The world’s biggest names in Travel & Tourism to gather in the Eternal City
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed the first wave of headline speakers for its milestone 25th Global Summit in Rome, set to take place from 28–30 September at the iconic Auditorium Parco della Musica.
Returning to Europe in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT, the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio Region, the summit will convene business leaders, policymakers, and media from across the globe to debate the future of an industry that drives 10% of global GDP. This year’s agenda will spotlight the game-changing potential of artificial intelligence, sustainability imperatives, and bold strategies to secure the sector’s growth in the coming decade.
The stellar line-up already confirmed features: William E. Heinecke (Minor Hotels), Matthew Upchurch (Virtuoso), Jane Sun (Trip.com Group), Gaurav Bhatnagar (TBO.com), Jerry Inzerillo (Diriyah Company), Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC Cruises), Paolo Barletta (Arsenale Spa), Andrea Grisdale (IC Bellagio), Desiree Bollier (The Bicester Collection), Anthony Capuano (Marriott International), Caroline Beteta (Visit California), Christie Travers-Smith (Google), Elie Maalouf (IHG), Decius Valmorbida Menezes (Amadeus), and Zubin Karkaria (VFS Global).
Additional voices include Puneet Chhatwal (IHCL), Julie Shainock (Microsoft), Hashil Al Mahrouqi (OMRAN Group), and Massimo Caputi (Terme & Spa Italia).
The summit will also mark a leadership handover: Greg O’Hara, Founder of Certares and current WTTC Chair, will pass the torch to Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and co-chair of Abercrombie & Kent.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome such a distinguished group of speakers. The Eternal City provides the perfect backdrop for a Summit where Travel & Tourism leaders will gather to innovate, collaborate, and drive a decade of sustainable growth.”
Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè added: “This will be a historic moment for Italy, reaffirming the prestige of the world’s largest tourism event and creating enormous opportunities for investment.”
With more headline sessions still to be announced, the Rome edition of WTTC’s Global Summit is set to be a landmark gathering—one that will shape the future of Travel & Tourism while celebrating the connections, innovation, and resilience at the heart of the industry.
