WTM London 2024 announces its conference programme

With regenerative tourism and transformative technologies as a mix of exciting discussion points, WTM London is set to become a platform for positive change.

Sessions are divided into six conference tracks, all carefully selected by a panel of conference advisors, to guide visitors to the topics that interest them most, where they can immerse themselves in discussions with peers and experts. These are:

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI)
Geoeconomics
Marketing
Sustainability
Travel Trends
Technology

Following a 29% increase in attendance at conference sessions in 2023, this year the stages have increased in size. To make navigation easier, this year’s conference theatres will be named according to the colour scheme of the corresponding regions. The Yellow Theatre will be located in the Africa region, the Orange Theatre in Asia and the Purple Theatre in Technology.

In addition, different days will be dedicated to specific topics, with sessions grouped into summits. Highlights include:

Tuesday, November 5th

The opening day kicks off with the launch of the WTM World Travel Report, produced by WTM and supported by renowned researchers at Oxford Economics. This report draws on comprehensive data from over 185 countries to provide valuable insights into consumer behaviour and the trends likely to shape the industry.

This will be followed by the Technology Summit, themed Frictionless Travel. Visitors will be able to discover how to implement use cases for new technologies and learn more about the intersection between AI and loyalty programs.

The DEAI Summit, From Commitment to Action, will also take place on the first day, providing a safe platform to showcase the future of diversity, accessibility, equality, inclusion and intersectionality (DEAI) in tourism.

Wednesday, November 6th

On the second day of the show, more than 50 of the most influential policy figures in the travel industry will gather at the 18th Ministerial Summit at the World Travel Market, in partnership with UN Tourism and WTTC. This year’s theme is the positive potential of emerging technologies for tourism. During this largest annual ministerial meeting, these policymakers will discuss the transformative potential of AI and other emerging technologies to shape the future of travel and hospitality against the ethical implications of their application.

This year’s Sustainability Summit, The Rise of Regenerative Tourism: A Paradigm Shift, will explore the core principles of regenerative tourism, highlight successful case studies, and provide practical strategies for integrating these concepts into tourism practices.

Thursday, November 7th

Thursday’s Marketing Summit will look at the evolution of travel marketing in the digital age, with sessions covering how digital tools are driving changes in marketing techniques and the importance of storytelling throughout the traveler journey. The Marketing track will be followed by the return of the Influencer Luncheon, which will offer content creators the opportunity to connect with peers and exhibitors looking for an interesting collaboration.

The highly anticipated keynote address closes this year’s event. The speaker has yet to be announced, but with previous guests including documentary maker Louis Theroux and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, it will be an inspiring and thought-provoking session.

Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director at World Travel Market London, said: “We believe that travel has the power to change the world and World Travel Market gives visitors the opportunity to be part of the movement shaping it.

We are proud to be such an influential force in facilitating and shaping positive debate in the global travel industry. Every year, WTM strives to make the conference programme indispensable. We hope that attendees will benefit from the topics raised in the conference programme and find elements that can truly change their businesses for the better.

WTM London works alongside global thought leaders and top researchers to deliver a robust and diverse conference programme. Confirmed speakers and partners include Bloomberg Travel, UN Tourism, Trip.com, WTTC, Expedia and the BBC, with more to be announced soon.

Source: WTM London.