More than 200 Travel & Tourism CEOs and senior executives are expected in Malta next month for the 26th WTTC Global Summit.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) will hold the event in Valletta from 7–9 October 2026. The annual summit will bring together senior representatives from hospitality, aviation, cruise, travel technology, financial services, destination investment and travel distribution.
Among the confirmed attendees are Christopher J. Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton; 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.
Other participating companies and organisations include American Express Travel, Accor, Marriott International, Minor Hotel Group, Certares, Expedia Group, Iberostar, JPMorganChase/Chase Travel, JTB Corp, Technogym, VFS Global and Virtuoso.
The delegation also includes representatives from aviation, technology, travel distribution, hospitality, cruise and destination investment.
WTTC Summit to Focus on the Future of Travel
The theme of the 2026 Summit is “FUTU[RE]SET: Shaping the Future of Travel & Tourism.”
The programme will examine changes affecting the sector, including technology, artificial intelligence, evolving consumer expectations and geopolitical developments.
Discussions will also consider how Travel & Tourism businesses and destinations can respond to disruption, attract investment and strengthen resilience.
Public-private collaboration will be another central topic. Business and government leaders are expected to examine how partnerships can address shared challenges, support competitiveness and promote long-term growth for destinations, businesses and local communities.
The Summit will also give delegates the opportunity to experience Malta’s tourism infrastructure and hospitality, while exploring the country’s business and investment environment.
For some delegates, the event will be their first visit to Malta.
WTTC Highlights Malta’s Tourism Sector
WTTC said its latest Economic Impact Research points to a significant contribution from Travel & Tourism to Malta’s economy in 2026.
The organisation has positioned the Summit as an opportunity for industry leaders, governments and international organisations to exchange views on the sector’s future.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said:
“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. 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. Together, we can help build a more resilient, sustainable and competitive future for Travel & Tourism.”
Carlo Micallef, CEO, Malta Tourism Authority, said:
“Hosting the WTTC Global Summit in Malta is a moment of tremendous significance for our country and for our tourism industry. To welcome more than 200 of the world’s most influential Travel & Tourism leaders to our shores is not simply an international endorsement of Malta as a destination, it is an exceptional opportunity to place our country, our people and our vision for the future of tourism directly in front of those who are helping to shape that future.
For many of these leaders, this Summit will be their first opportunity to experience Malta beyond what they may have seen or heard. We want them to discover the depth of our destination, our remarkable heritage, our hospitality, our connectivity, our diverse tourism offering and, importantly, the opportunities that exist for investment and long-term partnerships. The relationships created during these three days can extend well beyond the Summit itself and have the potential to generate meaningful opportunities for Malta for years to come.
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. We are immensely proud to welcome the global Travel & Tourism community to Malta and to showcase what our country can offer, while at the same time listening, learning and contributing to the conversations that will shape the next chapter of our industry.”
Selected WTTC Global Summit Attendees
The following is a selection of registered Executive Committee Members, Global Members, Regional Members, Industry Partners and Destination Partners attending the Summit:
- 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
WTTC Global Summit Follows Rome Event
The Malta Summit follows WTTC’s 25th Global Summit in Rome in 2025.
That event brought together public- and private-sector leaders to discuss trends and opportunities affecting Travel & Tourism.
Previous WTTC Summits have covered destination stewardship, artificial intelligence, sustainable aviation, investment, workforce development and emerging areas of tourism growth.
The 2026 event in Valletta will take place from 7–9 October and will continue those discussions around the future of global Travel & Tourism.
WTTC is also offering a limited number of Executive Access Passes to the 2026 Global Summit.
For the first time, senior leaders from organisations outside the WTTC Membership community can attend the event alongside Travel & Tourism CEOs and government leaders in Valletta. The passes include access to the full Summit agenda, exclusive networking opportunities and key social events.
Executive Access Passes are limited and available now. Find out more and secure your Executive Access Pass.
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