Top 10 best global travel conferences to attend in 2023
Hey there, fellow travel industry pro! You’re probably as excited as we are that in-person industry events are back, and so your agenda must be getting jam-packed with exciting conferences and summits to get to! With so many options out there, though, the decision over which event to attend and which one to pass on this year can be pretty tough. So, we checked out some of the best travel & tourism conferences happening in 2023 – check out our shortlist below!
18th – 23rd of January, 2023
Madrid, Spain
A melting pot of travel professionals, attending Fitur 2023 is the best way to start the new year off just right. Fitur is the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Latin America, focusing on topics like the future of technology and business in tourism and destination management, cruises, the influence of the LGBT+ community, internationalization, and much more. This year’s key talking points will center on strengthening travel and tourism in a post-pandemic world and will be directed primarily at hotel chains, travel agents, tour operators, and tech companies among others.
Travel Adventure Show
February 4th – 6th, 2023 – Washington DC
March 4th – 5th, 2023 – San Francisco Bay Area
March 25th – 26th, 2023 – Atlanta, Georgia
Lauded as America’s favorite travel trade show, this is the ultimate destination for travel agencies and other players in the tourism industry to connect directly with the traveler. Visitors attend this event to discover new vacation destinations, speak with your operators and global travel providers, and receive the most up-to-date advice and information relating to a given trip. It’s the ultimate travel industry event in North America that creates a direct connection between the industry and the consumer.
7th – 9th of March, 2023
Berlin, Germany
Bringing together key players from the world travel industry in Berlin, ITB 2023 promises to bring together countless exhibitors, speakers, and industry leaders. The event follows a number of segments, including business travel, adventure travel, destinations, hospitality, luxury travel, medical tourism, travel technology, and much more. Whether you’re looking for networking opportunities or simply the chance to learn from some of the top travel players within the sector, this is the place to be in 2023.
31st of March – 3rd of April, 2023
Las Vegas, Nevada
This is a B2B leisure travel agency-focused event that allows professionals to meet with supplier partners, connect with the most sought-after brands in travel, and mingle with industry peers. Hosted at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, this is a premier event for travel agents to attend roundtable panel discussions, participate in educational sessions, and network with hundreds of like-minded professionals. And what could be more exciting than attending an event about travel in one of the country’s most visited cities?
3rd – 5th of April, 2023
Cape Town, South Africa
For anyone trying to make their mark on the travel industry in Africa, WTM is undoubtedly the conference to be at. This event affords attendees the opportunity to generate new leads, launch products, enter new markets, raise brand awareness, and much, much more. Over 6000 travel industry professionals attend this show each year, helping travel businesses in Africa drive commercial success, accelerate growth, network, and more. This event is part of a larger group of flagship events including WTM London, and the Arabian Travel Market Show (see below).
1st – 4th of May, 2023
Dubai, UAE
If you’re trying to unlock travel and tourism business potential in the Middle East, then the Arabian Travel Market show is an event you just can’t miss. The biggest names in accommodation, hospitality, destinations, attractions, and more will be in attendance, sharing their unique views and insights into the industry and the region. The 2023 edition of the event will focus on working towards net zero and will explore sustainable travel trends that will define travel business strategies going forward.
19th – 22nd of June, 2023
Singapore
Hosted at the appropriately luxurious Marina Bay Sands Hotel, 2023’s ILTM Asia Pacific conference will connect luxury travel brands from across the region. With pre-scheduled appointments, educational sessions, and parties, this is going to be more than a trade show – it’s going to be an unmissable experience. Spanning 4 days, the expo will boast nearly 600 brands in attendance, as well as 580 travel advisors, and 90 editors all face-to-face for an invaluable show. Whether you’re looking to build new partnerships, reconnect with old networks, or simply get up to speed on what’s going on in the sector, ILTM Asia Pacific has got it all.
28th – 29th of June, 2023
London, United Kingdom
Looking for a place to meet visionaries, disruptors, and innovators on the travel market? Then look no further than the Business Travel Show Europe! This annual conference brings together some of the world’s leading travel and tourism professionals to share their insights through keynote speeches on topics like sustainable travel, diversity, behavioral economics, traveler management, and more.
Laden with networking events, past speakers, and attendees have included representatives from BTN Group, Virgin Atlantic, Capgemini, Leonardo UK, EY, and Siemens, to name a few.
July 18th – 20th, 2023
Dallas, Texas
It’s undeniable that the last few years have been challenging for anyone working with destination organization. From the global pandemic to social unrest to budget cuts, the landscape of destination management has undergone a radical shift. Industry professionals looking for solutions to post-pandemic recovery would do well to attend the Destinations International Annual Convention 2023, where such topics will be discussed in detail. Get your hands on a ticket now for the chance to connect with peers, learn more about the industry, and gain new insights.
12th – 13th of September, 2023
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Are you looking to reimagine the travel customer journey? Digital Travel Summit is the go-to event for travel executives from hotels, OTAs, airlines, and transportation companies to share practical insights on enhancing personalization and improving their online strategies. Past speakers have included experts from companies like American Airlines, Expedia Group, Virgin Voyages, Universal Parks & Resorts, Legoland, and IHG Hotels & Resorts, just to name a few. What are you waiting for? Head over to Hilton Head Island for an unparalleled learning experience.
