An intimate gathering of leaders ready to challenge, debate and act.
2
Days of intensive plenary sessions, inspiring keynote, working groups and networking
200+
Senior leaders & innovators gathered in one room
150+
C-Level speakers, from public, private sectors and international Instituitions
Dignitries – an unmatched level of decision-makers from around the world
A World For Travel is built on one conviction: that transforming tourism requires more than awareness — it demands coordinated, cross-sector action from those with the authority to drive it.
The 2026 forum moves beyond debate. Structured around five strategic pillars and twelve concrete challenges, every session is designed to produce outcomes — frameworks, commitments, and partnerships that extend well beyond Paris.
The two days close with a Gala Dinner & Awards ceremony at a prestigious Parisian venue, a moment to recognise the organisations and individuals leading the way, and to celebrate what collective ambition looks like in practice.
To ensure a smooth access process and the timely start of the forum, all participants are requested to complete accreditation and security procedures before 08:45. Please allow sufficient time for mandatory security checks required for access to the salle Colbert at the Assemblée Nationale.
Anita Mendiratta
Fréderic Vanhoutte
H.E. Serge Papin
Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, Tourism and Purchasing Power, France
Valérie Pécresse
President of the Île-de-France Region
Serge Papin
Valérie Pécresse
Gloria Guevara
New alliances, shifting trade routes, geopolitical tensions, health risks and economic uncertainty are reshaping the global travel landscape. As the world becomes increasingly fragmented, what will drive growth, mobility and resilience over the next decade?
Justin Crump
As destinations face increasing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and growing visitor demand, tourism leaders must move beyond sustainability commitments towards measurable impact and smarter decision-making.
How can destinations, governments and businesses integrate nature intelligence into tourism development to build resilience, competitiveness and long-term value?
Daniel Turner
Caragh Curran
Daniel Turner
Hon Prof. John Emmanuel Cortes
Hon. Christian Santos
The Ocean economy: From paradise to pressure Tourism, sovereignty, climate stress and the future of coastal value
The oceans are no longer simply a resource nor a neutral space. They are becoming a territory of influence, competition and resilience. They are a strategic frontier shaped by climate change, resource competition, maritime sovereignty and economic transformation.
As coastal destinations, islands and tourism-dependent economies face increasing pressure, how can the Blue Economy evolve from a model of extraction to one of resilience, regeneration and long-term value creation?
As climate stress, maritime pressures and shifting geopolitical dynamics reshape coastal economies, how can tourism contribute to a Blue Economy that creates value while protecting the ecosystems on which it depends?
Oceans Roundtable: Blue Economy in Action Protecting ecosystems, strengthening destinations and creating long-term value
Clency Romeo
Figen Ayan
David Rodes Miracle
The Great Green Wall is one of the world's most ambitious collective action initiatives, bringing together countries, communities and partners to regenerate landscapes, restore biodiversity and create economic opportunities across Africa.
Scaling Impact Through Partnership A powerful example of how governments, communities, businesses and international organizations can work together to deliver measurable environmental, social and economic outcomes.
OLA WRIGHT
A unique opportunity to connect with fellow participants while experiencing one of France's most iconic institutional venues.
How social trends are transforming travel, tourism and destination strategies
Travelers are changing faster than ever. What do shifting consumer behaviours, emerging expectations and evolving societal trends mean for destinations, brands and tourism leaders?
Didier Bréchemier
Leadership Conversation Following the latest insights on evolving traveler behaviours and social trends, this conversation explores how destinations can adapt their strategies, policies and tourism models to remain relevant, resilient and competitive in a rapidly changing world.
Moderator: Didier Bréchemier, Senior partner, Roland Berger
Ana Mendes Godinho
Didier Bréchemier
Ibrahim Osta
Proving that transformation is possible As expectations, regulations and market pressures accelerate, the hospitality industry faces growing demands to decarbonize while maintaining competitiveness and guest experience.
What does a credible path to Net Zero look like for a global hospitality group? What lessons can be shared with the wider travel ecosystem?
Inge Huijbrechts
Africa: The Next Growth Frontier for Travel and Tourism Connectivity, investment and resilience in a changing world
With its growing population, expanding middle class and untapped tourism potential, Africa represents one of the most significant opportunities for the future of global travel.
What are the conditions needed to unlock growth? How can transport, investment, health security and public-private partnerships accelerate the continent's tourism development?
Moderator: Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director & Global Tourism Lead at Chemonics International
Virginia Messina
OLA WRIGHT
Ghada Shalaby
Can every destination rely on its home market? Since the pandemic, domestic travel is no longer viewed as merely local tourism. It has become a critical pillar of economic resilience, destination recovery and visitor stability. Can every destination count on domestic demand? What role do mobility, accessibility, destination branding and visitor experience play in strengthening local travel ecosystems?
Moderator: Alessandra Priante, President of ENIT SpA and Co-Chairman Europe at SIGA
Alessandra Priante
David Nouaille
Unlocking growth through accessibility, integration and seamless journeys
As destinations seek more resilient and sustainable growth models, rail is emerging as a powerful driver of tourism competitiveness. How can high-speed networks, digital platforms and integrated mobility solutions redefine the way travelers move across regions and countries?
Moderator: Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to Secretary General UN TOURISM ANITA MENDIRATTA & Associates
Alexander Ernert
Guillaume De Marcillac
Anita Mendiratta
Moderator: Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to Secretary General UN TOURISM ANITA MENDIRATTA & Associates
Figen Ayan
Martyn Griffiths
Anita Mendiratta
Growth forecasts, sustainable aviation fuels and the future of global connectivity
As travel demand accelerates across emerging and established markets alike, the aviation sector faces a defining challenge: enabling growth while delivering on increasingly ambitious environmental commitments. How are airlines, airports, manufacturers and fuel innovators preparing for the next era of global mobility?
