WTE Miami 2026 (October 27 to 28, 2026) will host the largest international gathering of travel and tourism products in the US this year. The event will bring together more than 7,000 travel professionals, including travel advisors, tour operators, destinations, airlines, hotels, DMCs and travel technology providers from over 70 countries.
Following Fairfest Media's acquisition and investment into the 2026 edition, the event continues to evolve with a stronger international focus and enhanced buyer quality.
We speak to distinguished exhibitions leader Simon Press, who recently joined as Managing Director, International at Fairfest Media, for more details on the upcoming show.
WTE Miami 2026 combines a global exhibition with a comprehensive conference programme centred on the Travel Advisor of the Future, exploring AI, emerging travel trends, and changing consumer behaviour. The exhibitors and delegates, including 300 hosted buyers and VIPs, will participate in pre-scheduled business meetings, creating valuable opportunities for exhibitors to engage with influential US buyers.
Please tell us about your journey in the lead up to your latest role.
I've spent more than two decades leading some of the world's largest international exhibitions, including many years with RX, where I had the privilege of directing World Travel Market London and Arabian Travel Market. I then moved to CloserStill media where I led the repositioning of their global tech portfolio of events. Joining Fairfest Media presented an exciting opportunity to help shape the next chapter of travel and tourism trade show growth in the US, launching events in India and other geos, whilst bringing high-potential event IPs to India.
I have loved working in partnership with many destinations, brands and people from the Middle East and it is a region that I truly admire and love. The Middle East continues to lead the way in innovation, investment and ambition within global tourism.
I'd like to personally invite the travel and tourism industry from across the region to join us at WTE Miami. We look forward to welcoming you to Miami Beach Convention Center October 27 to 28, 2026, creating new partnerships and showcasing the opportunities that exist within one of the world's most important travel markets.
Who are the main exhibitors at WTE Miami 2026?
WTE Miami attracts a broad mix of national tourism organisations, convention bureaus, airlines, hotel groups, DMCs, attractions and travel technology companies. The Middle East remains an important growth market, and we're starting to see increasing interest from tourism boards, airlines and hospitality brands from across the GCC. With growing air connectivity to the region and a return in growing outbound travel from the US to the GCC, we expect Middle Eastern participation to continue increasing in the years ahead.
Tell us about your hosted buyer programme featuring 500+ buyers.
Our hosted buyer programme is designed to connect exhibitors with qualified travel advisors, tour operators and travel buyers actively seeking new destinations and products. The primary focus is the influential US travel trade. We are doubling the number of hosted buyers compared to the previous edition showing the investment to increase the ROI for all that participate in WTE Miami.
What topics will be explored at this year's conference programme?
The conference programme focuses on preparing delegates for the future of travel. Topics include AI and digital transformation, the Travel Advisor of the Future, luxury and experiential travel, destination marketing, sustainability, traveller trends, aviation, sales and marketing, and emerging source markets. Sessions are designed to provide practical insights that delegates can immediately apply to grow their businesses.
We love this year's key theme – 'Travel Advisor of the Future'. Why is this relevant now more than ever before?
The role of the travel advisor has changed dramatically. Today's advisors are trusted consultants, entrepreneurs and destination experts who help clients navigate an increasingly complex travel landscape. AI and digital tools are transforming how travel is researched and booked, but they're also creating new opportunities for advisors to deliver greater value through expertise and personalised service. The Travel Advisor of the Future is about embracing technology while strengthening the human skills that technology cannot replace. WTE Miami has been designed to equip advisors with the knowledge, tools and industry connections they need to remain relevant and successful in the years ahead.
Why do travel advisors continue to hold their own in a landscape dominated by direct booking and online marketplaces?
Technology has made booking travel easier, but it hasn't replaced the value of expert human advice. Today's travellers increasingly seek authentic experiences, complex itineraries and reassurance when plans change. That's where travel advisors excel. They offer trusted human recommendations, personal relationships and access to products and experiences that aren't always available through online and AI channels. The pandemic reinforced the importance of having an expert to rely on, and that trust continues to drive demand for professional human advice. The most successful advisors are embracing technology to enhance their service rather than compete with it, making them more valuable than ever.
With Fairfest Media's acquisition of WTE Miami, how will it affect the scale, size, reach and content of the show?
Fairfest Media brings decades of experience delivering internationally recognised travel trade exhibitions. The acquisition strengthens WTE Miami's international reach, expands buyer and exhibitor recruitment and enhances the conference programme. Our focus is on increasing the quality of business opportunities while creating a truly global marketplace that connects the U.S. travel trade with destinations and suppliers from around the world.
As Managing Director of International Markets, what's the direction you hope to lead the show towards?
My ambition is for WTE Miami to become the leading international marketplace connecting the U.S. travel trade with the world. That means investing in the Travel Advisor of the Future, attracting high-quality buyers and exhibitors, expanding international participation and ensuring the event delivers measurable commercial value for every delegate who attends. We are looking at developing further our presence in the US in 2027.
Are you also tasked with expanding Fairfest Media's portfolio? Will we see you in the Middle East with a new show?
I have very fond recent memories of working with many people and brands from across the Middle East. Part of my role is identifying international growth opportunities for Fairfest Media. We're always evaluating markets and industries where we believe we can add genuine value. We are also actively approaching existing event IP to take the events into India. The Middle East remains an incredibly important region for global tourism, so it's certainly a market we'll continue to engage with closely and have already started to have exploratory conversations.
What are the key challenges leading up to WTE Miami this year?
Like every international event, we're operating in a dynamic environment shaped by economic uncertainty, geopolitics and changing travel patterns. Our focus is ensuring we continue to attract high-quality buyers and exhibitors while delivering clear commercial value. Strong partnerships and a truly pre-qualified hosted and semi hosted buyer strategy with AI powered pre-event networking will make the event resilient despite changing market conditions.
What's the outlook for US inbound and outbound travel?
Despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical developments, the US remains the world's largest outbound travel market. WTE Miami provides the opportunity to capitalise on this. Whilst also giving US domestic travel the opportunity to flourish and grow. Consumer demand for travel continues to be strong, although travellers are becoming more value-conscious and selective. This creates opportunities for destinations and travel businesses that can clearly demonstrate unique experiences and value.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth?
Technology will continue to reshape the industry, particularly AI, but I believe the biggest opportunities lie where technology enhances the customer experience rather than replaces it. WTE Miami is providing a platform for the whole US travel industry to gather, network, learn and do business supporting and driving growth in a sustainable manner.