All roads lead to Rome this September as the global travel and tourism sectors head to Italy for the 25th World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit.
The most influential event on the global tourism calendar will be held from 28th to 30th September at the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
The Summit will bring together titans of industry from Italy and around the world, alongside ministers, mayors, CEOs, and creative leaders, to shape the future of a sector that continues to prove its power to generate jobs, economic resilience, and global connection.
The event is hosted in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT (the Italian national tourist board), the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region.
Cultural exchanges in the Eternal City
Rome is a fitting location for a sector that thrives on timeless beauty, innovation, and cultural exchange.
According to WTTC president and CEO Julia Simpson: “Italy represents everything the world loves about travel: beauty, quality, culture and cuisine. Rome is the perfect stage for a Summit that will welcome the world’s tourism leaders to think boldly, act collaboratively, and help shape a decade of growth rooted in excellence.”
Indeed, Italy will welcome the world’s tourism leaders as the sector accelerates into a decade of growth expected to outpace the wider economy nearly fourfold.
WTTC’s members and many of Italy’s leaders in the fields of travel and tourism will play a central role, reflecting Italy’s leadership in cruising, hospitality, fashion, and wellness tourism.
Where leadership changes hands
From artificial intelligence and sustainable aviation to destination stewardship and the preservation of culture and heritage, the 2025 Global Summit will cover the most urgent and exciting developments in the sector such as transport innovation, luxury and fashion travel, and tourism policies for a connected future.
During the Global Summit, WTTC chair Greg O’Hara, founder and senior managing director of Certares Management LLC, will also hand over the reins of leadership to Manfredi Lefebvre, one of the leading names in global travel and tourism, as well as chairman of Heritage Group and co-chair of luxury travel company Abercrombie and Kent.
Lefebvre said of this shift in leadership: “As we gather in the heart of Italy, we are not just celebrating the resilience of the travel and tourism industry, but also embracing the opportunity to innovate and inspire for a sustainable future. Rome, with its rich history and vibrant culture, serves as an ideal backdrop for this pivotal dialogue among global leaders. Together, we can harness the power of tourism to create meaningful experiences that transcend borders and foster global connections."
