The World Travel and Tourism Council has declared the first group of headline speakers for its 25th Global Summit. That is scheduled to take place in Rome from September 28 to 30. The lineup features global leaders from the hospitality, aviation technology, and government sectors. Organised with Italian partners, the summit will focus on AI's sustainable growth and the future of an industry that contributes 10 per cent of global GDP.
The World Travel and Tourism Council has unveiled the initial roster of prominent speakers for its 25th Global Summit, scheduled to take place in Rome from September 28 to 30. The event will convene influential leaders from business, government and media to deliberate on the future of global travel and tourism. Held at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, the summit is being organised in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, the national tourist board, the municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region.
The key themes include the transformative role of artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and the sectors' contribution to global economic resilience.
Confirmed speakers represent a broad spectrum of the industry. They include William E heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor Hotel Group, Matthew Upchurch, Founder and CEO of Virtuoso, Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com, Gaurav Bhatnagar, Co-Founder, Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenake Spa, Andrea Grisdale, CEO of IC Bellagio, Desiree Bollier, Chair and Global Chief Merchant of The Bicester Collection and Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott Intenrtaional.
Additional participants include Caroline Beteta, President and CEO of Visit California; Christie Travers Smith, Head of Retail and Travel EMEA Partnerships at Google; Elie Maalouf, Global CEO of InterContinental Hotel Group; Decius Valmorbida Menezes, President of Travel at Amadeus; and Zubin Karkario, Founder and CEO of VFS Global. Executives from the Indian Hotels Company, Microsoft, OMRAN Group, and Terme & Spa Italia are also confirmed.
The summit will also mark a leadership transition with Greg O Hara, Founder and Senior Managing Director of Certares, completing his tenure as WTTC Chair and handing over to Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and Co-Chair of Abercrombie and Kent. Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, said: "We are thrilled to have such a distinguished group of speakers already confirmed for our Global Summit in Rome. The Eternal City provides a perfect backdrop for a Summit where the world's Travel and Tourism leaders will gather to innovate, collaborate and drive a decade of exceptional sustainable growth."
Italy's Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanche added: "The names confirmed so far reaffirm the absolute prestige of the world's largest tourism event: the WTTC Global Summit will be a historic moment that will offer enormous opportunities in favour of large investments in Italy."
Greg O Hara remarked: "The WTTC Global Summit has evolved into the most influential gathering in travel and tourism, bringing together the people and ideas that shape our sector's future. Rome will be a launchpad for the next decade of growth, innovation and collaboration."
Manfredi Lefebvre WTTC Chair Elect noted: "As we gather in the heart of Rome, we are reminded that the future of Travel and Tourism is not just about destinations but about the connections we forge and the experiences we create together. This summit marks a pivotal moment for our industry."
Further details about speakers and the agenda will be released in the coming weeks. The summit aims to address both challenges and opportunities, reinforcing the role of Travel and Tourism in generating jobs, driving investment, and connecting communities worldwide.
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