With just a week left until the Direct Booking Summit: Europe, excitement is mounting among our speakers and delegates. If you haven't snapped up your tickets yet, you'd better hurry - head over to the website to check out the agenda and register.

We've heard from Airbnb's Robin Clifford and The Curtain's Sam Riches about how they're feeling in the run-up to the event - now it's time to hear from Marta Varela, Area Commercial Director of Revenue Strategy at Barceló Hotels & Resorts. Marta will be joining Google's Satyan Joshi and IHG's Ludovic Cacciapaglia on a hotly-anticipated panel on the state of the hotel-OTA relationship.

Marta Varela, Area Commercial Director Revenue Strategy

Barceló Hotels & Resorts

TRIPTEASE: How are you feeling about speaking at the Direct Booking Summit 2018?

Marta: I am so excited! I'm looking forward to taking part in the event and to be able to discuss such an interesting topic. I'll be speaking up about the topics that concern hoteliers the most.

TRIPTEASE: What are your thoughts on the Direct Booking Movement?

Marta: I have mixed feelings about it. I love the idea of having control of your distribution and getting a majority of bookings through your own website, however, it is still a long and sometimes utopian journey!

TRIPTEASE: What are Barceló's main goals and challenges in 2018?

Marta: Our main goal is to increase direct bookings through our website. Our biggest challenges are a lack of brand awareness and difficulties around driving those direct bookings.

TRIPTEASE: Which other speakers are you most looking forward to hearing from at the Direct Booking Summit: Europe?

Marta: I'm really looking forward to hearing the opinions of other revenue specialists.

Want to hear more from Marta and our other incredible speakers, including representatives from Google, Marriott and Best Western UK? Buy tickets below or get in touch with hq@directbookingsummit.com for more information!