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If there was ever any lingering doubt about the strength of the luxury travel sector, ILTM North America 2026 has just provided a rather emphatic answer.

When the luxury travel industry’s most influential advisors, suppliers and decision-makers gather at Baha Mar in the Bahamas from 28 September to 1 October, they will do so against a backdrop of extraordinary growth, renewed confidence and a seemingly insatiable appetite for premium travel experiences.

Organised by RX Global, ILTM North America has revealed that an impressive 55 per cent of attending advisors will be first-time buyers at the event, creating one of the freshest and most commercially dynamic audiences in the show’s history.

For suppliers searching for new opportunities, new clients and new revenue streams, that figure is more than just a statistic. It represents hundreds of fresh conversations, untapped relationships and access to luxury travellers who continue to spend despite ongoing global economic uncertainty.

As the luxury sector continues to outperform many other areas of travel, the event’s growing influence reflects a broader trend sweeping across North America’s affluent traveller market.

“The influence of North America’s luxury traveller has never been greater,” said Simon Mayle, Event Director, ILTM North America.

“Engaging directly with the advisors who represent these high-value clients is now essential for any brand looking to grow in luxury travel. ILTM North America provides the most effective platform to do exactly that.”

Those comments carry considerable weight.

The event will welcome more than 550 luxury travel advisors alongside some of the world’s most prestigious travel brands, creating a marketplace that many suppliers now regard as one of the most important luxury travel gatherings in the Americas.

What makes the event particularly compelling is its broad geographic reach.

While 75 per cent of buyers are based in the United States, the remaining delegates represent a significant presence from Canada and Mexico, accounting for 10 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. Combined, they cover more than 220 cities across North America.

That reach matters.

Luxury travellers are no longer confined to traditional gateway cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Toronto or Mexico City. High-net-worth travellers are emerging from secondary and tertiary markets, creating opportunities for suppliers prepared to broaden their distribution strategies.

The quality of attendees is equally impressive.

Three-quarters of participating advisors are affiliated with major travel consortia, including industry powerhouses Virtuoso, Signature Travel Network and Ensemble.

Many others are connected to influential travel organisations, including American Express Travel, Chase Travel, FORA Travel, SmartFlyer, Brownell Travel and Travel Edge.

For Ashlyn Treadaway from Gifted Travel Network, the event’s appeal extends beyond scheduled appointments.

“What sets ILTM North America apart is the quality of the people in the room, both buyers and suppliers, and the thought that goes into how the event is put together. The meetings deliver, but it’s the connections you make along the way that stay with you.”

Anyone who has spent time at a major travel trade show will recognise the truth in that observation.

The best deals often begin in formal meetings. The strongest partnerships are usually forged over coffee, cocktails or a chance conversation between appointments.

One of the event’s most powerful features remains its ability to continually refresh its buyer base.

Unlike many industry gatherings where familiar faces dominate year after year, ILTM North America deliberately introduces new advisors into the mix. Importantly, these buyers are not newcomers to travel. They arrive with established luxury clientele, proven sales records and entirely new commercial networks.

That strategy is proving highly attractive to suppliers seeking growth.

Kimberly Cross, Vice President of Leisure Strategies & Strategic Partnerships at TTI Canada, summed up the anticipation surrounding her first attendance.

“ILTM North America is a uniquely powerful platform for luxury leisure business, bringing together serious decision makers through. I am attending for the first time this year and could not be more excited about the opportunities it promises.”

Returning participants are equally enthusiastic.

Julie Evans from Julie’s Travel credits the event with helping transform her luxury travel business.

“Since I first attended ILTM North America in 2022, I have tripled my luxury sales. Not only have I learned so much, I seem to constantly attract new luxury clients which I also totally attribute to attending the event.”

For many advisors, that’s the sort of return on investment that keeps them coming back.

The 2026 edition also introduces several notable newcomers to the show floor.

Four destinations will make their debut, including Newport Beach, Charleston, Morocco, and Buenos Aires, each showcasing six products in dedicated private exhibition spaces.

Meanwhile, fresh supplier additions include Three Forks Ranch, The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Domaine de Manville, Anantara New York Palace Budapest and Pimalai Resort and Spa.

Adding further prestige, Relais & Châteaux returns to ILTM North America for the first time in six years, bringing six properties together in a dedicated private room.

In luxury travel, prestige matters.

But so does access.

And that’s ultimately why ILTM North America continues to thrive.

As Simon Mayle succinctly observed:

“The numbers speak for themselves, 550+ of the most influential luxury travel advisors in North America, all in one place, all ready to do business. For suppliers, there is no more powerful room to be in.”

In an industry increasingly shaped by personal relationships, trusted recommendations and high-value experiences, that room may well be one of the most valuable square metres in global travel.

For more information, visit ILTM North America.