
Venue
Quaint is not just a restaurant. We curate, craft, and create food and beverages with passion. No one person in this world is the same and we are more than happy to cater to your needs in every way possible. Quaint is unique and we expect our customers to each have their own unique experience. We offer a forum for creativity, inspiration, and the cultivation of free spirits. We invite you to make our home away from home.

Preliminary Program
8 October 2019
17:30 – 20:00 | Networking Reception in partnership with Mekong Tourism, TravelMassive, and PATA
(pay your own drinks) |
9 October 2019
8:15 – 9:00 | Registration | |
9:00 – 9:10 | Welcome Remarks | Mr. Dominic Mellor, Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
9:10 – 9:35 |
Opening Panel Discussion Moderated by Mr, Jason Lusk, ADB |
Mr. Jens Thraenhart, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO); Mr. Steven Schipani, Asian Development Bank (ADB); Dr. Mario Hardy, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); Ms. Thanawadee Fuangvudhiran, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Ms. Alcinda Trawen, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) |
9:40 – 10:40 | Pitching | 2019 MIST Finalists (Travel Tech Ventures) |
Tea & Networking Break | ||
11:00 – 12:30 | Pitching | 2019 MIST Finalists (Social Impact Ventures) |
Lunch | ||
14:00 – 14:05 | Opening Travel Startups Asia Forum | Mr. Jens Thraenhart, MTCO |
14:05 – 14:30 | The Importance of Innovation in Tourism | H.E. Mr. Weerasak Kowasurat, Senator & Former Minister of Tourism and Sports, Thailand |
14:30 – 14:40 | Startup Stories What I learned from creating a Women-led business in Viet Nam |
Ms. Huong Nguyen, CoXplore, Viet Nam |
14:40 – 14:50 | The value of startups to the hotel and travel industry | Mr. Marcos Cadena, Minor Group |
14:50 – 15:10 |
Panel Discussion The Need for Innovation in Travel and Tourism Moderated by Dr. Ian Fenwick, Sasin School of Business |
Mr. Siradej Donavanik, Dusit International; Mr. Hamish Keith, EXO Travel; Mr Willem Niemeijer, Yaana Ventures Dr. Le Tuan Anh, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT); Ms. Thanawadee Fuangvudhiran, TAT |
15:10 – 15:20 |
Startup Stories Disrupting travel in Cambodia by innovating group transportation |
Mr. Langda Chea, BookMeBus, Cambodia |
15:20 – 15:40 |
Panel Discussion State of Travel Startups: ASEAN Moderated by Dr. Mario Hardy, PATA |
Mr. Bart Bellers, Xpdite Capital Partners Ms. Stephanie Strunk, Amadeus Ms. Pahrada Sapprasert, 500 Startups; Ms. Hien Tu, WISE Viet Nam; |
Tea & Networking Break | ||
16:00 – 16:20 | What I learned from starting ventures in Southeast Asia | Mr. Jakob Lykkegaard, Lykke Studios |
16:20 – 16:40 |
Startup Stories How MIST helped me expand into other GMS countries |
Mr. Armonched Taro, Take Me Tour, Thailand |
16:40 – 17:00 |
Panel Discussion Key Success Factors for successful startups Moderated by Ms. Pat. Thitipattakul, 500 Startups |
Mr. Somsak Boonkam, Local Alike; Mr. Guido Neil, 12Go Asia; Mr. Tim Russel, Go Real Travel Mr. Etienne Marleau-Rancourt, Cookly |
17:00 – 17:20 | What I learned from Starting an Airline in Southeast Asia | Mr. Patee Sarasin, Founder Nok Airlines |
17:20 – 17:30 |
Startup Stories What I learned to start a venture to help solve the plastic pollution problem |
Ms. Arounothay Khoungkhakoune, Bamboo Laos, Lao PDR |
17:30 – 17:40 | Launch of the 1st Experience Mekong Tourism Destination Video | Mr. Jens Thraenhart, MTCO |
17:40 – 17:50 | The Evolution of Travel Innovation Ecosystems in the Mekong Region: MIST & Travel Lap Asia & UNWTO |
Mr. Jens Thraenhart, MTCO Mr. Dominic Mellor, ADB Mr Graham Harper, PATA Ms. Alcinda Trawen, UNWTO |
17:50 – 18:00 | Announcement of 2019 MIST Winners | |
18:00 – 20:00 | MIST Networking Party & BBQ | Hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand |
MC

Ms. Bee Xoomsai
SPEAKERS

Mr. Bart Bellers
Xpdite Capital Partners

Mr. Somsak Boonkam
Local Alike

Mr. Marcos Cadena
Minor Group

Mr. Langda Chea
BookMeBus, Cambodia

Mr. Siradej Donavanik
Dusit International

Dr. Ian Fenwick
Sasin School of Business

Ms. Thanawadee Fuangvudhiran
Tourism Authority of Thailand

Dr. Mario Hardy
PATA

Mr. Graham Harper
PATA

Mr. Hamish Keith
EXO Travel

Ms. Arounothay Khoungkhakoune
Bamboo Laos

Mr. Boonsong Koomboon
Tourism Authority of Thailand

H.E. Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat
Senator & Former Minister of Tourism and Sports

Ms. Oranuch Lerdsuwankij
Techsauce

Mr. Etienne Marleau-Rancourt
Cookly

Mr. Dominic Mellor
Asian Development Bank

Mr. Guido Neil
12Go Asia

Ms. Huong Nguyen
CoXplore

Dr. Le Tuan Anh
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

Mr. Jason Lusk
Asian Development Bank

Mr. Jakob Lykkegaard
Lykke Studios

Mr. William Niemeijer
Yaana Ventures

Mr. Tim Russell
Go Real Travel

Ms. Pharada Sapprasert
500 Startups

Mr. Patee Sarasin
Founder Nok Airlines

Mr Stephen Schipani
Asian Development Bank

Ms. Stephanie Strunk
Amadeus

Mr. Armonched Taro
Take Me Tour, Thailand

Mr. Jens Thraenhart
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)

Ms. Pat Thitipattakul
500 Startups

Ms. Alcinda Trawen
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Ms. Hien Tu
Women’s Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship (WISE), Viet Nam