WiT Phocuswright Middle East moves to Barcelona | News

In a year when the travel industry has been forced to confront both uncertainty and resilience, WiT Phocuswright Middle East will take place in Barcelona on June 15, a day before Phocuswright Europe.

The two events, held at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, will bring together global and regional leaders for a timely conversation on the future of travel in and beyond the Middle East.

Originally planned for the region, WiT Phocuswright Middle East has been relocated in response to ongoing uncertainty – but the shift is more than logistical. With the theme of “The Next 20: Game On – When The Ground Shifts”, it reflects a deliberate choice to create space for a broader, more reflective dialogue at a moment when perspective matters most.

Until early 2026, the Middle East stood as one of travel’s most dynamic growth engines, fuelled by aviation expansion, capital investment, bold destination ambition and accelerated digital adoption. The sudden disruption to this trajectory has raised new questions across the industry.

What has truly changed? What remains fundamentally strong? And how should leaders rethink strategy in a more volatile world?

Bringing the conversation to Europe offers a unique vantage point – a neutral ground where insiders and global players can come together to assess impact, share lessons, and look ahead with clarity.

From shock to strategy

The one-day WiT Phocuswright Middle East programme is designed as a journey – from immediate impact to long-term opportunity.

Leaders from across the travel ecosystem will share firsthand perspectives on navigating disruption, from regional OTAs such as Wego and Almosafer, to global players including Booking.com and Trip.com Group.

Data-driven insights from Phocuswright and VIDEC will ground the discussion in real-time market signals, while sessions across payments, experiences, aviation and social commerce will explore how the industry is evolving beneath the surface.

Rebuilding, reframing, reinventing

Beyond immediate impact, the programme turns to what comes next.

From the rise of the experience economy to the growing influence of social platforms, from shifting payment flows to the next generation of startups, the event explores how travel is being rebuilt – often in ways that were already underway, and are now accelerated.

A closing session, “10 Big Bets: What We Now Believe,” will bring together industry leaders to distill the day’s insights into clear signals for the future – what will change, what will endure, and where opportunity lies.

A conversation that matters now

“Travel has always been shaped by moments like this,” said Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder of WiT. “When the ground shifts, the instinct is to react. But what matters more is how we reflect, recalibrate and move forward. Barcelona gives us the space to do that – to step back, connect the dots and look ahead with intent.”

Pete Comeau, Managing Director of Phocuswright, added: “The Middle East remains one of the most important regions in global travel. This is not a pause in its story, but a moment to better understand its trajectory. Bringing this conversation to a global stage allows us to do just that.”

Delegates coming from the GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi, UAE) that register for WiT Phocuswright Middle East will receive complimentary access to Phocuswright Europe. Phocuswright Europe registrants can attend WiT Phocuswright Middle East for a nominal fee.
Get your tickets now.

Event details
Event: WiT Phocuswright Middle East
Date: June 15, 2026
Venue: Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, Barcelona
Theme: The Next 20: Game On – When The Ground Shifts