Your Ultimate Guide to Must-Attend Travel Events in 2025
Wherever you are in your career, conferences can be a great opportunity to connect, network, discover, and accelerate your growth. A big part of our jobs in travel and hospitality is making strong relationships. The more you show up and see at these conferences or events the more opportunities you’ll have. It's really that simple!
Building lasting relationships
Many professionals see these events with long days outside of traditional work hours as a grind or as unrealistic expectations from the company. However, these are relationships you take with you wherever you go and could last your entire career. Your personal brand and reputation matter more in the long run. Some of the connections made at conferences 15 years ago remain regular collaborators. Kier Matthews and Alle Pierce, profiled in the Travel Jobs Series, are just a few examples of people who I’ve met as a direct result of the relationship-building at these events.
“Attending any of these conferences isn’t just about showing up and collecting business cards — it’s about building relationships and expanding your horizons,” Stephanie Webb, travel expert and guide at Tripshepherd shared.
“These events can be life-changing if you approach them with the right mindset,” Webb continued. “You get out what you put in. Go to the sessions, strike up conversations during coffee breaks, attend the networking mixers, and follow up with the people you meet. You never know what will come of it.”
When you attend these events and go that extra mile, it’s all about your goals. Ask yourself “What do you want to walk away with?” Whether its learning a new skill or connecting with potential clients, ensure you take advantage of the audience in the room. Many of your peers have been in the industry for a long time and there are always opportunities to learn from them and collaborate. Our quick guide can help you prepare for travel conferences to set yourself up for success.
Choose conferences that align with your specialties
To make the most of your time, consider your audience or niche and choose conferences that align with your specialties. This approach allows you to attend seminars tailored to your business and connect with a more targeted group of people.
Murissa Shalapata, blogger and content creator at Foodietown.ca, said, “Clarifying your goals will help you determine which travel conference to attend. My content primarily focuses on Canadian food and travel, with occasional international adventures. That’s why I’ll be attending the TMAC conference in Saskatoon this June. It’s a chance to make lasting, meaningful connections with other creators and writers, which can lead to new opportunities.”
The Trip Whisperer team aims to attend as many events as possible, fostering connections and looking for opportunities to represent our clients in meaningful ways. Since attending several conferences can be expensive and not always feasible, we recommend alternating events each year. Set aside time at the end of the year to reassess, plan your schedule, and establish a budget for the coming year.
There are numerous travel conferences in the works for 2025 so we’ve compiled a guide with the best travel events. These are the travel events that consistently attract high-quality press, content creators, travel agents, leading suppliers, and hoteliers. We also tapped industry experts to share their insights on why they think these particular conferences are a must-attend.
The 2025 Travel Industry Events — in Chronological Order
TravMedia International Media Market (IMM)
When: January 22- February 2, 2024
Where: NYC
Audience: Media and PR/marketing professionals
Why attend: This is the best way to have a full day of insights and panels followed by a day of 1:1 meetings with a curated list of media through a matching system. For visiting New York, this a very effective way to meet with the media.
Stephanie Webb, travel expert and a travel guide at Tripshepherd shared
“IMM is like the gold standard for travel professionals. It’s a place where PR professionals, tourism boards, and journalists come together for one-on-one meetings, which, trust me, can lead to incredible collaborations. I remember attending IMM and landing a partnership with a tourism board that ended up being one of the most successful campaigns of my career. The magic of IMM is in those personal, face-to-face meetings that can quickly turn into lasting relationships. If you’re looking to get your name out there or pitch a project, this is the place to be. It’s like speed dating but for business—and it works!”
“Personally, going to events like IMM has led to partnerships with hotels, tourism boards, and even speaking opportunities that have helped build my credibility in the industry. Plus, the collaborations and career opportunities that stem from just one great conversation at these events can be the turning point for your business,” Webb added.
