Singapore and Frankfurt are hosting three of the travel industry’s biggest trade gatherings this week, as hotel investors, airline network planners and tourism buyers meet across Asia and Europe.
ITB Asia opens at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore on October 21 and runs until October 23. The show is held alongside MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, putting leisure travel, business events, corporate travel and travel technology under one roof, with exhibitors from Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. Vietnam’s Sun Group is among those using the show to court buyers, promoting Phu Quoc ahead of the island hosting APEC in 2027.
Also in Singapore, HICAP, the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific, runs from October 20 to 22 at Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford. The conference, which has run for more than 35 years, brings together hotel owners, investors, developers, lenders and operators with government tourism officials. Regional deal flow has been steady, from Nomura Real Estate’s new Tokyo lifestyle hotel to TEG Uzbekistan’s US business combination.
In Germany, Routes World 2026 takes place at Messe Frankfurt from October 21 to 23. The 31st edition of the route development forum expects more than 230 airlines and representatives from more than 110 countries, with organisers anticipating over 11,000 face-to-face meetings between airlines, airports and destinations. Routes moved the event to Frankfurt after consultations with stakeholders. Network news continues to flow ahead of the winter season, from Virgin Atlantic’s Heathrow–Phuket launch to Malaysia Airlines’ planned return to Jeddah and Madinah.
Europe’s city tourism bodies are meeting in Verona, where the City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) holds its autumn conference at Palazzo della Gran Guardia from October 19 to 21. Under the theme “Moving Together”, sessions look at how visitors travel to, through and between cities, and how mobility, accessibility, data and AI are changing destination management. Cities further afield are asking similar questions, with Macao seeking higher-value visitors through culture, food and health tourism.
The week closes in Milan, where the Luxury Hospitality Conference on October 23 brings together hotel general managers, luxury brand executives and chefs for a day on guest experience, technology, marketing and service.
Dates and venues for upcoming trade shows, investment forums and conferences are listed on the Emerging Travel News events calendar.
