The ITB Asia Conference 2026 took place from October 21 to 23 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific, the event focused on the theme “Experiences in Motion: Human-Centred Design in Travel & Tourism.” Over 150 leaders from the travel, tourism, and meetings industries gathered to explore innovations addressing changing traveller expectations and new technologies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Conference Theatres and Key Topics Covered
The conference concentrated on leisure, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), corporate travel, and travel technology across three dedicated stages: Knowledge Theatre, MICE Show Asia Theatre, and Travel Tech Asia Theatre.
The agenda included presentations, panels, and case studies on market trends, Chinese outbound tourism, sustainability, luxury travel, artificial intelligence (AI), data utilization, emerging technologies, experience design, and the future of business events.
Industry Leaders and Focus Areas
Prominent participants included Darren Seah, Executive Director of Messe Berlin Asia Pacific; Sarah Fox, Vice President Southeast Asia for Disney Cruise Line; Wen Ciu Lee, Head of Asia Pacific at Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services; Isha Goyal, Director & CEO of STIC Travel Group; and Preethi Sanjeevi, CEO & Co-Founder of Greytt.ai. They addressed cruise industry futures, sustainability integration, digital reputation management, purposeful travel trends, and the deployment
of AI in travel experiences.
Other notable contributors were Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt from Meaningful Tourism Centre; Mark Wong of Small Luxury Hotels of the World; Assistant Professor Dr. Kaewta Muangasame from Thailand’s Sustainable Tourism Action Center; and Vinita Penna from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, who spoke on embedding responsible practices throughout travel and destination management.
Focus on Human-Centred Travel Design
Darren Seah emphasized that the conference’s human-centred design approach reflects the evolving needs of travellers alongside technological innovations and changing business models. The event provided a platform for exchanging insights and practical knowledge to identify new growth opportunities across travel, tourism, and
MICE sectors.
Partnerships and Industry Collaboration
The conference programme was shaped by partnerships with key associations including the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Global MICE Collaborative, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Tourism Economics (an Oxford Economics company), uncommon conferences, and the World Tourism Cities Federation. These collaborations ensured comprehensive coverage of issues influencing sustainable and innovative travel practices in the region.
Asia-Pacific Innovation and Travel Industry Dialogue
ITB Asia Conference 2026 reinforced its role as a premier knowledge exchange platform focusing on Asia-Pacific travel innovation. Sessions across the three theatres discussed AI, corporate travel demands, event technology, sustainability, and market shifts driven by digital natives. The event highlighted practical adaptations in destinations,
hospitality, and business travel to evolving consumer behaviors and technological advancements.
