The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled the first line-up of distinguished speakers for its 25th Global Summit, taking place in Rome from September 28–30, 2025. Returning to Europe, this milestone edition will be hosted at the iconic Auditorium Parco della Musica in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT (the Italian National Tourist Board), the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region.
The prestigious Global Summit will bring together leaders from business, government, and media to deliberate on the future of Travel & Tourism, a sector contributing 10% of global GDP. Key discussions will spotlight the transformative role of AI, sustainability, and bold strategies to ensure future growth and resilience.
The first wave of headline speakers includes William E. Heinecke (Minor Hotel Group), Jane Sun (Trip.com Group), Gaurav Bhatnagar (TBO.com), Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC Cruises), Paolo Barletta (Arsenale Spa), Anthony Capuano (Marriott International), Elie Maalouf (IHG Hotels & Resorts), Zubin Karkaria (VFS Global), and Christie Travers-Smith (Google), among other industry stalwarts. The speaker roster will also feature Puneet Chhatwal (IHCL), Julie Shainock (Microsoft), Hashil Al Mahrouqi (OMRAN Group), and Massimo Caputi (Terme & Spa Italia).
Adding to the significance, Greg O’Hara, Founder of Certares and current WTTC Chair, will officially pass the leadership torch to Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and co-chair of Abercrombie & Kent, marking a historic leadership transition for the global tourism body.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The Eternal City provides the perfect stage for world leaders in Travel & Tourism to come together and set the agenda for a decade of innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth.” Italy’s Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, emphasized that the Summit will open doors to major investment opportunities, reinforcing Italy’s central role in global tourism.
With a glittering panel of leaders representing hospitality, aviation, cruise, technology, and global investment, the WTTC 25th Global Summit promises to be the most influential gathering of the year, shaping the next era of Travel & Tourism. More speakers and sessions are expected to be announced in the weeks ahead.
