WTTC unveils some heavyweight speakers for landmark 25th Global Summit in Rome
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced some of the prestigious speakers for its 25th Global Summit. Set for September 28–30 in Rome, the gathering will bring together leaders at the Auditorium Parco della Musica to debate the future of an industry that accounts for 10% of global GDP.
The summit, held in partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Tourism, ENIT, the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region, will spotlight topics ranging from artificial intelligence to strategies for sustainable growth.
Confirmed speakers include some of the most influential voices in the sector:
-
William E. Heinecke, Founder & Chairman, Minor Hotel Group
-
Matthew Upchurch, Founder & CEO, Virtuoso
-
Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group
-
Anthony Capuano, CEO, Marriott International
-
Elie Maalouf, Global CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts
-
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of Cruise, MSC Cruises
-
Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California
-
Christie Travers-Smith, Head of Retail & Travel, Google EMEA Partnerships
-
Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO, VFS Global
Additional speakers include leaders from Indian Hotels Company, Microsoft, OMRAN Group, and Terme & Spa Italia.
The summit will also mark a leadership handover at WTTC. Greg O’Hara, Founder and Senior Managing Director at Certares, will step down as Chair, passing the role to Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and co-chair of Abercrombie & Kent.
WTTC exceptional summit marks 25th anniversary
WTTC Executive Vice President Virginia Messina called Rome a fitting stage: “The Eternal City provides a perfect backdrop for a Summit where the world’s Travel & Tourism leaders will gather to innovate, collaborate, and drive a decade of exceptional, sustainable growth.”
Italy’s Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, added that the event underscores the country’s appeal to global investors: “The WTTC Global Summit will be a historic moment that will offer enormous opportunities in favor of large investments in Italy.”
Outgoing Chair Greg O’Hara emphasized the summit’s influence: “Rome will be a launchpad for the next decade of growth, innovation, and collaboration.”
Incoming Chair Manfredi Lefebvre framed the event as a turning point: “This summit marks a pivotal moment for our industry; it is an opportunity to embrace innovation and resilience, ensuring that we not only thrive but also leave a lasting legacy for future generations.”
The program will tackle the most pressing challenges and exciting opportunities for a sector that generates millions of jobs, drives economic resilience, and connects communities across the globe.
For updates, the latest agenda, and to register interest in attending, information can be found by clicking WTTC.
Related News Stories: Destination Archives - Page 27 of 2465 - TravelMole Partner News - TravelMole Agent Archives - Page 1936 of 2614 - TravelMole Mabrian Technologies - TravelMole Virtuoso - TravelMole
TravelMole Editorial Team
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt