Join us for the New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit
34th Floor, The Shard, London on Thursday, July 3, 2025
Event Information
It’s a new era for the travel industry, and with new destinations come new challenges. Just five years ago, global travel came to a standstill. The pandemic reshaped tourism as we knew it - economically, culturally, and operationally. Now, in 2025, the industry is not only back on its feet, but again breaking records!
Newsweek invites you to the New Destinations Summit: a one-day, invite-only event at London’s iconic Shard. We are gathering the top CEOs, strategists, marketers, innovators and academics from across the travel industry for a day of insights and exchange. From keynote speeches and thought-provoking panel discussions to networking opportunities. Our conversations will focus on:
- The modern traveler: top destinations, emerging trends, shifting expectations
- A resilient industry: new strategies for changing geographies and economics
- Travel’s toughest new challenges: Sustainability, AI, and Regulations
Whether you set the strategy or execute the vision, this is the room to be in if you’re a change-maker in the travel industry. Join fellow executives for a rare chance to get ahead of the curve, build meaningful partnerships, and shape the future of travel.
Speakers
Selahattin Bilgen
CEO of Istanbul Grand Airport
Istanbul is the busiest airport in Europe
Soo Kim
Senior Reporter at Newsweek
Xiaoma
Social Media Influencer.
Xiaoma, Speaks in excess of 30 languages and has over 6.7 million subscribers on YouTube
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Senior Editor at Newsweek
René Frey
CEO of Rough Guides and Insight Guides
Professor Xavier Font
Professor at University of Surrey,
Editor in Chief,
Journal of Sustainable Tourism
Paul Griffiths
CEO of Dubai Airports
Steve Hill
President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Jane Sun (Virtual)
CEO of Trip.com Group
Simon Calder
Travel Journalist & Broadcaster
Britain’s leading travel commentator
Maeve Scanlon, ESq.
Vice President of Business Affairs, THG
Aaron J. Salā,
PhD, CEO of the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau
“Global Regenerative Tourism Leader”
Our Partners
İGA (Istanbul Grand Airport) delivering the airport experience of future, today. To be a global hub that offers the most comfortable and seamless travel experience to all its stakeholders around the world.
It was established in 2013 to build and operate Istanbul Airport for 25 years. Located 35 kilometers from the city center, it will have a capacity of 200 million passengers annually when fully completed.
Enter Air is one of Europe’s fastest-growing charter airlines and the largest private carrier in Poland. Founded in 2010, it was profitable from the very first flight. Enter Air now operates a 30-strong fleet serving more than 200 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. CEO Grzegorz Polaniecki credits the airline’s success to its laser focus on efficiency and on costs.
We're the performers, builders, makers and ambassadors. The workers who make it all work. When we're needed, we stay. When we're done, we play. That's what it takes to keep this the most exciting city on Earth. It's Vegas, baby! And we make anything possible - every night of the week. It may not be our names up in the lights, but what we do is famous.
The Landmark Trust is a UK charity that restores historic buildings—like castles, forts, and cottages—and turns them into holiday rentals. Stays in these unique properties help fund the preservation of Britain’s architectural heritage.
Audience
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Agenda
Thursday, July 3, 2025
| 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM |
Registration with tea & coffee
|
| 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM |
Welcome address by Amit Shah, EVP of Newsweek and keynote remarks by Simon Calder
|
| 9:45 AM – 10:10 AM |
Fireside chat with Arieh Smith (Xiaomanyc), Polyglot and YouTuber (w/ Adil AlI)
|
| 10:10 AM – 10:35 AM |
Fireside Chat with Steve Hill, CEO, Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority (w/ Eileen Falkenburg-Hull)
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| 10:35 AM – 11:00 AM |
Fireside Chat with Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group (Virtual) (w/ Adil Ali)
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| 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
Tea, coffee and biscuits break
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| 11:30 AM – 12:25 PM |
Panel 1 - New Destinations - Where Next?
Moderator: Simon Calder (Broadcaster)
Panellists:
We are born with an urge to see what’s over the next hill. Where are we travelling in 2025 and where in the years to come? This panel will explore new horizons and investigate emerging trends. We’ll get a handle on where the travel industry is set to grow and what are the future opportunities for the tourists of tomorrow.
Something to think about: Travellers increasingly want to visit new destinations and immerse themselves in indigenous cultures while leaving a lighter footprint - how can the travel industry meet these competing demands? Should tourism boards prioritise the development of undiscovered destinations? Is limiting visitor numbers to prevent over-tourism the right approach? How best to listen and respond to local concerns. Why not spread the load and let algorithms decide where we go? Should tourism boards prioritise the development of undiscovered destinations? Is limiting visitor numbers to prevent over-tourism the right approach? How best to listen and respond to local concerns. Why not spread the load and let algorithms decide where we go? |
| 12:25 PM – 12:50 PM |
Fireside Chat with Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports Company (w/ Simon Calder)
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| 12:50 PM – 1:50 PM |
Lunch
|
| 1:50 PM – 2:45 PM |
Panel 2 - Preserving Paradise - sustainability and travel
Moderator: Eileen Falkenburg-Hull (Senior Editor, Newsweek) Panellists: This panel will examine how to balance visitor growth with ecosystem and community wellbeing: What innovative practices—from regenerative tourism to data-driven impact tracking—can reduce carbon footprints and protect cultural integrity? How can technology and partnerships drive transparency, accountability and long-term resilience? Join us for actionable insights and case studies on steering travel toward a truly sustainable future. Food for thought: |
| 2:45 PM – 3:40 PM |
Panel 3 - Tomorrow’s Traveller: Economics, Operations and AI
Moderator: Adil Ali (Head of Travel Content, Newsweek) Panellists This panel will look into the digital transformation. How do we leverage the benefits of AI in tourism? What are the potential pitfalls? How can we enhance the travel experience? How can companies ensure operational excellence in one of the most complex industries in the world whilst utilising new and uncertain technologies? – - – – – |
| 3:40 PM – 3:50 PM |
Closing remarks
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| 3:50 PM – |
Networking, drinks & entertainment
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Venue
Shangri-La, The Shard, London Bridge
32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG
For any questions, please reach out to events@newsweek.com