As AI rapidly reshapes the travel and hospitality industries, the next generation of leaders must navigate more than innovation alone — they must master negotiation, partnerships, risk, and human trust at scale. In this opening keynote, Cole Cannon explores how founders, operators, and investors can build resilient businesses while balancing disruption with accountability. Drawing from years of advising startups, major brands, and high-stakes negotiations, Cannon delivers a practical perspective on leadership in volatile markets, the evolving legal and ethical landscape around AI, and the competitive advantage of strategic decision-making. This session sets the tone for the conference with a candid look at how emerging companies can move fast, negotiate smarter, and create long-term value in an increasingly automated world.