WTTC Brings Together More Than 100 Global Speakers For The World’s Most Influential Travel & Tourism Event: WTTC’s Global Summit

The World Travel & Tourism Council [WTTC] has unveiled the full programme for its 26th Global Summit in Valletta, Malta, bringing together more than 100 global speakers for what is the most influential gathering of public and private sector leaders in Travel & Tourism anywhere in the world.

Taking place under the theme FUTU[RE]SET, no other event in the sector combines this level of seniority and global representation. Over two days, the Summit will welcome CEOs, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Commissioners, senior policymakers, tourism authorities and former Heads of State from every region of the world to discuss the forces reshaping global Travel & Tourism.

The programme features an extensive delegation of leaders from G20 economies and others, alongside representatives from international institutions, government bodies and many of the world’s most prominent Travel & Tourism businesses. From airlines, airports and hotels to destinations, technology companies, investors and tourism authorities, FUTU[RE]SET will reflect the full breadth of the global Travel & Tourism ecosystem.

The Summit programme is built around WTTC’s eight strategic priorities: enabling safe and seamless travel, strengthening destination stewardship, advancing sustainability, harnessing emerging technologies and AI, improving crisis preparedness, expanding connectivity, developing the workforce of the future and unlocking investment and economic growth opportunities.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “The WTTC Global Summit brings together an extraordinary range of voices at a moment when Travel & Tourism is being reshaped by AI, technology, changing traveller expectations, geopolitics and new patterns of investment and growth.

“Our eight strategic priorities provide a clear framework for action, but it is through conversations like these – bringing governments and business leaders together – that we can turn opportunities into progress. Malta provides an exceptional setting to challenge thinking, share solutions and build the partnerships needed to shape the next decade of our sector.”

Carlo Micallef, CEO, Malta Tourism Authority, said: “The programme for FUTU[RE]SET reflects the extraordinary breadth of issues shaping the future of Travel & Tourism. Over the summit, leaders from across our global industry will address some of the most important questions facing our sector. What makes this programme particularly valuable is the diversity of perspectives it brings together. Airlines, airports, hotels, cruise operators, technology companies, governments, tourism authorities and international organisations will all have a seat at the table, creating an important platform for sharing experience, challenging established thinking and identifying opportunities for collaboration.”

The Minister for Tourism of Malta, Jo Etienne Abela, stated: “We are delighted to be hosting this prestigious event, and we are well aware of its potential for lasting benefit to our islands. The Summit is an excellent opportunity to forge new partnerships that are built on trust – trust that is borne of initiative, integrity and the determination to do better. The future of tourism rests on meeting the expectations of discerning tourists sustainably, whilst adding value to our local communities.”

The Summit will open with senior Maltese leaders setting out the country’s vision for the future of travel and tourism. Dr. Robert Abela, Prime Minister of Malta; H.E. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister of Malta; H.E. Dr. Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Tourism of Malta; and Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, will join WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio and WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara as the Summit gets underway.

A key feature of the programme will be the exclusive Global Leaders Dialogue, which will bring together Ministers, policymakers and global business leaders for candid discussions on the future competitiveness of Travel & Tourism. The Global Leaders Dialogue will feature two highly interactive, moderator-led panel discussions, each bringing together eight Ministers and four global CEOs for a genuine exchange of perspectives rather than a series of formal interventions.

The Summit will also launch the WTTC Youth Movement, a new global initiative designed to inspire interest in careers across Travel & Tourism and give young people a meaningful voice in shaping the sector’s future. Addressing the industry’s growing workforce and skills needs, the programme will bring together around 90 students and 10 professors from 16 partner institutions, representing more than 30 nationalities.

Through direct engagement with industry leaders, participation in Summit discussions, networking opportunities and a youth-led Malta Declaration, the initiative aims to strengthen the connection between the sector and the next generation of talent while creating a lasting platform for dialogue beyond the Summit itself.

The Summit will also provide the platform for WTTC to accelerate its Together in Travel initiative, a global effort designed to connect, support and champion small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent around 85% of the global Travel & Tourism community. As WTTC works towards its ambition of building a one million-strong community of Travel & Tourism SMEs, Summit delegates will hear how the initiative is providing businesses with practical tools, insights, networking opportunities and a stronger collective voice in global policy discussions.

Shaping the future agenda for Travel & Tourism

Across the programme, delegates will explore the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing the sector through discussions including “Digital Identity: Resetting the Border Experience”, “AI Unlocked: The New Era of Travel”, “Unlocking the Power of Travel & Tourism SMEs”, “Building Resilience in an Age of Disruption”, “Destination Stewardship: The Right Kind of Growth”, “Connecting the World: The Future of Mobility”, “Tourism for All”, and “Public and Private Leadership: The Next Trillion Dollar Investment”.

These conversations will focus on how governments and businesses can work together to accelerate innovation, improve connectivity, enable seamless travel, strengthen sustainability efforts, attract investment, develop talent, support destinations and create greater resilience in an increasingly complex global environment.

The Summit will also examine the future traveller, the growth of luxury and wellness tourism, the emergence of new tourism powerhouses such as India, the changing investment landscape, Europe’s future competitiveness, next-generation leadership and the growing importance of accessibility and impact-driven travel.

The Summit will conclude with Moving Forward Together, bringing Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC; Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of WTTC; and Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, back to the stage to reflect on the key themes, commitments and actions that emerged throughout FUTU[RE]SET.

As the global Travel & Tourism community looks ahead, the session will reinforce the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in delivering a stronger, more resilient and future-ready industry, before culminating with the announcement of the host destination for the 2027 WTTC Global Summit.

Source: WTTC Press Release