- The WTTC Global Summit took place in Valletta, Malta with more than 100 speakers
- The programme was built around eight strategic priorities including AI and sustainability
- The Global Leaders Dialogue brought together Ministers and global CEOs
- The summit marked the launch of the WTTC Youth Movement
- Gloria Guevara shared that the summit brings together an extraordinary range of voices
The World Travel and Tourism Council has unveiled the programme for its 26th Global Summit in Valletta, Malta. The summit has brought together more than 100 global speakers for the gathering of public and private sector leaders. The event has taken place under the theme FUTU[RE]SET.
The programme featured leaders from G20 economies alongside representatives from international institutions and tourism businesses. The summit programme has been built around WTTC’s eight strategic priorities including enabling safe and seamless travel, strengthening destination stewardship and advancing sustainability. The Global Leaders Dialogue has brought together Ministers, policymakers and global business leaders.
Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, shared that the Global Summit brings together an extraordinary range of voices at a moment when travel and tourism is being reshaped by AI, technology and changing traveller expectations. Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, shared that the programme reflects the breadth of issues shaping the future of travel and tourism.
The Minister for Tourism of Malta, Jo Etienne Abela, shared that Malta is delighted to be hosting the event.
Former Heads of State and Global Political Leaders
- Justin Trudeau, Former Prime Minister of Canada
- José María Aznar, Former Prime Minister of Spain
- Nick Adams, US Minister for Tourism and Presidential Envoy
- Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, European Commission
- Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, European Commission
Ministers
- Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects, Malta
- Jonathan Attard, Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Employment, Malta
- Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, Spain
- Gianmarco Mazzi, Minister of Tourism, Italy
- Patricia de Lille, Minister for Tourism, South Africa
- Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of Tourism, Greece
- Tonči Glavina, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Croatia
- Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Türkiye
- Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister for Tourism, India
- Harris Whitbeck, Minister of Tourism, Guatemala
- Abdulmohsen Al-Mazyad, Vice Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Rosario Sanchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism, Spain
- Sherif Fathy Attia, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Arab Republic of Egypt
- Robert O’Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism, US Department of Commerce
- Suman Billa, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, India
- Bernardo Cueto, Secretary of Tourism, Quintana Roo, Mexico
- Michelle Fridman, Secretary of Tourism, State of Jalisco, Mexico
Global Travel & Tourism Industry Leaders
- Christopher J. Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton
- Elie Maalouf, Global CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Group
- Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group
- Alejandro Reynal, President & Chief Executive Officer, Four Seasons
- Audrey Hendley, President, American Express Travel
- Gloria Fluxà, Vice-Chairman & Chief Sustainability Officer, Iberostar Group
- William Heinecke, Founder and Chairman, Minor International PCL
- Neal Jones, President EMEA, Marriott International
- Greg O’Hara, Founder & Senior Managing Director, Certares
- Eijiro Yamakita, Chairperson, JTB Corp.
- Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, Accor
- Carlo Bonomi, CEO, Investindustrial
- Desirée Bollier, Chair & Global Chief Merchant, The Bicester Collection
- Cara Morton, CEO, Global Businesses & Operations, Zurich Insurance Group
- Ayad Al Balushi, CEO, OMRAN Group
- Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports
- Tony Fernandes, CEO & Co-Founder, Capital A Group
- Jörg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways
- Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL)
- Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
- Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global
- Qusai Al-Fakhri, CEO, Tourism Development Fund, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California
- Aqeel Al-Shibani, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority
- Paolo Barletta, CEO, Arsenale Group
- Matthew Upchurch, Chairman & CEO, Virtuoso; Chairman, Together in Travel
- Hamza Farooqui, CEO, Millat Group
- Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Company
- James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel
- Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co.
- Pansy Ho, Group Executive Chairman & Managing Director, Shun Tak Holdings
- Gaurav Bhatnagar, Co-Founder, TBO.com
- Laurent Gardinier, President, Relais & Châteaux
- Julie Shainock, Global Managing Director, Microsoft
- Christie Travers-Smith, Director, EMEA Strategic Partnerships, Google
- Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
- John Sage, Founder & CEO, Accessible Travel Solutions
- Shawn Pisani, Vice President, HelmsBriscoe
- Mark Weingard, Founder & CEO, Iniala Group
- Andrea Grisdale, CEO & Founder, IC Bellagio
- Maher Koubaa, President EMEA, Amadeus
- Tim Gray, Founder, Health Optimisation
Members of Parliament, Commissioners and International Organisations
- Daniel Attard, Member of the European Parliament, Committee on Transport and Tourism
- Nikolina Brnjac, Member of the European Parliament, Croatia
- Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry and Minerals, African Union
- Mohamed AlSharhan, Managing Director, World Governments Summit
- Doreen Silver Katusiime, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda
- Diane J. Sabatino, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Young Tae Kim, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum
- Julian Kassum, Deputy Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce
- Don Welsh, President & CEO, Destinations International
Destination, Policy and Tourism Development Leaders
- Miguel Sanz, Director-General, Turespaña
- Leslie Vella, Chief Officer Strategic Development, Malta Tourism Authority
- Kevin Fsadni, Deputy CEO & Chief Officer (Product & Regulatory), Malta Tourism Authority
- Bruno Despujol, Global Lead for Leisure & Hospitality, Oliver Wyman
- Laura Sileo Pavat, Global Brand Homes Director, Diageo
Gastronomy and Cultural Tourism
- Simon Rogan, Chef Patron, Simon Rogan Restaurants
- Keith Abela, Head of Sustainability, ION Harbour by Simon Rogan
- Jonathan Brincat, Head Chef, Noni Restaurant Valletta
- Noel Buttigieg, Head of Department of Tourism Management, University of Malta