TravelCon
When: March 14-16, 2025
Where: Tucson, Arizona
Audience: Travel content creators, influencers, journalists, writers, PR and marketing Pros
Why Attend? Learn about different facets of travel media, revenue streams, and working with digital creators.
Jessica Parker, Founder of Trip Whisperer and former organizer of TravelCon
Before the pandemic took us out, I worked with my friend and industry titan Matt Kepnes, the content creator and blogger known as Nomadic Matt, who founded TravelCon. As we held on through the pandemic, we threw one last amazing event in Memphis in 2023 before Matt decided to sell the company. Now the event is back and under new management. The new hosts are putting on their second event in 2025, so we wish them the best of luck and are looking forward to seeing it evolve.
Outdoor Writers Association Conference
When: August 19-21, 2025
Where: Chattanooga, Tenn. at The Read House
Audience: Outdoor travel writers
Why Attend: Network with outdoor travel writers and like-minded brands
Chez Chesak, Executive Director of the Travel Writer’s Association of America and President of the Society of American Travel Writers, shares: “Outdoor media and other professionals attend OWAA’s annual conference to connect, mingle, and learn from more than 250 outdoor storytellers – and the brands that support their work. They will network with other professionals, hone communications skills, find mentors/mentees, and discover more and better ways to sell their work or promote their brand.”
“Conference attendees meet with some of the best outdoor communicators in the country and absorb presentations on writing and editing, photography and videography, broadcast and digital media, the latest tech and newest tactics, and more. Delegates also join pre- and post-tours to get the latest story on (and shots of) outdoor adventures in the region, be it hiking, climbing, hunting, or other outdoor pursuits,” Chesak said.
Women in Travel Summit (WITS)
When: May 16-18
Where: NYC
Audience: Female travel content creators, entrepreneurs, writers and PR/marketing
Why Attend: Connect with an influential female audience
Webb shared, “WITS has a special place in my heart. It’s not just a space for women in the travel industry to connect, but it’s also a supportive community where empowerment is the theme. Whether you’re a blogger, vlogger, entrepreneur, or work in tourism, the event provides workshops, panels, and networking opportunities that feel more like genuine conversations rather than stiff business meetings.”
“I’ve seen friendships and partnerships bloom here, and what’s great about WITS is that you leave feeling inspired. One year, I met another travel entrepreneur at WITS, and we ended up co-hosting a travel retreat for women — something I never would have thought to do without that initial spark from the summit,” she adds.
L.E/Miami
When: May 19-22
Where: Miami, FL
Audience: Luxury travel agents, hotels, and supplier partners; a small vetted list of media
Why Attend: This travel event is made for connections among high-performing travel agents and their respective partners to create amazing trips for clients.
This June, I attended the event as an agent for the first time. L.E./Miami, short for Limited Edition Miami, is the chic travel event that brings together the best in the business. The vibes are on point with the on-site DJ, creative activations, and scintillating trade show displays. It was a great opportunity to pre-select meetings with our preferred partners and those we wanted to get to know. The event is packed with pre-events, evening, and closing parties, so there’s no shortage of networking time. The events and agents are strategically spaced out around the city at the top luxury hotels so we can get a site visit and a chance to review the latest in Miami for our clients. It’s a win-win.
ITB Berlin
When: March 4-6, 2025
Where: Berlin, Germany
Audience: Massive event of travel industry suppliers and B2B sales
Why Attend: Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the leading platform for the global travel and tourism industry. Under the motto "The world of travel lives here," ITB Berlin 2025 once again expects exhibitors and trade visitors from all over the world. Around two-thirds of the exhibitors and nearly half of the participants come from abroad, all with significant decision-making power.
Sandra Weinacht from Inside Europe Travel Experiences considers ITB in Berlin “the mothership of all travel conferences. While no longer as huge as it used to be, it’s still THE conference I attend annually to see and meet a lot if not all the world's destinations in one place.”
