Singapore Leads Travel Innovation As ITB Asia 2026 Unveils The Next Era Of Global Tourism

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Singapore is rapidly growing as a travel technology hub and ITB Asia 2026 is set to advance travel and tourism with cutting edge innovations and technology. Celebrating 22 years of tourism revolution, ITB Asia 2026 will feature some of the key individuals at the forefront of the travel and tourism industry. In October 2026, Singapore will welcome over 150 of the most influential travel industry executives as ITB Asia and the ITB Asia Conference run simultaneously. Prominent names from Agoda, Cvent, Disney Cruise Line, FCM Travel Asia, Simon-Kucher, Trip.com, WebBeds and others will take part in the conference.

With the theme “Experiences in Motion: Human-Centred Design in Travel & Tourism”, the conference will focus on how innovation, technology and changing traveller expectations are transforming the future of the travel industry across the Asia-Pacific region.

As traveller priorities continue to evolve, the tourism sector is entering a new phase driven by personalised experiences, digital transformation and shifting consumer behaviours. Destinations, hospitality companies and business event organisers are adapting their strategies to create more meaningful, connected and human-focused travel experiences.

These industry changes will be at the heart of discussions during the ITB Asia Conference 2026, which will be hosted at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from 21–23 October 2026.

Organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific, the three-day event will bring together influential industry leaders, decision-makers and innovators from across the travel ecosystem. The conference programme will be hosted across three dedicated platforms — the Knowledge Theatre, MICE Show Asia Theatre and Travel Tech Asia Theatre — featuring keynote presentations, expert panels, real-world case studies and technology showcases.

The discussions will explore major developments shaping the future of travel, including leisure tourism trends, MICE growth, corporate travel transformation and travel technology advancements. Key areas of focus will include evolving market demands, Chinese outbound travel, sustainability strategies, luxury tourism, artificial intelligence, data-driven solutions, emerging technologies, experience design and the future direction of global business events.

By bringing together global experts and regional industry leaders, ITB Asia Conference 2026 aims to highlight the opportunities, challenges and innovations that will define the next era of travel across the Asia-Pacific market.

Darren Seah, Executive Director, Messe Berlin Asia Pacific, said: “Business meetings and networking are at the heart of ITB Asia, but the value of the show also lies in the knowledge and market intelligence that the industry can take away from it. ‘Experiences in Motion: Human-Centred Design in Travel & Tourism’ reflects how traveller needs and expectations are evolving alongside technology and changing business models. Our conference brings the industry together to exchange insights, share practical knowledge and explore new opportunities across travel, tourism and MICE.”

Global Travel Outlook And The Next Era Of Connected Experiences

The ITB Asia 2026 Conference will begin on 21 October with two major opening keynote sessions that will establish the direction for three days of discussions focused on the transformation of travel across the Asia-Pacific region.

Lovrenc Kessler, Senior Partner at Simon-Kucher, will open the programme with “The Global Travel Outlook: What’s Next for Asia-Pacific”. The session will examine changing traveller demand, emerging markets, evolving consumer behaviour and the opportunities these shifts are creating for the region’s tourism sector.

Following this, Brett Henry, President APAC at WebBeds, will present “The Next Chapter of Travel: Technology, Transformation and the Future of Connected Travel”. The keynote will explore how artificial intelligence, data-driven solutions and rising traveller expectations are moving the industry beyond basic digital transformation towards more personalised, connected and experience-driven journeys.

Knowledge Theatre Highlights Emerging Travel Trends, Sustainability And New Traveller Expectations

The Knowledge Theatre will focus on the key developments shaping the future of Asia-Pacific tourism, including market growth, Chinese outbound travel, digital transformation and the changing expectations of modern travellers.

Sessions will explore important industry themes such as “Shaping the Future: Key Drivers of Growth in the Travel Economy in Asia Pacific”, “The Evolution of Chinese Outbound Tourism and the New Rules of Destination Marketing” and “How Digital Natives Are Shaping the Future of Travel and How Insurance Can Cater to This”.

The future of cruise tourism will also take centre stage through the “Cruise Leaders’ Panel: The Future of Cruise Holidays in the New Travel Landscape”. Industry experts including Sarah Fox, Vice President and Regional General Manager, Southeast Asia at Disney Cruise Line, Wen Ciu Lee, Head of Asia Pacific at Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, and Isha Goyal, Director & CEO of STIC Travel Group, will discuss how cruise experiences are evolving to meet changing traveller demands.

Digital reputation and brand trust will be another key focus. The session “Rethinking Reputation in the Age of Digital Travel” will examine how artificial intelligence, social media content and user-generated reviews are reshaping the way travel companies build credibility and maintain customer confidence.

Sustainability will remain a major theme through “The Next Decade of Sustainable Travel”, where industry leaders will discuss responsible tourism strategies, sustainable product development and destination management approaches that create meaningful experiences while supporting long-term growth.

