by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:30 AM ET, Fri August 15, 2025
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed the first group of headline speakers that will present at the 25th Global Summit in Rome in late September.
The Global Summit, held from September 28 through September 30, will be held at the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
The summit will feature a change in WTTC’s Chair: Greg O’Hara, Founder and Senior Managing Director of Certares Management LLC, which owns stakes in AmaWaterways, Avoya Travel, G Adventures, Internova Travel Group and other well-known travel industry companies and brands, will pass on his role as Chair to Manfredi Lefebvre, Chairman of Heritage Group and co-chair of Abercrombie and Kent.
“We're thrilled to have such a distinguished group of speakers already confirmed for our Global Summit in Rome,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO. “The Eternal City provides a perfect backdrop for a Summit where the world's Travel & Tourism leaders will gather to innovate, collaborate, and drive a decade of exceptional, sustainable growth.”
More announcements will be made in the coming days and weeks.
Confirmed speakers include the following:
- Minor Hotel Group, Founder & Chairman, William E. Heinecke
- Virtuoso, Founder & CEO, Matthew Upchurch
- Trip.com Group, CEO, Jane Sun, CEO
- TBO.Com, Co-Founder, Gaurav Bhatnagar
- Diriyah Company, Group CEO, Jerry Inzerillo
- MSC Cruises, Executive Chairman of Cruise, Pierfrancesco Vago
- Arsenale Spa, CEO, Paolo Barletta
- IC Bellagio, CEO – Sole Founder, Andrea Grisdale
- The Bicester Collection, Chair & Global Chief Merchant, Desiree Bollier
- Marriott International, CEO, Anthony Capuano
- Visit California, President & CEO, Caroline Beteta
- Google Inc, Head of Retail & Travel, EMEA Partnerships Solutions, Christie Travers-Smith
- InterContinental Hotels Group, Global CEO, Elie Maalouf
- Amadeus, President: Travel, Decius Valmorbida Menezes
- VFS Global, Founder, Founder & CEO, Zubin Karkaria
- Indian Hotels Company, CEO, Puneet Chhatwal
- Microsoft, Global Managing Director - Travel, Transport & Hospitality Industry, Julie Shainock
- OMRAN Group, CEO, Hashil Al Mahrouqi
- Terme & Spa Italia, President & Owner, Massimo Caputi
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