Hack Horizon Takes to the Skies
Major industry players, including Hong Kong International,
British Airways and MTR, come together to deliver the most innovative inflight
travel hackathon to date
British Airways and MTR, come together to deliver the most innovative inflight
travel hackathon to date
Hong Kong, 10 May 2017. Hack
Horizon, the first TravelTech hackathon onboard a British
Airways commercial flight between Hong Kong and London, resulted
in a range of exceptional products and digital
platforms that could make travel simpler, safer and cheaper in the future.
Horizon, the first TravelTech hackathon onboard a British
Airways commercial flight between Hong Kong and London, resulted
in a range of exceptional products and digital
platforms that could make travel simpler, safer and cheaper in the future.
Culminating last night with a pitch event at the London
Transport Museum, the aim of Hack Horizon was to enable the brightest
entrepreneurial minds to connect with travel industry leaders and develop new
products and services that could go on to improve the end-to-end customer
experience in travel. Global leaders in the industry, including British
Airways, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Heathrow Airport, Travelport,
Skyscanner, MTR and Regal Hotels, came together to deliver the most innovative
inflight travel hackathon to date and push the boundaries travel technology.
Transport Museum, the aim of Hack Horizon was to enable the brightest
entrepreneurial minds to connect with travel industry leaders and develop new
products and services that could go on to improve the end-to-end customer
experience in travel. Global leaders in the industry, including British
Airways, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Heathrow Airport, Travelport,
Skyscanner, MTR and Regal Hotels, came together to deliver the most innovative
inflight travel hackathon to date and push the boundaries travel technology.
Hack Horizon is the brainchild of Kostadin Kolev, Kristy Hart,
Johannes Jaeger and Sandra Sobanska – four inquisitive globe-trotting
millennials based in both London and Hong Kong. They first came together
through their love of visiting the world and soon discovered they shared the
belief that innovative technology could be better applied to streamline the
traveller experience.
Johannes Jaeger and Sandra Sobanska – four inquisitive globe-trotting
millennials based in both London and Hong Kong. They first came together
through their love of visiting the world and soon discovered they shared the
belief that innovative technology could be better applied to streamline the
traveller experience.
Thirty-two developers, designers and entrepreneurs from markets
including the UK, US, South America and Asia, were selected from almost 700
global applications for the three-day hackathon. Depending on their skill set,
the participants were placed in teams of three to five and then asked to
develop an innovative travel technology product at airports, hotels and onboard
a 12-hour British Airways flight between Hong Kong International Airport and
London Heathrow. Unlike many other hackathons, Hack Horizon immersed its
participants in the travel experience and gave them direct access to members of
the travelling public so they could receive live feedback and focus on solving
very real pain points in travel. They also worked in tandem with some of the
best industry technologies and APIs and gained support from mentors and
experts.
including the UK, US, South America and Asia, were selected from almost 700
global applications for the three-day hackathon. Depending on their skill set,
the participants were placed in teams of three to five and then asked to
develop an innovative travel technology product at airports, hotels and onboard
a 12-hour British Airways flight between Hong Kong International Airport and
London Heathrow. Unlike many other hackathons, Hack Horizon immersed its
participants in the travel experience and gave them direct access to members of
the travelling public so they could receive live feedback and focus on solving
very real pain points in travel. They also worked in tandem with some of the
best industry technologies and APIs and gained support from mentors and
experts.
In just 72 hours, the eight teams built a diverse range of
prototypes designed to solve the various pain points throughout the travel
experience. Ideas included an end-to-end security luggage transfer service
powered by blockchain, a smartwatch that leverages deep learning to personalise
the passenger experience at airports, a digital service for parents to need to
arrange for their children to travel internationally on their own and a chatbot
so groups to collaborate on trips and bookings. But it was Destination,
an In Flight Entertainment to mobile retail solution that allows passengers to
book activities for their destination whilst on a flight that was crowned the
winner by the esteemed panel of travel expert judges. LuxExpress, a global
traveller network giving passengers access to best-priced luxury duty free,
came in second place.
prototypes designed to solve the various pain points throughout the travel
experience. Ideas included an end-to-end security luggage transfer service
powered by blockchain, a smartwatch that leverages deep learning to personalise
the passenger experience at airports, a digital service for parents to need to
arrange for their children to travel internationally on their own and a chatbot
so groups to collaborate on trips and bookings. But it was Destination,
an In Flight Entertainment to mobile retail solution that allows passengers to
book activities for their destination whilst on a flight that was crowned the
winner by the esteemed panel of travel expert judges. LuxExpress, a global
traveller network giving passengers access to best-priced luxury duty free,
came in second place.