ITB is an immense show at one of the largest convention centers, so comfortable shoes are a must! I’ve been a couple of times and don’t recommend winging it as a lot is happening simultaneously. Instead, try to set up a schedule ahead of time with those you want to connect with.
Africa’s Travel Indaba
When: May 12-14, 2025
Where: Durban, SA
Audience: Leisure travel for Africa travel specialists and their partners
Why Attend: It’s an iconic African leisure trade show, owned by South African Tourism that showcases the continent’s vast array of tourism opportunities. The three-day event caters to travel buyers and suppliers as well as a select group of media.
As a leader in sustainable tourism in Africa, our client Warren Green & Associates always attends with his hand-selected client portfolio.
“Every year, we make the annual pilgrimage to connect with our long-standing partners and future ones. This is the event to broker many impactful deals and continue creating awareness of key initiatives. I’m tasked with supporting this incredible bunch of folks through my network and knowledge in the market. It's a joy to come each year when you love who you work with. Last year, we found it even more invigorated in spirit and attendance, so we can’t wait to return in 2025,” said Warren Green, Founder of Warren Green & Associates.
PRSA 2025 Travel and Tourism Conference
When: June 2 – 5, 2025
Where: Tampa, FL
Audience: Travel PR professionals and media
Why Attend: The conference is beneficial to attend as an in-house or agency; the event lends better to those with larger budgets and public relations teams
Joleen Zanuzoski, Chair-Elect, PRSA Travel & Tourism Section says people should consider the event to, “Engage with the nation’s top travel media, thought leaders and strategists at the PRSA Travel and Tourism annual conference.
“In addition to building a nationwide network of travel and tourism colleagues, conference attendees gather trends, forecasts, and fresh perspectives while tracking the evolving media landscape and refining their craft as strategic communicators, Zanuzoski adds.”
TBEX North America
When: June 16-19, 2025
Where: Québec City, Canada
Audience: Travel bloggers, content creators, and writers along with PR and brand sponsors
Why Attend: It’s a great place for bloggers to learn, connect and develop relationships that can lead to collaborations as well as FAM trips, destination and brand partnerships.
My colleague at Trip Whisperer and travel publicist, Stephanie Aviles shared, “We attended the 2024 TBEX Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico with Trip Whisperer client Vamos Rent-A-Car and it was an insightful experience that allowed us to connect with many travel bloggers and content creators, many of which we’re already working with! Beyond relationship-building, the educational seminars also allowed us to get a sense of what some of these bloggers are focusing on and are currently looking for in terms of collaborations and campaigns. The community at TBEX is tight-knit with many returning attendees and for good reason – it’s a welcoming space where people are truly seeking to collaborate and are open to new opportunities.”
Shalapata adds, “TBEX North America will be in Quebec City this year. It is a great opportunity to connect with creators and brands from North America and worldwide. I attended TBEX Dublin in 2013 when I first started as a blogger. Ironically, it led me to work with Canadian tourism boards from my own home province as well as apartment stays in Paris, France, and food tours in Venice, Italy. But it took meeting the effort to traveling to Ireland to make those connections. It was an eye-opener in terms of learning just how big blogging was back then. Now with the addition of TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube, plus the huge changes to the Google update, it is important to understand where your audience is hanging out and how you can stay on top of the ever-changing landscape within the tourism field."
Travel+Leisure Summit
When: TBA in July, 2025
Where: Dotdash HQ in Manhattan
Audience: The travel editors lead the panels of industry thought leaders and titans. Those of us in the audience are made up of travel PR, marketing, tourism brands, and DotDash partners.
Why Attend: It’s a great way to get an overview of the latest trends, key players, and network.
This year, the publisher of DotDash decided to pair their annual World’s Best Awards with a two-day Summit at its headquarters. It was an incredible lineup of speakers from top leadership at world-renowned brands! There was time for breaks, lunch networking, and happy hour on-site. As my client Alluring Africa was accepting the coveted World’s Best Safari Outfitter award, we made a point to come up early and host meetings, and take advantage of a few days rubbing elbows with the editors and partners.
