World Travel Market (WTM) London, the grand dame of global travel showcases, is limbering up for its 45th edition in 2025 with the swagger that only comes from being the world’s most influential travel and tourism gathering. Organised by RX, the event has released its biggest-ever conference programme, and the stage is set for what promises to be a vintage year, the sort that industry veterans will still be talking about at departure lounges for years to come.
This year, the unifying theme across the conference is “Reimagining Travel in a Changing World”. It’s a neat way of saying what we all know: the pace of change in travel has gone from a leisurely taxi down the runway to a supersonic take-off. Whether it’s global policies, the digital revolution, or the ever-fickle behaviour of travellers, 2025 looks set to be the year when every assumption is up for challenge.
Building on Last Year’s Momentum
The organisers are understandably buoyant after the 2024 edition smashed records, with attendance across all tracks up 19%. The Sustainability Summit alone surged by 128%, a sign that the green agenda has moved from polite applause to centre stage. Marketing and Technology sessions both saw audience lifts of 75%, proving that the industry is hungry for ideas.
“We set the bar really high last year, and the team have embraced the challenge of making the sessions and summits at WTM London 2025 even more appealing,” said Conference Manager Brooke Gilbertson. “The rate of change in travel is accelerating, which is why we’ve briefed all our speakers to help attendees thrive and prosper during this pivotal period for the industry.”
The Classics Return
No WTM would be complete without the annual Trends Report in association with Oxford Economics. This year’s edition — unveiled on Tuesday, 4 November in the Yellow Theatre will be followed by a heavyweight panel dissection. Think of it as the travel industry’s State of the Union address, minus the flag-waving but with plenty of sharp insights.
Meanwhile, the WTM Ministers’ Summit returns for its 19th outing, gathering global tourism leaders under one roof to thrash out strategies on policy, investment, and growth. The BBC will moderate the session, which will take place on the morning of Tuesday, 4 November, in the newly expanded ICC Maritime Suites. Expect robust debate, diplomatic smiles, and the occasional flash of geopolitical candour.
And for those intrigued by the evolution of London as an event city, the UK’s Tourism Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, will join a C-suite panel titled “From Fortnum to F1”. If nothing else, the name alone deserves applause.
A New Wave of Summits
WTM London 2025 is nothing if not ambitious. Alongside the returning favourites, a host of standalone summits will delve into the beating heart of the industry’s challenges.
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DEAI Summit – Led by Uwern Jong of OutThere, this bold session asks what reclaiming global inclusion truly means.
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Technology Summit – Timothy O’Neil-Dunne (T2Impact LLC) tackles the surprisingly human theme of empathy in travel tech.
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Geo-economics Summit: Mark Frary will guide delegates through the shifting tectonic plates of the global economy and their impact on tourism.
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Marketing Summit – With Matthew Gardiner and Tina Charisma at the helm, this one promises to decode the evolution of travel marketing with the zeal of evangelists.
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Sustainability Summit – Tina O’Dwyer provocatively declares “Sustainable Tourism is Dead – Long Live Sustainable Tourism”, setting the stage for fiery debate.
For media and influencers, a dedicated AI-focused session on Wednesday afternoon will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping travel journalism and content creation. Of course, the assembled scribes will not miss the irony.
The Quirky and the Culinary
Beyond the big-ticket debates, WTM London 2025 has sprinkled in some lighter fare. Food futurist Tony Hunter will take the Yellow Theatre stage to explore how Gen Alpha is reshaping gastronomy tourism. This session may leave delegates wondering whether the future of travel is less about room upgrades and more about plant-based tasting menus with a side of virtual reality.
Why It Matters
What makes WTM London’s 45th year more than just another industry knees-up is its scale and ambition. With 40 sessions already locked in and more to come, the programme underscores a truth seasoned travel professionals already know. In times of turbulence, people turn to forums like this to chart the way forward.
It’s a chance for policymakers to meet entrepreneurs, tech disruptors to share the stage with hoteliers, and marketing gurus to swap notes with sustainability advocates. In other words, it’s the travel industry doing what it does best: gathering, sharing, arguing, laughing, and ultimately pushing the business forward.
If the organisers are right, this year’s WTM London will not only break attendance records but may well reset the standard for what a global travel conference can achieve.
By Prae Lee
