Spotlight Travel Expo, a business-to-business platform linking Africa’s travel trade with key suppliers, marked its 26th year in 2026. The event connects airlines, hotels, tour operators, destination management companies and others to facilitate direct commercial engagement across the continent.
Nairobi Hosts Major Regional Gathering
The latest Nairobi edition of the Spotlight Travel Expo took place from September 1 to 3, 2026. It convened more than 350 travel professionals and over 50 exhibitors under one roof. Travel agents attended from across Kenya’s regions including the Coast, Kisumu and Eldoret, with several members of the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) present to expand market connections.
The
event’s tightly structured schedule featured pre-arranged business meetings, product showcases, networking sessions, and prize draws, enabling participants to meet multiple suppliers in a single venue without the need for multiple trade visits or international exhibitions.
B2B Platform Role in MICE Economy
Spotlight Travel Expo operates as a B2B platform focused on generating business appointments rather than just filling space. This approach aligns with the broader Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, where value is created through business transactions and partnerships established between attendees.
Trade shows like Spotlight facilitate introductions between buyers and sellers that evolve into contracts and ongoing commercial relations. This format supports the
travel ecosystem by reducing sales costs and improving access to new markets.
Africa and Kenya’s Business Events Market
Globally, business events attracted around 1.65 billion participants in 2025 and generated US$1.3 trillion in direct spending, according to industry data. The extended impact on business sales totaled US$3.1 trillion with a US$1.8 trillion contribution to GDP.
Africa’s own business-events market accounted for US$23.4 billion in direct spending last year, involving 80.6 million attendees and supporting roughly 328,000 direct jobs. Kenya, hosting 21 international association meetings in 2023, ranks third in Africa for such gatherings. Nairobi stands as one of the continent’s established destinations for business events.
Expansion Under Founder Derek Houston
Since
its inception, the Spotlight Travel Expo series has staged more than 150 editions across over 15 cities in Africa. The platform was developed and is managed by Derek Houston, founder of Houston Travel Marketing Services, who has guided it for 26 years. His objective has been to enhance Pan-African travel trade connections by bringing industry players together.
The Nairobi event showcased this strategy with hundreds of buyers and suppliers engaging within a program designed to maximize commercial conversations.
Mombasa to Host First Spotlight Travel Expo
Continuing its growth within Kenya, the Spotlight Travel Expo will hold its inaugural event in Mombasa on November 26, 2026. This expansion
establishes an additional focal point for Kenya’s travel industry, particularly on the Coast, and increases opportunities for trade interactions in the country.
