The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is gearing up for one of its most impactful Global Summits ever in Malta this fall.
The organization is expected to host more than 200 of the world’s industry-leading CEOs and senior executives when the three-day event descends on Valletta from October 7-9, 2026.
WTTC has confirmed a slew of senior leaders set to attend, including Hilton President and CEO Christopher Nassetta; Elie Maalouf, Global CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts; Alejandro Reynal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Four Seasons; Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A; Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group; and Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group.
Senior executives representing important travel and tourism businesses such as American Express Travel, Accor, Marriott International, Minor Hotel Group, Certares, Expedia Group, Iberostar, JPMorganChase/Chase Travel, JTB Corp, Technogym, VFS Global and Virtuoso will also be in attendance.
The 2026 Global Summit theme will be "FUTU[RE]SET: Shaping the Future of Travel & Tourism," and will see leaders uncover ways the travel and tourism industry can adapt, innovate and thrive in an increasingly complex global environment shaped by the AI boom, geopolitical shifts and changing consumer expectations.
"Bringing more than 200 of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism CEOs and senior executives to Malta is a powerful demonstration of the strength and global importance of our sector," WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said in a statement. "For many, this will be their first opportunity to experience Malta, and we are delighted to bring them together in Valletta for this landmark gathering."
"Travel & Tourism is entering a new era, and the Summit will give leaders the opportunity to address the forces reshaping our sector, share ideas and strengthen collaboration," added Guevara. "Together, we can help build a more resilient, sustainable and competitive future for Travel & Tourism."
Carlo Micallef, CEO, Malta Tourism Authority, said: "The theme, FUTU[RE]SET, is particularly relevant at a time when our industry is undergoing profound transformation. Malta is committed to being part of that conversation, not simply adapting to change, but embracing innovation, strengthening competitiveness and working collaboratively with our international partners to create a tourism sector that is resilient, sustainable and future-focused."
Notable WTTC Global Summit Attendees
- Gilda Perez-Alvarado – Chief Strategy Officer and CEO Orient Express, Accor
- Angel Gallego – EVP Industry & Government Affairs, Amadeus IT Group S.A.
- Audrey Hendley – President, American Express Travel, American Express
- Paolo Barletta – CEO, Arsenale
- Tony Fernandes – CEO of Capital A, Capital A Berhad / AirAsia
- Greg O’Hara – Founder & Senior Managing Director, Certares
- Jerry Inzerillo – Group CEO, Diriyah Company
- Paul Griffiths – CEO, Dubai Airports International
- Alfonso Paredes – President, Expedia Group B2B, Expedia Group
- Alejandro Reynal – President and Chief Executive Officer, Four Seasons
- Christie Travers-Smith – Director, EMEA Strategic Partnerships, Google Inc.
- Frank R. Rainieri – Founder and Chairman of the Board, Grupo Puntacana
- Nicolas Huss – CEO, HBX Group
- Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio – Chairman, Heritage Group / Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group
- Christopher J. Nassetta – President & CEO, Hilton
- Gloria Fluxà – Vice-Chairman & CSO, Iberostar
- Elie Maalouf – Global CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts
- James Thornton – CEO, Intrepid Travel
- Jason Wynn – Managing Director – Head of Chase Travel Group, JPMorganChase / Chase Travel
- Eijiro Yamakita – President & CEO, JTB Corp
- Neal Jones – President, EMEA, Marriott International, Inc.
- Hamza Farooqui – CEO, Millat Group
- William E. Heinecke – Founder & Chairman, Minor Hotel Group
- Pierfrancesco Vago – Executive Chairman, Cruise Division, MSC Group
- Frank Marini – President & CEO, Railbookers Group
- Pansy Ho – Group Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Shun Tak Holdings Limited
- Gaurav Bhatnagar – Co-Founder & Joint Managing Director, TBO.COM
- Nerio Alessandri – Founder & CEO, Technogym
- Desirée Bollier – Chair and Global Chief Merchant, The Bicester Collection
- Gibrán Chapur – CEO, The Palace Company
- Qusai Alfakhri – CEO, Tourism Development Fund
- Jane Sun – CEO, Trip.com Group
- Zubin Karkaria – Founder & CEO, VFS Global
- Matthew Upchurch – Chairman & CEO, Virtuoso
- Caroline Beteta – President & CEO, Visit California
- Cara Morton – CEO Global Businesses & Operations, Zurich Cover-More
- Muzzammil Ahussain – CEO, Almosafer (Part of Seera Group)
- Simón Pedro Barceló – Executive Chairman, Barcelo Hotel Group
- Wytze van den Berg – Vice President EMEA, BWH Hotel Group
- Enrique Ybarra – President, Founder & CEO, City Sightseeing Worldwide
- Ayhan Bektas – Chairman, Coral Travel Group
- Taha Nazer – Acting CEO, Cruise Saudi
- Hideaki KURODA – Executive Director of Paris office, East Japan Railway Company
- Daniel Richards – CEO & Founder, Global Rescue
- Duma Wang – Founder & CEO, HiSEAS International
- Puneet Chhatwal – Chief Executive Officer, Indian Hotels Company
- Deepak Ohri – Founder & CEO, LAMH Management Asia Co., Ltd.
