Linda Scott-Hayward

Head of Commercial, Travelstart

Linda Scott-Hayward is a seasoned commercial leader and global citizen with over 20 years of experience navigating the international travel landscape. As the Head of Commercial at Travelstart, Linda brings a wealth of expertise cultivated across major hubs including London, Sydney, New York, and Cape Town. Her career is defined by a sophisticated approach to market expansion and a proven ability to lead high-growth travel businesses through complex strategic shifts, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the digital travel revolution.

 

A confident communicator and a passionate industry advocate, Linda thrives on building high-impact collaborations that deliver long-term value for both partners and travelers alike. Whether she is leading revenue growth initiatives or sharing her insights on global panels and media platforms, her focus remains on the transformative power of tourism. Her work reflects a deep-seated commitment to driving social and economic impact, leveraging her commercial acumen to create meaningful connections that empower communities and inspire a more inclusive future for the travel industry.

Sessions

April 9, Thursday
Venue: Innovation City Cape Town  

 

OTAs: The Next Frontier

 

As we enter The Next 20, online travel agencies face a new frontier shaped by AI interfaces, shifting traveller trust, regional platform strength, and new paths to discovery and booking. Will OTAs become invisible infrastructure, intelligent trip partners, or powerful super-platforms? And as travellers gain more tools and control, how must intermediaries evolve to stay essential? This session brings together global and regional OTA leaders to examine where value will be created next – from product and payments to partnerships and localisation – and how competitive dynamics between global giants and homegrown champions will play out across emerging markets. Expect candid perspectives on what OTAs must reinvent, defend, and double down on in the next era of travel distribution.

 

Speakers:

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

Bayo Adedeji, Group Chief Executive Officer, Wakanow

 

Moderator:

Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder, WiT