'TRAVEL DRAGONS' TO ROAR AT THE WORLD TRAVEL MARKET

A travel industry 'Dragon's Den', enabling budding entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to industry leaders, is to be held at World Travel Market this year.

The Get Funded Show@WTM in November is due to feature a high profile list of industry leaders, ranging from All Leisure Group owner Roger Allard, ebookers founder Dinesh Dhamija to Paul Evans, founder and chief executive of the Low Cost Travel Group.

The event is designed as a high profile platform where innovators of the industry can pitch ideas likely to shape the future of travel.

The Get Funded Show is described as bringing together the entrepreneurs who have shaped the industry with the future ones set to change it again.

"The unique event will catapult savvy start-ups into the limelight at the world's premier travel event" a spokesman said.

They will be judged by panelists, including:

Hugo Burge, Founder, Cheapflights and Howzat Media
Steve Endacott, CEO, On Holiday Group
John Kent, Founder and CEO of youtravel.com and founder of Aquis Hotels and Resorts
Roger Allard, All Leisure Group
Peter Waller, Thomas Cook group mergers and acquisitions director
Paul Evans, founder and chief executive, Low Cost Holiday Group
Faisal Galaria, ex-managing director, Kayak Europe and angel investor
Dinesh Dhamija, founder, eBookers
Cree Lawson, founder and CEO, Travel Ad Network
Glenn Fogel, EVP corporate development, Priceline
Dhruv Shringi, founder, Yatra
Patrick Hoffstetter, UK managing director, lastminute.com
Roberto Bonanzinga, partner, Balderton Capital
Jason Katz, founder, KP Capital
Bill Morrow, co-founder, Angels Den
Nic Brisbourne, partner, DFS Esprit
Alexis Bonte, co-founder, CEO and angel investor, eRepublik Labs