WTTC unveils star lineup of speakers for 25th Global Summit in Rome

19-08-25

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the first wave of high-profile speakers for its landmark 25th Global Summit, set to take place in Rome from September 28–30, 2025.

Hosted at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, the Summit will bring together global leaders from business, government, and media to shape the future of a sector that contributes 10% of global GDP. The event is being held in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT, the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region.

The prestigious line-up of confirmed speakers includes:

William E. Heinecke, Founder & Chairman, Minor Hotel Group
Matthew Upchurch, Founder & CEO, Virtuoso
Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group
Gaurav Bhatnagar, Co-Founder, TBO.com

Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Company
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of Cruise, MSC Cruises
Paolo Barletta, CEO, Arsenale Spa
Andrea Grisdale, Sole Founder & CEO, IC Bellagio
Desiree Bollier, Chair & Global Chief Merchant, The Bicester Collection
Anthony Capuano, CEO, Marriott International
Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California
Christie Travers-Smith, Head of Retail & Travel, EMEA Partnerships, Google
Elie Maalouf, Global CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts
Decius Valmorbida Menezes, President: Travel, Amadeus
Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO, VFS Global

Additional names include Puneet Chhatwal (Indian Hotels Company), Julie Shainock (Microsoft), Hashil Al Mahrouqi (OMRAN Group), and Massimo Caputi (Terme & Spa Italia).

The Summit will also mark a leadership transition, with Greg O’Hara (Founder & Senior Managing Director, Certares, and current WTTC Chair) handing over to Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and Co-Chair of Abercrombie & Kent.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said the Summit will provide “a perfect backdrop for the world’s Travel & Tourism leaders to innovate, collaborate, and drive a decade of sustainable growth.”

Italy’s Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, emphasized the event’s prestige, calling it “a historic moment that will attract major investments in Italy.”

O’Hara described the Summit as “the most influential gathering in Travel & Tourism,” while Chair-Elect Lefebvre added that Rome will be “a pivotal moment to embrace innovation and resilience, ensuring a lasting legacy for future generations.”

More speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks.

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