London’s global influence on travel and hospitality takes center stage at two-day summit
new york, September 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Travel + Leisure, a brand of People Inc., will host its first ever World’s Best Summit in London on October 27 and 28, 2026. As the first international edition of the New York-based B2B thought leadership event, the sold-out summit brings together 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 the three annual World’s Best Summits in New York, with conversations about media and AI, hospitality and design, emerging consumer trends, and the evolving luxury traveler. London’s global connections and long-standing position as a hub for international travel make it the perfect location for the Summit’s first international expansion. The event will be held at The Dorchester, The Dorchester Collection’s flagship, which has recently undergone a bold refurbishment in the heart of London.
Jacqueline Gifford, editor-in-chief of Travel and Leisure magazine, said: “Few cities bring together travel, hospitality, design and culture like London, making it the exciting destination for the first international World’s Best Summit.” “This program brings together a variety of perspectives to explore the biggest trends shaping travel today and what they mean for the future.”
Featured speakers and panelists at World’s Best Summit London include: Sean Gohouse (Fortnum & Mason, Director of Retail) kit kemp (Kit Kemp Design Studio Creative Director and Firmdale Hotels Co-Founder) Anna Kloots (entrepreneur, writer), sheila kalisima (Founder, Pinnacle Kigali), tom merchant (Co-founder, Black Tomato), Marie-Louise Sio (Pellicano Hotel Group CEO and Creative Director) Sunaina Sethi (Co-founder of JKS Restaurant) Dr. Barbara Sturm (Founder, Dr. Barbara Sturm) Ben Trodd (Four Seasons Yacht CEO) Luca Virgilio (Area General Manager and Global Director of Residences, Dorchester Collection), neil vogel (CEO of People Incorporated) etc.
Programming highlights include:
- The power of place: A conversation with Alan Cumming: Award-winning actor, producer, and host Alan Cumming joins Jacqueline Gifford to discuss his decades-long career, the power of art, and the role destinations play in creative success.
- Let’s ask the editor-in-chief. Top editors representing the four Travel + Leisure editions from around the world come together to share their perspectives on the trends shaping travel in their respective regions, from evolving tastes to hot destinations and experiences.
- The future of influence — media, AI, and the new luxury traveler: Jacqueline Gifford leads a conversation with Neil Vogel, CEO of People Incorporated, and Jonathan Roberts, Chief Innovation Officer of People, to explore how changing consumer behaviors and emerging technologies are reshaping media, travel, and culture.
- Game theory: When play becomes an amenity: From padel courts and pickleball leagues to chess lounges, industry leaders explore how programs centered around sport, competition and play influence travel decisions.
- Power of slow travel: Whether it’s river rafting or rail travel, travelers are increasingly looking for immersive and culturally rich ways to see the world. Industry leaders explore what’s driving slow travel growth and how the industry is responding.
Sponsors of World’s Best Summit London 2026 include Accor Vacation Club, Destination Canada, The Dorchester Collection, Explorer Journeys, Explore Charleston, Hyatt Inclusive Collection, Minor Hotels, and New Orleans & Company.
See below for event details.
About travel + leisure
Travel + Leisure is the premier voice for sophisticated travelers, providing expertise and the most immersive travel lifestyle content anywhere. Travel + Leisure captures the joy of discovering the cultural delights the world has to offer, from art and design to shopping and style, food and drink. Travel + Leisure connects with audiences across its platforms, including its U.S. flagship and seven international print editions, digital channels, its annual World’s Best franchise, and more. Founded in 1971, Travel + Leisure is part of the People Inc. family of publishers (NASDAQ: PPLI) and owned by Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE: TNL).
SOURCE People Co., Ltd.