Can aviation keep pace with global growth? Passenger demand is expected to reach unprecedented levels over the coming decades. What role will airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) play in shaping the future of global mobility?
Moderator: Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to Secretary General UN TOURISM ANITA MENDIRATTA & Associates
Lucas Bobes
Joseph Beaudin
Anita Mendiratta
Five startups turning ideas into impact From climate and mobility to destination management and traveler experience, discover five entrepreneurial initiatives delivering tangible solutions for the future of travel and tourism.
Inclusion, attractiveness and tourism growth As traveler expectations evolve, inclusivity is becoming an increasingly important factor in destination choice and brand perception.
What can destinations learn from those leading the way?
Edgar Weggelaar
A reflection on the day's key insights and a look ahead to Day 2.
Anita Mendiratta
Hosted by Tootbus Continue the conversation beyond the forum while discovering Paris through a unique and inspiring perspective.
Celebrating leadership, innovation and impact
Hosted in an exceptional setting overlooking the Seine at La Samaritaine, the A World For Travel Influence Dinner brings together a select community of global leaders, policymakers, CEOs, innovators and changemakers.
The evening will feature:
Dress Code: Evening Attire
Access by Invitation Only
For a smooth arrival experience at the Hôtel de l’Industrie, participants are kindly requested to print and bring their badge.
Your badge will be required for access and accreditation purposes.
Anita Mendiratta
Baptiste Orlandini
CEO, Choose Paris Region
Frédéric Vanhoutte
President, A World For Travel
Baptiste Orlandini
Fréderic Vanhoutte
Can desirability, sustainability and impact coexist?
The future of tourism will require new models of growth, new definitions of value and new ways of creating memorable experiences. Can luxury reconcile profitability, exclusivity, environmental responsibility and social impact? What lessons can the wider tourism industry learn from luxury's evolution?
From exclusivity to responsibility
Luxury is evolving beyond status and consumption. As travelers seek more meaningful, authentic and responsible experiences, how are leading brands redefining desirability, value and impact? Can luxury help shape a more regenerative and human-centric future for tourism?
Moderator: Amy Wald, Founder & President, Greenluxe Inc.
Benoit-Etienne Domenget, CEO Ponant Exploration Group
Véronique Berthier
Balancing growth, people and planet
The future of hospitality will be defined not only by environmental performance, but also by its ability to generate positive social impact. How is Accor transforming its brands, operations and guest experiences to create value for travelers, employees, local communities and destinations alike?
How Accor is embedding environmental and social impact across its business
As expectations from travelers, employees, investors and destinations continue to evolve, transformation must extend far beyond operations. How is Accor integrating sustainability, social responsibility and long-term value creation across its brands, experiences, partnerships and global ecosystem?
Coline Pont
How to finance your savings without jeopardizing your energy growth ?
Pierre Maillard
AI as a Systemic Game Changer
The rise of Connected Intelligence and Open Networks
Artificial Intelligence is transforming far more than customer experiences. It is redefining how businesses, destinations and travelers connect, collaborate and create value across the entire travel ecosystem.
The Connected Intelligence Revolution
AI is creating a new operating system for travel. The first wave of AI focused on automation and personalization.
The next wave will connect destinations, businesses, infrastructures and travelers through intelligent networks capable of learning, predicting and adapting in real time. As Open Networks emerge across the travel ecosystem, who will create value, who will control intelligence, and how will leadership evolve? Moderator: Sahana Arun Kumar, Partner at Amarante Consulting
Siddartha Chatterjee
Real-world applications transforming travel
Artificial Intelligence is already reshaping the way travelers search, plan, book and experience journeys. From customer engagement and personalization to operations and business intelligence, how are leading travel companies integrating AI into their products, services and decision-making processes?
Moderator: Ada Xu, Global Government & International Affairs, Fliggy/Alibaba
Myriam Younes
Ada Xu
Alastair Crossley
Dr Misa Labarile
From ESG narrative to strategic asset class For years, sustainability has been viewed primarily as a responsibility. Today, investors are asking a different question: Can sustainability become a source of competitiveness, resilience and long-term returns? This discussion explores how tourism assets can create value in a world shaped by uncertainty, transition and transformation.
Why investors are rethinking tourism Inflation. Geopolitical tensions. Climate risks. Market volatility. As traditional investment assumptions are challenged, where does tourism fit in the portfolios of tomorrow? What opportunities are emerging, and what conditions are required to attract long-term capital?
Franck Gervais
Nikolina Angelkova
Reinventing the future of mobility A brief introduction to an innovative vision of mobility and its potential contribution to a more sustainable and connected travel ecosystem.
Marie-Christine Bilbow
Presentation of the results of the charity initiative held during the A World For Travel Influence Dinner and recognition of the collective contribution made by participants and partners.
Fréderic Vanhoutte
From Influence to Impact. A reflection on the key insights, commitments and collective actions that emerged throughout the forum, and a look ahead to the future of travel and tourism.
Anita Mendiratta
Fréderic Vanhoutte
A final opportunity to connect with fellow participants, speakers and partners, and continue the conversations initiated throughout the forum.
The Forum Ends. The Conversations Continue.
Thank you for being part of A World For Travel 2026.
See you next year & enjoy WTM London!
A curated hybrid gathering of 200 global leaders. Turning dialogue into collective action in Paris.
