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 logistics. With the theme ‘The Next 20: Game On – When The Ground Shifts’, it reflects a conscious decision to create space for a broader, more reflective dialogue at a time when perspective matters most.
Until early 2026, the Middle East was one of travel’s most dynamic growth engines, fueled by aviation expansion, capital investment, bold destination ambitions and accelerated digital adoption. The sudden disruption of this route has raised new questions throughout the sector.
What has really 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 program is designed as a journey – from immediate impact to long-term opportunities.
Leaders from across the travel ecosystem will share their first-hand 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 inform the discussion in real-time market signals, while sessions on payments, experiences, aviation and social commerce will explore how the sector is developing beneath the surface.
Rebuild, reframe, reinvent
In addition to the immediate impact, the program focuses on 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 being 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 persist and where opportunities lie.
A conversation that matters now
“Travel has always been shaped by moments like these,” said Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder of WiT. “When the ground shifts, the instinct is to react. But what is more important is how we reflect, recalibrate and move forward. Barcelona gives us the space to do that – to step back, connect the dots and look forward with intention.”
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 the story, but a moment to better understand its trajectory. By bringing this conversation to a global stage, we can do just that.”
Delegates from the GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) who register for WiT Phocuswright Middle East will receive free entry to Phocuswright Europe. Phocuswright Europe registrants can attend WiT Phocuswright Middle East for a small fee.
Buy your tickets now.
Event details
Event: WiT Phocuswright Middle East
Date: June 15, 2026
Location: Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, Barcelona
Theme: The Next 20: Game On – When the Ground Changes