- Gabriel Escarrer Jaume – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Meliá Hotels International
- Ayad Ali Al Balushi – Group CEO, OMRAN
- Encarna Piñero – Global CEO, Piñero
- Jeff Willner – Founder & CEO, Range
- Laurent Gardinier – President, Relais & Châteaux
- Massimo Caputi – CEO, Terme & Spa Italia
- Geoff Freeman – President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
- Keith Vincent – CEO, Wilderness
- Xavier Rossinyol – CEO, Avolta AG
- Bruno Despujol – Global Lead for Leisure & Hospitality, Oliver Wyman
- Anna Kofoed – Chief Officer for Travel & Member of the Allianz Partners Board of Management, Allianz Partners
- Andrea Alori – Partner – Travel & Tourism, Bain & Company
- Julie Shainock – Global Managing Director – Travel, Transport & Hospitality Industry, Microsoft Corporation
- Katie Briscoe – CEO, MMGY Global
- Laura Sileo – Global Brand Homes Director, Pernod Ricard SA
- Nikolay Malyarov – CEO, International, PressReader International
- Ekaterina Petelina – SVP, Head of Global Cross-Border and Global Sales & Commercial Operations, Visa Inc
- John Sage – Founder & CEO, Accessible Travel Solutions
- Gabriele Burgio – President and CEO, Alpitour World
- Ashish Sanghrajka – President, Big Five Tours & Expeditions
- Giulia Bandini – CEO & Founder, Cogito Strategies
- Aldo Melpignano – Founder and Managing Director, Egnazia Ospitalita Italiana SRL
- Michael Johnson – President, Ensemble Travel
- Martin Zanone – Managing Director, Eurotur
- Debbie Flynn – Managing Partner, Global Travel Practice Leader, FINN Partners, Inc.
- Andrea Grisdale – CEO – Sole Founder, IC Bellagio
- Mark Weingard – Chief Curator and Founder, Iniala
- Alison Grinnell – Group Chief Operating Officer & CEO, Marjan Hospitality, Marjan Hospitality LCC
- David Burgess – President & CEO, Miles Partnership, LLLP
- Elisabetta Fabri – President & CEO, Starhotels
- Alex Villeyra – CEO, The Data Appeal Company
- Shannon Knapp – President & CEO, The Leading Hotels of the World
- Leyla Servet Oner Guncavdi – CEO, Tura Turizm
- Mustafa Al Hashimi – CEO, Wasl Hospitality
- Erkan Yagci – Executive Board Member, Zaf Group
- Adam OUBUIH – CEO, ATOUT FRANCE – France Tourism Development Agency
- Florian Sengstschmid – CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board
- Ahmed Youssef – CEO, Egyptian Tourism Authority
- Anas Alajlan – Interim Head of Tourism, NEOM
- Phillipa Harrison – CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
- Martin Nydegger – CEO, Switzerland Tourism
- Latia Duncombe – Director General, The Islands of the Bahamas
- Miguel Sanz – Director General, TURESPAÑA
- Carlos Abade – President, Turismo de Portugal
- Juliana Kagwa – CEO, Uganda Tourism Board
- Valentin Diaz Gilligan – President, Visit Buenos Aires
- Jean-Guy Afrika – CEO, Visit Rwanda
- Martina Bienenfeld – CEO, Zagreb Tourist Board
- Harris Whitbeck – Minister of Tourism, Guatemalan Institute of Tourism
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