On the final day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, InterLnkd emerged triumphant in the highly competitive third ATM Startup Pitch Battle, held in partnership with Intelak. Headquartered in the UK, InterLnkd utilizes precise data points and an intelligent matching engine to forge connections between the travel and hospitality sectors and the fashion, beauty, and retail industries.
A record-breaking 33 travel startups submitted entries for this year’s competition, marking a significant 158% increase from the previous year. Finalists ClearQuote Technologies ME Ltd, stayK, and InterLnkd presented their innovative solutions to an esteemed panel of judges, including Sarah Saddouk, Director of Innovation at Entrepreneur.com, and Mohammad Khoori, Ventures Team at Emirates Group.
Barry Klipp, Co-Founder and CEO of InterLnkd, showcased the company’s unique position as the first and only entity to bridge the gap between the travel and hospitality industries and the fashion, beauty, and retail sectors. This strategic move aims to generate incremental revenue streams for the former and targeted sales solutions for the latter.
Elaborating on their approach, Klipp explained, “Leveraging specific data points and an exclusive intelligent matching engine powered by AI algorithms, InterLnkd seamlessly connects thousands of bookings from travel and hospitality with an extensive range of products from fashion, beauty, and retail, resulting in incremental revenue streams for both parties.”
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME for Arabian Travel Market, expressed her enthusiasm for the event’s focus on entrepreneurship and innovation in the travel industry. “Our pitch battle offers an exceptional platform for emerging brands to introduce their groundbreaking solutions,” she remarked. “Entrepreneurship in tourism is catalyzing transformative changes, fostering creative concepts that enhance traveler experiences, streamline business operations, and establish sustainable, culturally rich ventures that positively impact local communities.”
Curtis extended her gratitude to Intelak, a prominent technology and innovation hub in Dubai that empowers startups at various stages with essential education, mentorship, tools, and resources to effectively navigate business challenges.
ATM 2024, the largest edition to date, concluded after four days of impactful industry discussions and unparalleled networking opportunities across the MICE, leisure, luxury, and corporate travel segments. The final day’s sessions focused on the next generation of travel and tourism talent, featuring the Educating Young Entrepreneurs: Building a Career in Travel session and the Network with Future Leaders event.
