The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the first speakers for its 25th annual World Summit, which will be held in Rome from 28 to 30 September. This year’s event, supported by the Italian Ministry of Tourism, the Italian National Tourism Organization (ENIT), the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio Region, is a landmark event for the industry, as it returns to Europe and is hosted at the iconic Auditorium Parco della Musica.
The Summit will bring together leading business leaders, government officials and media representatives to discuss the challenges and opportunities of tourism, a sector that accounts for 10% of global GDP. Topics such as artificial intelligence and new strategies for sustainable development of the travel industry will be in the spotlight.
Confirmed speakers include leading names in the international market:
William E. Heinecke, Founder & Chairman of Minor Hotel Group
Matthew Upchurch, Founder & CEO of Virtuoso
Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises
Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International
Elie Maalouf, CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group
Representatives from Google, Microsoft, Amadeus, Visit California and other industry leaders.
At the same time, a leadership change will be announced at WTTC: current President Greg O’Hara (Certares) will hand over the baton to Manfredi Lefebvre, President of Heritage Group and Co-Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent.
WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said Rome was the ideal setting for a global dialogue that will shape the future of tourism in the next decade. Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanch? described the Summit as a “historic moment” with great opportunities for investment in the country.
“The Rome Summit will be a springboard for the next decade of growth, innovation and collaboration in global tourism,” said Greg O’Hara. His successor, Manfredi Lefebvre, stressed that tourism is not just about destinations, but also about the connections and experiences created.
More speakers and thematic areas will be announced in the coming weeks, with the aim of addressing the industry’s biggest challenges and identifying new growth opportunities.
