In Rome, as part of the opening ceremony of the 25th World Congress of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Manfredi Lefebvre officially assumed duties as the new President of the Council, succeeding Greg O’Hara, who led the organization since November 2023.
Lefebvre, one of the most recognized entrepreneurs in the field of Tourism and Luxury Cruises, is President of the Heritage Group and Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group. With a long career spanning over four decades, he was a pioneer in transforming Silversea Cruises into a global leader, expanding its operations to more than 900 destinations, before its sale to Royal Caribbean Group.
In his farewell address, outgoing President Greg O’Hara said:
“It has been a great honour to serve as WTTC President for the past two years. Tourism is a force for good, creating jobs, driving growth and uniting cultures. I am confident that under Manfredi’s leadership, WTTC will continue to go from strength to strength.”
For his part, the new President noted:
“As I take office today, I am honoured and excited. Tourism is not just an industry; it is a passion that connects people. Together with our members, we will continue to innovate responsibly so that our industry not only recovers but also thrives.”
WTTC Interim CEO Gloria Guevara welcomed Lefebvre and stressed that his experience “in cruises, luxury travel and diversified investments will guide the Council to another record year, contributing $2.1 trillion to the global economy by 2025.”
Beyond the tourism sector, Lefebvre holds key positions in businesses and institutions, such as Vice President of Arqit Quantum and Global Senior Advisor at Rothschild & Co, while also holding diplomatic and cultural roles, such as Honorary Consul of Ecuador in Monaco. He has been honored with distinctions, such as the Orders of Saint Charles and Grimaldi.
The conference is being held in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT, the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio Region, while WTTC partners include Antonio Lefebvre d’Ovidio Philanthropy, Arsenale Spa, Chase Travel, MSC Group and Trip.com Group.