Kostadin Kolev, Hack Horizon’s co-founder, added, “The travel
industry is extremely competitive and consequently digital innovation is now
high on the agenda. We are delighted that some of the biggest names in the
industry came on board to actively support
travel innovation through Hack Horizon. Hong Kong and London are two rapidly
growing travel hubs, however a lot of the big players in travel have focused on
increasing efficiencies and improving their bottom line rather than the
customer. The incredible roster of partners we have brought together for Hack
Horizon shows a readiness and commitment from some of the leading voices in
travel to pursue a new direction. TravelTech can really play a central role in
improving the end to end customer experience.”
industry is extremely competitive and consequently digital innovation is now
high on the agenda. We are delighted that some of the biggest names in the
industry came on board to actively support
travel innovation through Hack Horizon. Hong Kong and London are two rapidly
growing travel hubs, however a lot of the big players in travel have focused on
increasing efficiencies and improving their bottom line rather than the
customer. The incredible roster of partners we have brought together for Hack
Horizon shows a readiness and commitment from some of the leading voices in
travel to pursue a new direction. TravelTech can really play a central role in
improving the end to end customer experience.”
Richard Tams, British Airways’ executive vice
president for China, said: “We are very excited to see so many talented people
working towards ideas that may one day re-define the travel technology. British Airways is proud to
be a partner to support this cross-continent
collaboration that will benefit the industry as a whole.”
president for China, said: “We are very excited to see so many talented people
working towards ideas that may one day re-define the travel technology. British Airways is proud to
be a partner to support this cross-continent
collaboration that will benefit the industry as a whole.”
Chris AuYoung, General Manager, Smart Airport of Airport
Authority Hong Kong, added, “HKIA is committed to introducing new technology
and smart solutions that will enhance the airport experience for our worldwide
passengers. Hackathons are a fantastic way of engaging talent from outside the
airport environment and some of the solutions developed during this one have
been truly exceptional. We are now keen to explore how we can help progress
them into live initiatives. Hack Horizon further marks our collaboration with
Heathrow, who we are working in partnership with to develop industry insights
and initiatives.”
Authority Hong Kong, added, “HKIA is committed to introducing new technology
and smart solutions that will enhance the airport experience for our worldwide
passengers. Hackathons are a fantastic way of engaging talent from outside the
airport environment and some of the solutions developed during this one have
been truly exceptional. We are now keen to explore how we can help progress
them into live initiatives. Hack Horizon further marks our collaboration with
Heathrow, who we are working in partnership with to develop industry insights
and initiatives.”
-END-
About Hack Horizon:
Hack Horizon is the brainchild of four globe-trotting and
entrepreneurial millennials based in London and Hong Kong. They connected
because of their belief in the power of technology and its ability to change
and radically improve traditional industries. Having organised and participated
in over 40 hackathons around the world between them, they wanted to take the
hackathon model and apply it to the travel industry in a way that could have a
long lasting, positive impact.
entrepreneurial millennials based in London and Hong Kong. They connected
because of their belief in the power of technology and its ability to change
and radically improve traditional industries. Having organised and participated
in over 40 hackathons around the world between them, they wanted to take the
hackathon model and apply it to the travel industry in a way that could have a
long lasting, positive impact.
The team joined forces at the start of 2016 to galvanize the
Asia-Pacific startup ecosystem and bring together industry innovators that had
the ability to re-think and improve the travel experience for millions of
people.
Asia-Pacific startup ecosystem and bring together industry innovators that had
the ability to re-think and improve the travel experience for millions of
people.
The first Hack Horizon will take place from 5th May – 10th May on a journey
between Hong Kong and London. The hackathon will take place in numerous
locations and on various modes of transport. The project is supported by
leaders in the travel and transport arena including British Airways, London
Heathrow Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, MTR, Sita, Transport for London,
TravelPort, Skyscanner, WeWork, Regal Hotels, Travel Weekly Magazine, HKUST,
Pacsafe and Voyager.
between Hong Kong and London. The hackathon will take place in numerous
locations and on various modes of transport. The project is supported by
leaders in the travel and transport arena including British Airways, London
Heathrow Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, MTR, Sita, Transport for London,
TravelPort, Skyscanner, WeWork, Regal Hotels, Travel Weekly Magazine, HKUST,
Pacsafe and Voyager.
For more
information and to apply go to: http://www.hackhorizon.com/
information and to apply go to: http://www.hackhorizon.com/
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