Virtuoso Travel Week
When: August 9-15, 2025
Where: Las Vegas, NV
Audience: Luxury travel advisors, hotels, tour operators, and suppliers apart of the invite-only Consortia Virtuoso; there is typically a larger showing of hand-picked media at this event and an annual press conference revealing trends, a study and insights from thought-leaders
Why Attend: This legacy event has been the top luxury event for travel agents for years. So much so that the Virtuoso team has dubbed it the fashion week of travel.
As a Virtuoso member through my new agency Cadence Travel, our team can attend, so I asked my colleague and long-time friend Karen Loftus who went last year to share some insights.
Karen Loftus, writer and travel advisor at Women's Adventure Travels (part of Cloud 10 Travel, an independent affiliate of Cadence Travel) shares:
“After twenty years as an avid travel writer, I am no stranger to robust and buzzy travel conferences. However, Virtuoso Travel Week (VTW) 2024 was the first travel conference I attended as a travel advisor. It was a deep dive into the luxury travel world. VTW's dynamic weeklong format included four intense days of well-appointed, meticulously timed meetings from morning to lunch, leaving time for fun, meetings, meals, and other events throughout the afternoon.”
“There were several comprehensive networking opportunities day to night, insightful presentations, and endless opportunities to connect with colleagues and to educate yourself on several levels,” she continued.
“It was profoundly educational and wildly inspirational, celebrating the excellence and success of the top people, properties, and places in the Luxury Travel Landscape, and it was fun! Simon Sinek and Martin Luther King III were a part of the opening, and Wicked's Cynthia Erivo was the star of the closing ceremony. It is hard to imagine how they seamlessly produced something on this scale. I can't wait for next year!” Loftus said.
PURE
When: September 8-11, 2025
Where: Morocco, Marrakech
Audience: Luxury travel advisors and supplier partners; hand-picked media
Why Attend: PURE Life Experiences is the world’s leading experiential travel show, and a community with the attitude, commitment, and belief that travel can be more than just an industry. Every year we bring experiential travel’s most inspiring names together in Marrakech; to build relationships and find new ways of doing business while Changing Worlds, for both travelers and local communities.
When you attend events like this, you find like-minded professionals. The organizers at PURE promote the event as a chance to “bolster business opportunities with meetings worth your time, where every conversation produces new possibilities. Fill your diary with up to 42 meetings with the most relevant names from our handpicked community, so that you can open new avenues, learn to profit while protecting the planet, and help travel be a force for good, together.”
Skift Global Forum
When: September 16-18, 2025
Where: NYC
Audience: Travel industry ranging from PR, marketing, tour operators, airlines and hotels
Why Attend: As the travel industry trendy publication, Skift laid its stake in the ground many years ago as the event to attend for B2B insights, leadership panels, and networking
It’s been a while since I attended this event when I was living in New York City, however, it always brings in the top influencers, travel data, and insights that support our strategy and direction. It’s worth a visit if you have the budget since it can be an investment. Leverage that corporate card if you have one!
ARIVAL 360
When: September 30 - October 3, 2025
Where: Washington, DC
Audience: Coined as every supplier partner in destination, so tours, experiences, suppliers, and the technology that powers them
Why Attend: If you’re a destination or product provider, this is the place for ideas, partnerships, growth, and more to scale your business.
Back in 2017, I attended the first Arival event in Las Vegas. With any big new event, I’m curious about the audience, value, and attraction. It was an impressive inaugural event, and I heard that it continues to be so. The founders are those from PhocusWright and have key research backgrounds, which is why we all found it so insightful. Put this one on your radar if you’re working on the on-location supplier side and looking for distribution and partners.
Events are still being added to the calendar for next year so if we missed any that you think we should add, reach out and contact us.
