ITB Berlin Convention 2025: Inspiration and Ideas for the Future of Travel
The challenges and tasks facing a tourism industry in transition will be the focus of ITB Berlin Convention 2025, taking place from March 4 to 6 at the Berlin Exhibition Centre. Under the motto "The Power of Transition Lives Here", trade visitors will enjoy an ambitious and comprehensive program featuring presentations and discussions on the future of travel.
More than 400 international experts and speakers will share insights into current social and economic developments, analyze key trends, and present the latest advancements in business, research, and science through 200 sessions and 17 themed tracks. Topics will cover digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, and sustainable strategies. Discussions will also focus on the impact of labor market evolution, new customer profiles, and the rise of niche markets. All presentations will be live-streamed on the four event platforms and will later be available on the ITB Berlin YouTube channel.
Thematic Stages and Key Conferences
On the Orange Stage (Hall 7.1), discussions will focus on the industry's future and the evolution of marketing and sales. The WTCF (World Tourism Cities Federation) will sponsor this stage, featuring tracks like Future Track, Marketing & Distribution Track, and Responsible Tourism Track, emphasizing sustainability and climate impact. A key presentation by Maja Göpel, an expert in transformation and sustainability, will take place on March 4.
On the Blue Stage (Hall 7.1b), the transformation of tour operators will be explored. Christoph Debus (CEO of DERTOUR Group) will share his strategic vision in the session "Shaping DERTOUR Group’s Future". Additionally, experts such as Roland Gassner, Ömer Karaca, Dr. Ingo Burmester, Songül Göktas-Rosati, and Benjamin Jacobi will analyze the market situation following FTI’s bankruptcy.
The Destination Track on the Blue Stage will present innovative ideas on the future of destinations. On March 5, experts will discuss the impact of mega-events on destinations such as the UK, Turin, Oulu, and Wacken. In the afternoon, the focus will shift to inclusion, featuring the session "Tourism Industry Leaders Endorse the Women's Empowerment Principles", with participation from UN Women and members of the German government.
Technology and Digitalization in Tourism
On the eTravel Stage (Hall 6.1), the Hospitality Tech Track, AI Track, eTravel Track, and Destination Tech Track will explore the impact of AI and digitalization. On March 5, the session "Best Practice: How AI Reshapes Travel" will feature panelists such as Olaf Backofen (Lufthansa), Michel Guimet (Microsoft), and André Exner (TUI Group), discussing how AI is redefining the travel industry.
