LONDON’S GLOBAL INFLUENCE ON TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY TAKES CENTER STAGE AT TWO-DAY SUMMIT
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Travel + Leisure, a People Inc. brand, will bring its World’s Best Summit to London for the first time on October 27 and 28, 2026. Marking the first international edition of the New York–based B2B thought-leadership event, the sold-out summit will convene executives, travel advisors, and industry leaders to explore the trends and ideas shaping the future of travel.
Curated by Travel + Leisure editor in chief Jacqueline Gifford, the London edition builds on the momentum of three annual World’s Best Summits in New York, with conversations spanning media and AI, hospitality and design, emerging consumer trends, and the evolving luxury traveler. With its global connectivity and longstanding position as an international travel hub, London provides a natural home for the Summit’s first international expansion. The event will take place in the heart of London at Dorchester Collection‘s flagship The Dorchester, fresh from its bold renovation.
“There are few cities that bring together travel, hospitality, design, and culture quite like London, making it an exciting destination for our first international World’s Best Summit,” said Jacqueline Gifford, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure. “The program brings together different perspectives to explore some of the biggest trends shaping travel today and what they mean for the future.”
Featured speakers and panelists at the World’s Best Summit London include Sean Ghouse (director of retail, Fortnum & Mason), Kit Kemp (creative director, Kit Kemp Design Studio & co-founder, Firmdale Hotels), Anna Kloots (entrepreneur & author), Sheila Kyarisiima (founder, The Pinnacle Kigali), Tom Marchant (co-founder, Black Tomato), Marie-Louise Sciò (CEO & creative director, Pellicano Hotel Group), Sunaina Sethi (co-founder, JKS Restaurants), Dr. Barbara Sturm (founder, Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics), Ben Trodd (CEO, Four Seasons Yachts), Luca Virgilio (area general manager & global director of residences, Dorchester Collection), Neil Vogel (CEO, People Incorporated), and more.
Highlights from the programming include:
- The Power of Place: In Conversation with Alan Cumming: Award-winning actor, producer, and host Alan Cumming will join Jacqueline Gifford for a conversation about his decades-long career, the power of the arts, and the role destinations play in creative success.
- Ask an Editor in Chief: Top editors representing four Travel + Leisure editions from around the world will come together to share their perspectives on the trends shaping travel in their respective regions, from evolving preferences to the destinations and experiences capturing attention.
- The Future of Influence—Media, AI, and the New Luxury Traveler: Jacqueline Gifford will lead a conversation with Neil Vogel, CEO of People Incorporated, and Jonathan Roberts, chief innovation officer of People Inc., that explores how changing consumer behaviors and emerging technologies are reshaping media, travel, and culture.
- Game Theory: When Play Becomes the Amenity: From padel courts and pickleball leagues to chess lounges, industry leaders will explore how sports, competition, and play-driven programming are influencing travel decisions.
- The Power of Slow Travel: Whether it’s river cruising or train travel, travelers are increasingly seeking immersive and culturally rich ways to see the world. Industry leaders will explore what’s driving the growth of slow travel and how the industry is responding.
Sponsors of the 2026 World’s Best Summit London include Accor Vacation Club, Destination Canada, Dorchester Collection, Explora Journeys, Explore Charleston, Hyatt Inclusive Collection, Minor Hotels, and New Orleans & Company.
For additional information about the event, please visit https://worldsbestsummit.com/london.
ABOUT TRAVEL + LEISURE
Travel + Leisure is the preeminent voice for the sophisticated traveler, serving up expert intelligence and the most immersive travel lifestyle content anywhere. Travel + Leisure captures the joy of discovering the cultural pleasures the world has to offer, from art and design to shopping and style to food and drink. Travel + Leisure connects with its audience across platforms including the U.S. flagship and seven international print editions, digital channels, the annual World’s Best franchise, and more. Launched in 1971, Travel + Leisure is part of the People Inc. publishing family (NASDAQ: PPLI) and is owned by Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE: TNL).
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