Top Travel Industry Events in 2022

The travel industry came an awfully long way in 2021 and as the calendar flips to 2022, travel professionals can once again look forward to more in-person events, including global summits and conventions organized by leading groups such as the American Society of Travel Advisors and the World Travel & Tourism Council as well as can't-miss awards ceremonies like the annual Travvys, otherwise known as the Academy Awards of the Travel Industry. Here's a look at some of the most notable events on the horizon.

The World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) FITUR has been dubbed the global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Latin America. This year, the event will take place in Madrid, Spain from January 19-23, 2022.

Unfortunately, the in-person experience at ITB Berlin will not take place in 2022 following an announcement last month. "We are doing everything to support a travel industry hard-hit by the pandemic and in 2022 are planning a series of additional services and events in virtual and in-person formats," said Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin.

The annual World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit is routinely attended by key industry leaders as well as important government representatives. This year's three-day event will be held in Manila, the Philippines from March 14-16.

The Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) was originally scheduled to take place November 8-10, 2021, as a hybrid in-person/virtual event but will be rescheduled for sometime in early 2022. "JAPEX has traditionally been an in-person event, however, the global pandemic had moved us to change its structure to a hybrid event," said Director of Tourism, Jamaica, Donovan White. "However, it is our hope that by delaying the event, we may be able to generate robust in-person attendance for JAPEX when it takes place early next year."

Cruise360 is Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) biggest professional development event of the year and will take place from March 29 to April 3, 2022. This year's attendees at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida can look forward to not only ship inspections but stellar networking opportunities and insights into the latest industry trends.

Elsewhere in South Florida, Seatrade Cruise Global will return to the Miami Beach Convention Center from April 25-28, 2022. The annual event is attended by 80-plus cruise line brands, more than 140 countries and offers attendees dozens of hours of networking.

The Global Travel Marketplace connecting the most influential travel advisors in North America with global travel suppliers in face-to-face meetings and boardroom sessions will take place at The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood in South Florida from July 28-30, 2022. Meanwhile, GTM West will be held at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona from May 2-4, 2022.

U.S. Travel Association's IPW 2022 is scheduled to take place June 4-8, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. "As the leading inbound travel trade show, past IPWs have generated more than $5.5 billion in future travel by connecting U.S. travel exhibitors with travel buyers and media to promote their product and negotiate future business, securing America's position as a foremost global travel destination and showcasing the best of what the U.S. has to offer."

Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas offers attendees personal networking appointments, extensive professional development opportunities, community globetrotting and much more. In 2022, guests can choose from two experiences, including an in-person option or a virtual experience from August 14-19.

One of the essential industry events for travel agency professionals, the American Society of Travel Advisors' (ASTA) annual Global Convention will be held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square from August 24-26 in 2022. Right now, travel advisors can take advantage of super early bird rates before the price increases on February 1.

Both travel suppliers and advisors will also want to mark their calendars for the upcoming Future Leaders in Travel Retreat set to take place at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos in Mexico from August 28-31, 2022.

IMEX America will return to Las Vegas for three days this fall from October 11-13. The trade show will take place at the iconic Mandalay Bay, with doors opening by 9 a.m. each day.

The 38th annual IGLTA Global Convention is slated to take place in Milan, Italy from October 26-29, 2022 and early registration is now open. "The opportunity to network with suppliers and partners who specialize in the LGBTQ+ space is worth attending the conference alone," said Scott Wismont, CTA Rainbow Getaways.

South Florida's Broward County Convention Center will also host Travel Weekly's CruiseWorld from November 2-4, 2022. The three-day event will feature plentiful networking opportunities in addition to educational workshops and exhibitor showcases.

The Travvy Awards will return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for their eighth year on November 2, 2022. The Oscars of the Travel Industry recognize the top suppliers, destinations, technology providers and attractions as chosen by those who know them best, travel agents.

The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) Annual Conference and Marketplace will be held at the JW Marriott Austin from November 28 to December 2, 2022. Highlights will include a business casual atmosphere for a small select group of 700 travel professionals; direct and unprecedented access to travel industry leaders and decision-makers; highly informative speaker sessions and insight into the North American travel market and the latest factors and trends affecting the industry and travelers across the globe.

Luxury travel specialists won't want to miss ILTM's many events in 2022. "Alongside the global flagship events in Cannes and Asia Pacific, ILTM has three core local events; ILTM Arabia, ILTM Latin America and ILTM North America, as well as one specialist event; ILTM Africa." ILTM LATAM will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from May 3-6, followed by ILTM APAC in Singapore from June 20-23. Meanwhile, travel advisors in the U.S., Canada and Mexico can meet international luxury travel brands at ILTM NAM in Riviera Maya, Mexico from September 19-22, 2022.

World Travel Market remains one of the biggest travel conferences in the world. They host multiple events around the world, but it's the event in London every November that remains on top. In 2022, the WTM London is scheduled to take place November 7-9.

Jacki Marks, Executive Vice President of ALG confirmed that the ALG Ascend Conference will return to Cancun, Mexico in 2022.
At the end of the 2021 event, Marks said: "We've already secured our dates to be back here in Cancun. We will be announcing them shortly to get advisors excited and holding the dates. We don't want people to get their calendars filled up before they can join us, and I'm hopeful that I think we've built up so much buzz that we're going to have probably more interest than we have available spaces, so we're going to have to think about how we choose the advisors this time. We were selective still in the advisors we chose this time, we want people who are invested in us or willing to grow with us, but yeah, we're already thinking about how to make sure that we bring and deliver another great conference next year."