WTM London 2026 will bring together representatives from Expedia Group, Skyscanner and Booking.com to examine technology, climate pressures and tourism growth. The conference programme will explore how changing traveller expectations influence destinations, hospitality businesses and the wider international travel industry.
Discussions will span the Trends Stage, Future Stage and Experience Hub, combining commercial insights with operational challenges. Aviation, cruise tourism, accessibility and investment will also feature across the programme.
For delegates, the focus involves translating emerging ideas into decisions about products, marketing and visitor experiences. The sessions will provide discussion and networking opportunities rather than establish guaranteed business outcomes.
Expedia Explores Lasting Travel Trends
Stephen Cheng, Vice President at Expedia Group B2B, will open the Trends Stage with a keynote examining temporary and lasting trends. Dan Christian, Founder of Travel Trends Podcast, will moderate the discussion.
The distinction matters for businesses deciding where to direct marketing budgets, develop products or invest in technology. A short-lived surge in interest may require a different response from a sustained change in booking behaviour.
Other sessions will explore luxury holidays, family travel, loyalty and older travellers. Discussions will also consider outbound markets including India, China, the Middle East and Africa.
These topics give destinations opportunities to assess customer needs beyond their established visitor markets.
Skyscanner Addresses Climate And Holiday Demand
Kirsty Webster, Skyscanner’s Head of Sustainability for Industry, will join a discussion examining climate risk and future travel demand. Helgi Eysteinsson of Iceland Travel and Stephen Joyce of Protect Group will also participate.
The session will consider how heat, wildfires, flooding and unpredictable weather affect destination choices and tourism operations. Interest in cooler destinations and travel outside traditional peak periods will form part of the discussion.
For hotels and tour operators, changing seasonal patterns can influence staffing, product development and operating calendars. However, extending a season requires more than marketing available rooms.
Destinations must also consider infrastructure, local services and the quality of experiences available during different months.
Booking.com Brings Digital Experience Into Focus
James Healey, Vice President of Product Experience at Booking.com, is among the announced Future Stage speakers. The platform will explore innovation, investment, automation and responsible business development.
Julie Cheetham, Chief Executive of Travalyst, will also contribute to the programme. Across three days, sessions will examine how organisations use technology and data to support operations and customer services.
For tourism businesses, the practical questions extend beyond adopting new software. Companies must consider whether digital tools help customers find information, complete bookings and receive effective support.
The programme will also address recruitment, employability and career development as technology changes workplace requirements.
Aviation And Cruise Discussions Examine Destination Impact
The Future Stage will dedicate attention to aviation and cruise tourism during its second day. Aviation discussions will cover route development, decarbonisation and relationships between transport operations and surrounding communities.
These subjects connect airline planning with destination access and local economic priorities. However, additional routes alone cannot establish sustainable visitor growth.
Cruise sessions will examine cooperation between operators, ports, transport providers, attractions and communities. Coordinating these services can shape the experience passengers encounter after leaving the ship.
Responsible growth and overtourism will also feature, bringing infrastructure capacity and community wellbeing into the wider commercial discussion.
Experience Hub Highlights Inclusive Tourism
The Experience Hub will bring together destination specialists, marketers and tourism experience developers. Its programme includes accessible travel, halal tourism, niche markets and opportunities for women in the industry.
Richard Thompson, Co-founder and Chief Executive of Inclu Group, will examine innovation in accessible travel. The discussion will consider how businesses can challenge assumptions and remove barriers within visitor experiences.
Meanwhile, Ruby Gelderbloem of the City of Cape Town will discuss preparation for further destination growth. The subject links rising visitor interest with economic planning and service readiness.
Other sessions will examine experimentation, customer experience and the lessons businesses can draw from unsuccessful ideas.
Investment And Practical Learning Complete The Programme
The Future Stage’s third day will include the Travel Massive Investor & Entrepreneur Meet Up. The session aims to connect tourism founders with potential investors, advisers and commercial partners.
Meanwhile, the Experience Hub will close with a session focused on realistic action plans. Attendees scanned into its sessions will receive a Monday Morning Toolkit with supporting materials and suggested next steps.
Together, these activities connect conference discussion with decisions delegates can assess within their own organisations. The programme’s value will depend on how businesses apply relevant insights to visitor needs, operational priorities and destination development.
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