Programming

Travel + Leisure is a global brand with leading voices in some of the top destinations in the world. In this panel, the audience will have the chance to hear directly from our esteemed Editors in Chief: Jacqueline Gifford in the U.S., Federico De Cesare Viola in Italy, Jeninne Lee-St. John of Southeast Asia, Barno Ikramova of Central Asia, and Akshita M. Bhanj Deo of South Asia and India.

Today’s travelers have higher expectations, and the experiences offered—safari, curated itineraries, a five-star hotel stay—are drastically varied. So, what does “good service” really look like today? And how can we keep up?

In the past few years, many high-end brands have moved beyond their properties into other areas of the industry. They’ve opened luxury yachts, unveiled private villas, created a “hotel within their hotel,” and even ventured into curated vacations. While of course this gives consumers the chance to travel in new ways with their favorite brand, questions remain, like how will it impact the service offered? Can this model be replicated?

In the ever-evolving travel space, AI is a tool we can harness to better serve our audiences. It’s streamlining the booking process at hotels, making entry into airports easier via facial recognition, and allowing tour operators to better understand their consumers. Here, we will explore how businesses can leverage AI to get—and retain—loyal customers.

Private air travel was once a rare experience for the luxury consumer, but in the past few years, it has become a strategic part of their journey from point A to point B. Whether it’s semi-private or hotel-managed operators, the overall experience has been elevated—both inside the aircraft and outside of it, by saving time and providing access to harder-to-reach resorts. Here, we will hear from experts who are thinking smarter, not harder to maintain connections with today’s traveler.

Today’s luxury traveler is highly focused on intention. From meditation retreats and pilgrimage-inspired itineraries, to choosing destinations rooted in cultural and spiritual heritage, travel is increasingly becoming a vehicle for meaning, connection, and self-discovery. In this panel, we’ll explore how spirituality—both traditional and modern—is influencing where travelers go, how they experience a place, and what they ultimately seek to take home.

The world of social media is constantly evolving. Influencer marketing is now a norm, trends come and go within a single day, and it’s much more challenging to retain an audience than it was even just a few years ago. So, how can travel companies leverage social media to truly make an impact? Who is doing it right? We will answer these questions and more alongside top performers in this space.

The lines of these industries—travel and fashion—are blurring more and more. Whether it’s heading to a destination for fashion week, borrowing luxury consignment at a hotel, or picking up a designer handbag in another country, travelers are getting savvy about their retail spending. How can businesses across categories lean into this trend?

Over half of T+L readers surveyed at the start of 2025 had an “if not now, then when?” mentality about future travel plans. Over the past few years, the desire to seek out remote destinations and one-of-a-kind experiences has only grown. Today’s travelers want to get out of their comfort zone—and they’re going to great lengths to do it. In this panel, hear from leading tour operators, expeditioners, and travel advisors about how to reach consumers who are looking to truly immerse themselves on their next adventure.

A strong brand design is key to the success of any business, and this is especially true in the travel industry. Travel + Leisure magazine, for example, started with the simple idea of showcasing beautiful photos, whereas leading hotels around the world have attracted consumers with striking logos and bold imagery. In this panel, hear from creative directors and team leads about why powerful art and photography are more important now than ever.