners is also important. We are a travel tech but with a human touch, all our commercial and support teams with our call centers, etc. They are another fundamental element. We are a technology company with people. 

Today we are in the Middle East, how is your business doing according to regions? 

Business is going very well. We came from a year of 2023, which was a record for the industry in general. We see 2024 as very strong, very powerful growth in America and Asia, both for different reasons. Asia because they are in recovery from COVID, in the final stretch, but still in recovery. America because the market remains very solid. Europe represents a safe value. As a whole, the tourism industry is very strong, very solid. The Hotelbeds event in Las Vegas is coming up soon.

I would like any comments about the show that you can tell us. 

It is going to be a world-class event as it has always been. We're going to cover New Frontiers, where we're going to explore what's next in the world of travel, what the future of the world of travel is. We will have some presentations and speakers in addition to the more traditional ones that we already know. We have a special guest who is an astronaut who will talk to us about the Future of travel. There are very interesting things mixing already known topics with new ones.