From artificial intelligence to luxury hospitality and the rise of purposeful travel, the 2026 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Summit revealed an interesting insight. While technology is transforming tourism, the journeys that matter most are defined by authenticity and a sense of belonging.
Over two days, the 2026 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Summit – New York City brought together many of the tourism industry’s most influential leaders to explore what lies ahead. Panels at the summit, held July 14 and 15 at the magazine’s NYC headquarters, examined everything from AI-powered travel planning and personalised hospitality to LGBTQ+ travel, wellness tourism, storytelling, and the changing definition of luxury.
Underlying each conversation, a similar sentiment emerged: While technology will continue to transform how we travel, the future of the tourism industry will ultimately continue to be defined by something far more touching – real, human connection.
Storytelling inspires travel
Opening the summit, Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford welcomed Barry Diller, Chairman and Senior Executive of the magazine’s parent company, People Incorporated, and Expedia Group, for a conversation that set the tone for the event.
For an industry driven by experiences, storytelling remains one of travel’s most powerful currencies. “Everything is about storytelling,” Diller said. “There is nothing if there is not a story behind it.”
His observation resonated throughout the panels. Whether it is ‘The White Lotus’ effect inspiring a surge in travellers to Thailand, Sicily and Hawaii, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour filling hotels across continents, or global sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games drawing millions together, stories continue to shape how and why people travel.
Belonging is the new luxury
For decades, luxury was defined by grand suites, impeccable service, and lavish amenities. Today, guests are seeking something far less tangible but infinitely more memorable: They want to feel genuinely understood.
Jo Bailes, Chief Sales Officer at Singita, explained that the luxury safari collection company’s philosophy extends beyond anticipating every request. True hospitality, she said, is about creating moments that make guests feel personally appreciated.
Actor Richard E. Grant echoed that sentiment from the customer perspective. Having stayed in some of the world’s most celebrated hotels, and explored many of their stories through his podcast Hotels with History, Grant has become an astute observer of hospitality over the years. “The thing I’m struck by over and over again is people want and respond to a feeling of being valued and feeling like they’re having an authentic experience,” he said.
He illustrated the point with a story about being invited to dine at the same restaurant three times in one week . Each visit was hosted by a different friend, each one convinced the restaurant was their own treasured discovery. That, he noted, is the art of exceptional hospitality.
The desire for belonging also shaped one of the summit’s most candid and open conversations on LGBTQ+ travel. Author Thomas Page McBee spoke about travelling as a transgender man without allowing fear to determine where he explores the world. “There is so much joy in being your authentic self,” McBee said. Musician and comedian Charlene Kaye shared the confidence she draws from the community while noting safety and acceptance remain concerns for queer travellers.
For an industry built on welcoming people, creating spaces where everyone feels they belong may be the new, greatest luxury.
Time for connection
That same sentiment is reshaping luxury beyond hotels as cruising interest is rising. When The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debuted, it embraced the sense of privacy and exclusivity associated with superyachts. But guest feedback revealed something unexpected. While travellers appreciated the intimacy, they wanted opportunities to engage with fellow guests and immerse themselves in the culture of their destinations.
“We’ve evolved as a brand to have a more hybrid approach and be intentional about the kinds of experiences we’re creating on board to allow that time for connection,” said Gaby Aiguesvives, Chief Marketing Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Now, itineraries feature intimate musical performances, conversations with historians, collaborations with local artists, and meaningful gatherings. It’s a shift that mirrors a broader trend across luxury travel. Travellers are increasingly measuring the value of a journey by the relationships and communities they build and people they discover along the way.
Experiences that change you
Another reoccurring theme throughout the summit was how pursuing purpose and personal growth are becoming greater factors for travellers when planning their journeys.
Experiences like wellness retreats, culinary adventures andcultural events are bringing together communities united by shared interests rather than demographics. More than ever, the goal is no longer simply to visit somewhere new, but to return home changed by the experience.
That shift was captured in another of the summit’s thought-provoking panels, “The Power of Feeling Uncomfortable”. The speakers reflected on how the journeys we remember most are often the ones that challenge us in a myriad of different ways.
Rather than seeking comfort at every turn, more travellers are embracing experiences that stretch them physically, emotionally, and culturally. Whether it’s trekking remote mountains, immersing themselves in unfamiliar communities, or stepping out beyond carefully curated itineraries, discomfort is more often now viewed not as something to avoid but valued as an essential part of purposeful travel.
Jessica Nabongo, the first Black woman to visit every country in the world, said that curiosity, not comfort, was the driving force behind her ultra-journey. She’s received messages from her followers inspired to get their first passport or go on their first solo trip. “Getting past my own personal discomfort actually allowed so many others to get past theirs,” she said. “I’m grateful I was able to be the blueprint for so many.”
Returning to the story
Curiosity, culture and connection was the message resonated once more during the summit’s closing conversation between Travel + Leisure’s Gifford and Academy Award-winning actor and director Regina King.
Reflecting on a journey to Bali with her late son, Ian, King described slowing down, embracing local traditions, and finding healing through shared cultural experiences. She encouraged the audience to remain curious in regards to storytelling and open to other travellers’ points of view. “I’ve learned so much from just talking to the person at the bar sitting next to me, and I’ll never see that person again,” King said.
Her words beautifully echoed the summit’s defining messages. Whether through a memorable hotel stay, an unexpected conversation with a stranger, or a voyage across the sea, travel at its best is an act of storytelling that reminds us of our shared humanity.
