LONDON — The World Travel & Tourism Council is gearing up for its annual Global Summit, set to take place April 25-27 in Cancun, Mexico. 

Featuring the theme ‘Uniting the World for Recovery,’ the Summit will take on a hybrid format this year, allowing those unable to travel to view content virtually while at the same time hosting live events at the Moon Palace Convention Centre. It will mark the first major live event in the Travel & Tourism sector, with hygiene and safety protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of every participant. 

Speakers from around the world will be taking part, including business leaders from Carnival Corporation, Hilton Marriott, Meliá, Expedia Group, Royal Caribbean Cruises and more. Former President of Colombia and 2016 Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos will also be taking to the stage.

A number of key initiatives related to the Travel & Tourism sector will be presented at the Summit that focus on sustainability, the digital agenda and women’s empowerment. WTTC will be launching its ‘Women Empowerment Declaratory’ at the Summit in hopes that its 200 private sector members will join. Not only will the initiative aim to reduce the gender gap in Travel & Tourism, it will also influence policies that can help empower women from all walks of life and ensure recovery efforts reach women around the world.

“Our Global Summit will be the platform for the global recovery of this important industry. It is time for everyone to work together and move this sector forward,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO. “Our event will pave the way to recover millions of Travel & Tourism jobs, which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Guevara also thanked the Government of Quintana Roo, which was one of the first global destinations to receive the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp last year. 

Said Carlos Joaquín González, Governor of the State of Quintana Roo, said: “The WTTC Global Summit will be an incredible event that will generate investment and promotion, but will also promote social development in the destination as well as the empowerment of women. It will be an honour for Quintana Roo to host so many representatives of the global Travel & Tourism sector and we are looking forward to welcoming them to Cancun.”