The Evolution of Travel Distribution: 10 Years of Change with RateHawk

Send us Fan Mail The travel industry loves to talk about innovation, but Felix Shpilman brings a sharper lens: what has actually changed in travel distribution over the past decade, and what challenges still remain unsolved. Felix is the President and CEO of Emerging Travel Group and the driving force behind RateHawk. Joining Dan from Dubai, he shares an inside look at what it takes to build and scale one of the world's leading B2B travel platforms. We begin with Felix’s journey into travel technology, from investing in high-growth companies to becoming an operator in one of the most complex industries in the world. From there, we explore how RateHawk emerged from ETG’s experience competing in the B2C space, revealing a much larger opportunity: helping travel advisors navigate fragmented hotel supply through a faster, more intuitive booking experience. The conversation dives into the realities of modern travel distribution, including multi-supplier strategies, inventory aggregation, localization challenges, and the operational complexities that continue to frustrate travel sellers. Felix explains why fragmentation persists across channel managers, PMSs, CRS platforms, wholesalers, DMCs, and consolidators, and why he believes AI, particularly agentic AI, could become the connective tissue that finally brings the ecosystem together. We also discuss the evolving role of travel advisors, why they remain more relevant than ever, and how technology is transforming them into highly efficient digital travel experts. Throughout the episode, Felix shares practical insights on product development, mobile-first workflows, automation, and the future of B2B travel technology. If you care about travel distribution, hotel supply, travel advisor tools, AI-powered workflows, or the future of travel technology, this episode offers a thoughtful and candid perspective from one of the industry's leading innovators. Interested in hearing more from Felix? Join him online at Ratehawk FutureCast 2026 on June 23, where travel leaders and innovators will explore the trends shaping the future of the industry. Register here: https://futurecast2026.ratehawk.com/ Learn more at ratehawk.com. The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/