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Felix Shpilman
Chief Executive Officer at Emerging Travel Group
Felix Shpilman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Emerging Travel Group (ETG), a position he has held since January 2017. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, he has been instrumental in the company's growth and expansion within the online travel technology sector, overseeing operations in various segments including business-to-customer (B2C), business-to-agency (B2A), and corporate travel management (CTM) .14
Professional Background
- Emerging Travel Group: Shpilman joined ETG as Vice President of Strategy in April 2013, later becoming Chief Operating Officer before his promotion to CEO. Under his leadership, ETG has expanded into over 30 markets and significantly increased its gross bookings, surpassing $1 billion .34
- Founder of RateHawk: He founded RateHawk in 2016, which has become a leading B2B platform for travel professionals, providing access to a vast inventory of hotels and travel services .14
- Investment Experience: Felix is also a General Partner at Start Fund, an early-stage investment fund that has backed numerous successful startups including Uber and Coinbase. His background includes roles at DST Global and Citi .13
Education
Shpilman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Strategic Consulting from the USC Marshall School of Business, which he attended from 2004 to 2007 .14
Leadership Philosophy
In interviews, Shpilman emphasizes the importance of experimentation in decision-making and adapting strategies based on outcomes. He advocates for quick actions on reversible decisions while recommending careful analysis for irreversible ones .26 His vision for ETG includes significant global expansion and enhancing the company's technological capabilities to better serve travel professionals .25
Felix Shpilman's leadership has positioned Emerging Travel Group as a key player in the travel technology industry, continually driving innovation and growth.


