Albert Fernando

Group CEO, Wakanow

Albert Fernando is a distinguished leader in the travel industry and the Co-founder and CEO of Travelwings. With a deep passion for technology and travel from a young age, Albert’s curiosity about the profession led him to gain a comprehensive understanding of the industry, starting from the grassroots level. He began his career in the travel industry at just 17 years old, and over the years, he has been fortunate to work across a wide range of roles, including in airlines, retail counters, corporate travel, yield management, sales, commercial, and operations.

 

Before founding Travel-wings, Albert was the Chief Operating Officer of Toptraveltrip.com, where he played a pivotal role in managing the company’s online B2B business. He also served as the Global Head of E-business & Systems at Satguru Travel & Tourism Services, further expanding his expertise in the travel and technology sectors. These diverse experiences allowed Albert to build a solid foundation for his work in the online travel business.

 

Albert’s leadership skills, coupled with his exceptional problem-solving abilities, have enabled him to successfully launch and grow travel businesses across both startup and blue-chip organizations. He has a proven track record of driving growth in both offline and online sectors, particularly targeting the retail and airline industries. His expertise spans travel management, business development, operations management, P&L management, and travel technology.

 

A key motivator for Albert is his desire to create opportunities for people in developing countries, helping them lead better lives. His vision for Travel-wings.com is to provide accessible travel solutions while making a positive impact on the lives of people worldwide. Through his leadership, Albert continues to inspire and drive innovation in the travel industry.

 

Sessions

March 13, Thursday
Venue: Innovation City Cape Town  

 

9.55AM – 10.25AM

Africa Travel: Leapfrogging Into The Next Generation

 

Every business has to find its own groove in a fragmented, fluid market and make their bets on the future. We speak to the different travel models and find out what they are betting on and how they are planning for the future? Where are the opportunities in the new age?

 

Speakers:

Andy Hedley, CEO, Travelstart
Albert Fernando, CEO, Travelwings 

Euan McNeil, Managing Director, Flight Centre (South Africa)

Moderator: Fritz Demopoulos, CEO, Queen’s Road Capital

11.55AM – 12.25PM

Global OTAs And Their Playbook For The Future

 

Global OTAs are expanding their reach and looking for fresh opportunities in new markets. As they expand, what’s their playbook and what innovations in AI and product, customer acquisition and customer service are they bringing to local markets to capture the hearts and minds of local consumers? What are the lessons learnt from different regions?

 

Speakers:

Alberto Yates, Regional Director, EMEA, Booking

Ross Veitch, CEO & Co-founder, Wego

Tara Colpitts, Senior Director, Expedia Group 

Moderator: Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder, WiT