The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)'s 2018 Global Summit will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 18-19 April. Industry leaders from public and private sector will discuss the theme of 'Our People, Our World, Our Future', debating how the sector is placed to create sustainable jobs in a future of transformational technology, increasing environmental pressures, and in a world where security concerns are paramount.

This year's event is organised in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism of Argentina and the National Institute for Tourism Promotion (INPROTUR), the tourism agency of the city of Buenos Aires, the Argentine Chamber of Tourism.

In the words of Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of WTTC, "This year's WTTC Global Summit will bring together CEOs, ministers and representatives of the highest level of international organisations around a very relevant program that will highlight the enormous opportunity that Travel & Tourism offers our world, we will discuss and debate the challenges we face to turn this opportunity into reality, and develop practical actions to ensure that our sector is an agent of positive change in the world. A country that is full of tourism potential, Argentina is the ideal place to have this focused, energetic and meaningful conversation."

During the Summit, discussions will focus on how the sector is preparing for the "future of work", which is driven more and more by technology. In addition, speakers will reflect on the contribution of the sector to global sustainable development objectives.

In addition, sessions will explore what is needed for Travel & Tourism growth to continue effectively and sustainably, including: the use of technology such as biometrics to increase travel safety and thereby facilitate travel, better growth management, the industry's response to climate change and how to increase resilience in the face of crises such as pandemics, terrorism and natural disasters.

Speakers will be leaders from the public and private sector, as well as academics and international organisations who will provide a vision of how to forge a common future for tourism. Among the speakers are:

  • Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
  • Fang Liu, Secretary General, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
  • Manuel Muñiz, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, IE University
  • Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General, World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
  • John Scanlon, Special Envoy, African Parks

Ministers from G20 countries CEOs and Leaders from WTTC Member companies including AirBnB, Abercrombie & Kent, Carnival Corporation, China Union Pay, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Deloitte & Touche, Dufry AG, Hilton, Hotelbeds Group, IBM, JTB Corp, Marriott International, Mastercard, McKinsey&Company, Thomas Cook Group, Travel Leaders Group, TUI Group, Value Retail, and Virtuoso

Complete information about the event, as well as its official program, is available on the official website of the World Tourism and Travel Council: www.wttc.org/summits/the-global-summit-2018/

About WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.