Speakers will include Preethi Sanjeevi, CEO & Co-Founder of Greytt.ai, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, Executive Director of the Meaningful Tourism Centre, Mark Wong, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific at Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Assistant Professor Dr. Kaewta Muangasame, Project Director of Thailand Green Plan 2030 Project, and Director of the Sustainable Tourism Action Center (STAC). The session will be moderated by Vinita Penna, Marketing Manager at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Additional discussions will highlight the importance of storytelling and meaningful experiences. Angeline Tong, Chief Experience Officer at HOL Experiences, will explore how storytelling can transform attractions and destinations into memorable journeys. Meanwhile, Suyin Lee, Managing Director of Discova, will examine the growing demand for slower and more purposeful travel through the session “The Guest Mindset: The Case for Slower, More Purposeful Travel”.

MICE Show Asia Explores The Future Of Business Events And Event Technology

The MICE Show Asia Theatre will examine how the business events sector is adapting through innovation, technology and changing buyer expectations.

The programme will cover topics including event design, return on investment, artificial intelligence, corporate travel and destination competitiveness through sessions such as “Engaging Association Audiences: Designing Events for Learning, Community and Value”, “Redefining Event ROI: Moving from Square-Meter Sales to Performance-Based Engagement” and “The Experience Equation: Designing Business Events That Leave a Real Impact”.

The MICE Destination Leaders’ Panel: Asia on the Global Stage: Attracting the Next Generation of Business Events will feature Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, and Juliana Kagwa, CEO of the Uganda Convention Bureau, with moderation by Banu Kannu, Founder, Designer & Facilitator at uncommon conferences.

Artificial intelligence will also be a major discussion point in “The AI-Ready Event Professional: What MICE Buyers & Suppliers Need to Know About the Next Wave of Event Technology”, featuring Navodit Srivastava, Hospitality Cloud Leader Asia Pacific at Cvent.

Buyer behaviour and corporate travel demands will be analysed through sessions featuring industry experts including Florian Jacque, Co-Founder & CEO of Midstay & MicePro, Pom Corpuz, VP Corporate Travel Consulting – APAC at Chase Travel Corporate Solutions, and Choon Seng Ng, Commercial Payments & Partner Markets Leader at FCM Travel Asia.

Looking towards the future, “Future-Ready or Falling Behind? Preparing for the Next Decade of Events & Experiences” will explore how organisations can prepare for the next generation of business events, with insights from Scott Nodsle, Managing Director International | EMEA & APAC at Encore, and Sharmaine Rose Selvakumar, Director, Head of Event Marketing Asia-Pacific at S&P Global Ratings.

Travel Tech Asia Highlights AI, Automation And Digital Transformation

The Travel Tech Asia Theatre will focus on the technologies reshaping travel, including artificial intelligence, automation, digital discovery and connected mobility solutions.

Key sessions will explore “Innovation Trends in the Travel and Tourism Sector”, “The Next Decade of Flights: AI, Automation, and Operational Efficiency” and “Reimagining Travel in a Technology-First World”.

Lee Siew Kit, Vice President (Technology and IT) at Singapore Cruise Centre, will discuss how digital transformation can create smoother and more integrated travel experiences across air, sea and multimodal transport networks.

The session “The Travel Industry’s Biggest Lies” will challenge traditional assumptions around technology, sustainability, customer behaviour and future growth. The discussion will feature Timothy Hughes, Vice President Corporate Development at Agoda, Kei Shibata, Co-founder of TRAVEL.jp & Trip101, and Brett Henry, President APAC at WebBeds.

Artificial intelligence will remain a central focus through “AI in Travel: Beyond the Hype, Where’s the Value?”. Industry leaders including Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Booking.com, Léa Vernet, Vice President Partnerships & Connectivity at D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, Masahiro Yamashita, Senior Director APAC at KAYAK, and Umang Choudhary, Vice President of Accommodation at Traveloka, will discuss practical AI applications across the travel ecosystem.

Further sessions will explore how AI is transforming traveller searches and hotel marketing strategies, with insights from Edmund Ong, Senior Regional Director Southeast Asia and General Manager Singapore at Trip.com, and Anurag Jain, EVP-APMEA at RateGain & Sojern.

Strong Industry Partnerships Supporting ITB Asia 2026

The ITB Asia 2026 Conference Programme is supported by partnerships with leading global organisations across travel, tourism, sustainability and business events.

Conference partners include the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), Global MICE Collaborative (GMC), Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Tourism Economics – An Oxford Economics Company, uncommon conferences and the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF).

Through these collaborations, ITB Asia 2026 will provide a platform for industry leaders, innovators and decision-makers to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and explore the trends defining the next chapter of travel across Asia-Pacific and the wider global tourism landscape.