Kei Shibata

Co-Founder & CEO Venture Republic - TRAVEL jp & Trip101

Tokyo born, travel & technology entrepreneur based in Singapore and Tokyo with 20+ years of experience in the travel & technology space. He led his company to an IPO, a MBO, two exits and one acquisition.

As a founding CEO, Kei is running Venture Republic that owns a group of online travel businesses across Asia and the rest of world, including "TRAVEL.jp", Japan’s largest travel metasearch & online travel guide media, and “Trip101”, Singapore based global online travel guide media that curates world’s best short-term rentals, accommodations and destinations.

In 2008, he took the company public in Japan after 7 years in operation. In 2018, company made a strategic partnership with LINE Corporation, one of the leading messaging apps in Asia.

He received the "WiT Hall of Fame" award in 2019 which honors individuals who have had the greatest influence on the progress and professionalism of the digital travel industry in Asia Pacific.

Angel investor in the travel & technology space. Serving as a board of director for various startups including BeMyGuest, Singapore.

As a co-founder/organizer, he also runs WiT Japan & North Asia, a leading international conference in North Asia focusing on technology & travel industry.

Harvard MBA. Keio University BA. Founder of Keio University's alumni association for startup founders/CEOs.

Avid backcountry snowboarder, nordic cross country & alpine skier. Love jazz, coffee and working from vacation homes.

Day 1 Agenda

9:50 AM Powerhouse Travel Voices: How did you adapt your strategies to respond to changing consumer behaviours and capitalise on what works while learning from past challenges?

• What are the biggest consumer behaviour shifts you’ve observed, and how have they impacted your business strategy?

• Which past marketing or commercial strategies no longer work, and what have you replaced them with?

• Looking ahead, what trends do you anticipate shaping the next wave of consumer expectations, and how are you

preparing for them?

Day 2 Agenda

9:10 AM C-Suite Interview: How to balance globalisation and localisation to effectively engage diverse APAC market

• Cultural nuances & consumer behaviour – Understanding regional preferences, language adaptation, and buying behaviours to create locally relevant yet globally consistent messaging

• Technology & personalisation at scale – Leveraging AI, data analytics, and automation to deliver personalized experiences while maintaining brand consistency across diverse APAC markets

• Agile strategies for market adaptation – Developing flexible go-to-market approaches that align with regulatory requirements, payment preferences, and digital landscapes unique to each APAC region

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Kei.

Download The Latest Agenda