Mike Coletta

Senior Manager, Research and Innovation
Phocuswright

Mike Coletta Senior Manager, Research and Innovation
Mr. Coletta has served in a variety of high-level roles spanning 25 years in the travel industry at startups, corporations and digital agencies. At Phocuswright, he oversees the company's technology and innovation research efforts, including the screening of startups for our recurring pitch competitions, as well as varied travel market research initiatives.

He is the author or co-author of Phocuswright's annual reports on the U.S. packaged travel, car rental, cruise and short-term rental markets, the state of travel startups, and numerous one-off research projects. He also maintains The State of Travel Startups Interactive Database.

He previously worked primarily in the startup world as an entrepreneur, investor, program manager and group organizer. He spent significant time in web development, web analytics, online marketing and tech project management, building a spectrum of expertise and network of contacts.

In the past he volunteered as the co-organizer of the Travel 2.0 Meetup group and as a global coordinator with Impact Travel Alliance. He was a member of Phocuswright's "Young Leaders Under 35" executive development program in 2013.

Sessions

Tuesday, 16 June 2026
16:40 – 16:55 CET

Phocuswright Research: The New Math

AI is rewriting the economics of building a travel company. Startups that once needed millions in funding and dozens of employees can now achieve meaningful revenue with a small team and little or no outside capital. The implications for the wider industry are significant. Drawing on Phocuswright's startup database and latest European consumer AI research, this session connects the dots among collapsing deal volume, the rise of AI-native competitors and what established travel companies need to do now about their technology, operations and go-to-market strategy before today’s advantages become tomorrow’s table stakes.

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Wednesday, 17 June 2026
10:15 – 10:35 CET

Executive Panel: Reality Sets in for Digital Identity in Travel

Digital identity in travel is moving closer to reality as the EU Digital Identity Wallet begins to roll out. For the industry, the questions are no longer about what the technology is but about how to prepare for it, where it can create real value and what it will take to make adoption work in practice. This panel examines what travel companies need to understand now about accepting digital ID and how it could change processes such as check-in, verification and service across the travel journey.

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