‘Changemakers’ will be the theme of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2019 global summit in Seville.
The concept aims to celebrate and gather the people and ideas who are defining the future of the sector.
WTTC is extending invitations to attend the summit to a wider group of senior industry professionals for the first time.
The event has previously been by invitation only, encompassing WTTC members and travel leaders.
A “limited number” of guests from across the sector will be able to join next year’s summit on April 3-4 for a fee.
Entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusivity will be at the core of conversation throughout the summit.
Speakers will be composed of public and private sector leaders, as well as academics and representatives of international organisations. The list of speakers will be announced in due course.
Next year also marks 15 years of WTTC’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, which recognise the highest ethical standards in the sector and champion those organisations setting the standard in developing destinations equitably and responsibly.
WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara said: “The WTTC global summit is the principal event where the global public and private leaders of our sector meet.
“We are happy to be back in Europe and especially in beautiful city of Seville, where we will celebrate the 500 years since the first circumnavigation, while we define and shape the future of our sector and recognise the ideas which will make it happen.
“At our last summit in Buenos Aires we had more than 1,300 delegates with more than 100 CEOs, the president of Argentina, the prime minister of Rwanda, more than 30 ministers or heads of tourism, three former presidents, three United Nations’ Secretaries General as well as leaders from Pata, Iata, Wef,
Clia, and even one Academy Award winning film director.
“So, 2019 provides a new opportunity for industry peers to attend and gain inspiration from our ‘Changemakers’, outlining a future vision of travel and tourism with the pioneering individuals and disruptive ideas that will make it happen.”
The Travel Weekly team is reporting extensively from this year’s World Travel Market, stay up to date on our live blog and event microsite