WTTC Unveils First Wave of Speakers for 25th Global Summit in Rome - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the first wave of high-profile speakers for its milestone 25th Global Summit, set to take place in Rome from 28–30 September 2025. The event will gather global leaders from business, government, and media for three days of debate and collaboration on the future of the sector, which generates 10% of global GDP.

Hosted at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT, the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region, the Summit will focus on bold commitments and innovation, with themes ranging from the transformative role of AI to strategies for sustainable growth.

Confirmed headline speakers include:

·         William E. Heinecke, Founder & Chairman, Minor Hotel Group

·         Matthew Upchurch, Founder & CEO, Virtuoso

·         Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group

·         Gaurav Bhatnagar, Co-Founder, TBO.com

·         Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Company

·         Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of Cruise, MSC Cruises

·         Paolo Barletta, CEO, Arsenale Spa

·         Andrea Grisdale, CEO & Sole Founder, IC Bellagio

·         Desiree Bollier, Chair & Global Chief Merchant, The Bicester Collection

·         Anthony Capuano, CEO, Marriott International

·         Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California

·         Christie Travers-Smith, Head of Retail & Travel, EMEA Partnerships Solutions, Google

·         Elie Maalouf, Global CEO, InterContinental Hotels Group

·         Decius Valmorbida Menezes, President: Travel, Amadeus

·         Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO, VFS Global

Additional speakers will include Puneet Chhatwal (Indian Hotels Company), Julie Shainock (Microsoft), Hashil Al Mahrouqi (OMRAN Group), and Massimo Caputi (Terme & Spa Italia).

Leadership transition and vision for the future

During the Summit, current WTTC Chair Greg O’Hara (Founder & Senior Managing Director, Certares) will hand over to Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and Co-Chair of Abercrombie & Kent.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The Eternal City is the perfect stage for a Summit where the world’s Travel & Tourism leaders will gather to innovate, collaborate, and drive a decade of sustainable growth.”

Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè added: “The calibre of confirmed speakers underlines the prestige of this event. The WTTC Global Summit will be a historic opportunity, opening doors to significant new investment in Italy.”

Outgoing Chair Greg O’Hara commented: “Rome will serve as a launchpad for the next decade of growth, innovation, and collaboration. I’m honoured to host my final Summit alongside such an extraordinary line-up of leaders.”

Chair-Elect Manfredi Lefebvre said: “This summit is not just about destinations, but about forging connections and creating experiences. It is a pivotal moment to embrace innovation and resilience, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The full programme, additional speakers, and headline sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.

For updates and registration details, visit WTTC.org.

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