Travel and digital commerce industries have seen a huge shift driven by consumer behavior, technology, and innovation.

Journeys Unpacked, a video podcast series produced by Fast Company Middle East in collaboration with global digital payments leader Visa, will explore how technology, innovation, and fast-changing consumer behavior are reshaping cross-border payments, especially when the sector is witnessing transformative innovations to allow customers to enjoy more efficiency, velocity, and flexibility with their money than ever before.

Explaining the importance of having conversations around travel payments, Ravi Raman, Publisher of Fast Company Middle East, said, “Travel and digital commerce are gateways to economic diversification for the Middle East, so it is critical for us to follow the innovations these sectors are witnessing. Journeys Unpacked presents this uniquely, with several industry leaders sharing their insights.”

For years, Visa has been working with its partners globally to help expand digital commerce to more consumers seeking better and more rewarding ways to pay. As businesses continue to digitize, and tourism and eCommerce become increasingly important for economies, Visa’s role as an engine of commerce becomes even more important. 

Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Visa in the GCC, said, ” At Visa, our strategic partnerships and innovative solutions are data-driven, designed to transform our cardholders’ dreams into unique, accessible experiences. The GCC region has seen phenomenal growth in tourism, even amidst the pandemic, and Visa’sdata insights have played a crucial role in enhancing travel experiences and supporting local governments in promoting tourism. Through our expansion into travel payments and our new podcast Journeys Unpacked, we aim to present new opportunities and discuss future trends with leaders from companies that are driving tourism and boosting GCC economies.”

The format’s foundational belief is that conversation conquers all. Hosted by Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Visa in the GCC, the Journeys Unpacked series will feature key industry leaders who share how their organizations adapt to change. 

In the first episode, to be released on June 5, Dr. Jaffar sits down with Adnan Kazem, Deputy President & Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airline, to discuss shifting consumer behavior, envisioning a seamless, digitized end-to-end customer experience, including payments, and the impact and effectiveness of loyalty programs and brand affinity in the airline industry, among many other things. 

New episodes will be released regularly, delving into travel payment trends, travelers’ experiences and benefits, the industry’s economic impact, and insights on travel and travelers, among many other things, with visionary leaders from the GCC’s retail, tourism, and hospitality industries.