WTE Miami 2025 consolidates the city as a global epicenter of tourism and a driver of new business

Hosted by Miami International Airport and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), WTE Miami 2025 brought together nearly 300 exhibitors from four continents and more than 3,000 tourism professionals—including more than 100 hosted buyers, 25 international media partners, and 50 journalists—along with DMCs, tourism boards, and companies from the technology, healthcare, eco-tourism, and luxury tourism sectors.

“This third edition of WTE Miami has exceeded all expectations, with an increase of more than 100% in the number of professional buyers compared to last year,” said Javier Pérez Palencia, CEO of WTE Miami. “The show has also brought major announcements—from new international air routes to the launch of the History Channel's Travel Solutions platform—and coincides with the expansion projects Miami International Airport is preparing for 2026. These milestones confirm WTE Miami as the place where the global travel industry comes together to do business and shape the future.”

Business-oriented, focused on growth

WTE Miami stands out as a B2B trade show with a distinctly entrepreneurial focus, oriented toward generating value and growth. The event is designed to maximize the return of both exhibitors and visitors, with a strong focus on tangible results. Attendees benefited from a proven B2B Matchmaking platform that enabled them to multiply contacts and hold highly productive meetings throughout the two-day event. This focus on business and measurable results attracts exhibitors and professional buyers/visitors from around the world. 

Hosted buyers and travel agencies: productive meetings and valuable contacts 

Host buyers and travel agencies praised WTE Miami 2025 for its organization, the efficiency of its matchmaking platform, and the quality of the business contacts generated during the two-day event.

“Ten thousand meetings and conversations have opened new markets, strengthened relationships, and expanded business opportunities,” explained Javier Pérez Palencia.

“This is my first time attending the show, and I really enjoyed it. WTE Miami was very good, very organized, and provided timely information about what's happening. I like this type of show; it's very transparent. I hope to be here again next year!” said Riko Tindage, Sales and Marketing Director, Elite Voyages, Tour Operator, Los Angeles, USA.

“WTE Miami is one of my favorite travel events. There are so many destination suppliers, and I'm looking forward to sharing everything I've learned with my clients so they can enjoy their vacation even more,” said Stacey Haines, hosted buyer at Castle Dreams Travel in Florida, USA.

“I want to express my utmost satisfaction to the organizers of this fair for their initiative and the resources they have made available to us. The app allows you to meet with all the exhibitors in 20-minute sessions, making the time very productive and structured. The app lets you sort and search for participants by category or type, so you can meet with exactly who you need. I have met people who will be very useful to my company today and in the future,” said Juan Carlos Gómez, a Miami resident and representative of Fora Travel, New York, USA.

“It was so exciting to attend my first WTE. I made the best connections with suppliers, technology, and destinations, and it was really great to be able to sit down with all of them for a few minutes to learn about what they were doing and how it could be a good fit for me. I will definitely be back next year to reconnect with old friends and make new ones,” added Jennifer Russell, Blue Palm Travel, Florida, USA.

Host buyer Bharat Bhakta, President of Globimax Tours and Travels, California, with a branch in India, said, “I've been in this business for 33 years. This is my first time here, and I've really enjoyed it, exploring tour proposals from all over the world.”

Showing the world: destinations and opportunities

WTE Miami brought together hundreds of destinations, exhibitors, and decision-makers to showcase the breadth of global tourism. In its most internationally diverse edition, WTE Miami 2025 attracted participants from every continent: from the Americas, with representation from the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico; from the Caribbean, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, and Costa Rica; from Asia, with the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, and Nepal; from Africa, with Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia; and from Europe, with Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, France, Iceland, and Sweden.

With this exceptional diversity, WTE 2025 responded to the evolving demand in the US tourism sector, where travelers are increasingly seeking new destinations and varied experiences, such as ecotourism, wellness, and cultural tourism. The trade show provided a platform for destinations and operators to showcase their offerings and connect with a broad network of professionals and potential partners.

Exhibitors highlighted WTE Miami as the ideal location to enter and grow in the U.S. market:

“We're here promoting our destination because we know this fair is very important. Starting in January 2026, we'll have a direct flight from Salvador to Panama, and we want all of North America to come and experience our destination. WTE is the perfect place to do that,” said Jamille Machado, Salvador de Bahía City Hall. 

Karina Canto, Central America Tourism Agency (CATA), added: “For us, the North American market is incredibly important. In Central America, the main source of tourists for most destinations is the United States. That's why we're here at WTE Miami, to promote the natural, cultural, and culinary beauty of our region.”

Mete Babila, Latitude Tour (Turkey), commented: “We work in the Spanish-speaking market. We usually participate in large trade shows. This is our first time at WTE Miami because there are many Spanish speakers here. To grow in our market, we are participating in this trade show for the first time.”

DMC Michelle Caguicla, owner of MyTrips Travel and Tours, Philippines, agreed that it has been a productive trade show: “This is my first time attending WTE Miami, and I am very grateful… yesterday and today have been really productive.”

Airlines in the foreground connecting continents

Airlines played a central role at WTE Miami 2025, reinforcing the city's position as a global travel hub. In addition to the strong presence of Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines, as official airline partners, and premium sponsor Iberia, other international airlines also participated, including Air Europa, SAS, Arajet, SKY Airline, interCaribbean Airways, EVA Air, TUI Fly, Boldman Air, Iceland Air, and Sunrise Airways.

VIVA, represented by René Medina, International Sales Manager, GDS, announced during the event the launch of two new routes from Orlando and Miami to Mexico City, beginning November 20 and 21, 2025. These flights will complement the existing routes to Monterrey and Mérida, further expanding travel options between Florida and Mexico.

Forging alliances with innovation and networking, Miami style

WTE Miami 2025 combined high-level networking with innovation demonstrations. On the eve of the trade show, History Channel Latin America presented History Travel Solutions at an exclusive event at Soho Beach House, hosted by Daniela Martínez, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Advertising Sales for A+E Networks Latin America.

“We average more than 850 million impressions per month across all our platforms, including connected TV (CTV). These audiences are all different, they connect with our content and our communications, and this allows us to offer tailored segmentation for each advertiser to achieve optimal delivery,” explained Martínez. Gabriel Jiménez, Panregional Advertising Sales Manager at A+E Networks Latin America, added that the new platform is fully data-driven, ensuring that each campaign can be measured in terms of brand awareness, lead generation, and more. “History Travel Solutions merges storytelling and advertising technology to ensure that people are not only inspired, but also take action and plan their trips,” he explained.

Airlines and travel partners also took center stage in the networking activities. The opening night featured a lively Spanish cocktail party hosted by Iberia and Turespaña, which welcomed more than 100 hosted buyers, partners, and media at The Gates Hotel Miami Beach. And, to close the event, Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines offered an exclusive VIP cocktail party at the popular Andrés Carne de Res Miami, bringing together exhibitors, buyers, and media in a festive Miami atmosphere. 

Professional services that strengthen the tourism sector ecosystem 

Other travel market consultants and advisors were also present. Jeffrey Ment, Managing Partner, Ment Law Group – Law Firm, New York and Connecticut, USA, confirmed: “I'm delighted to be at WTE Miami 2025. I represent individuals and companies in the travel industry around the world. It was a great event; I saw some of my current clients and many potential ones, from travel agencies and tour operators to suppliers.”

Miami: Gateway to Global Tourism

Strategic partners reinforced Miami's role as a world-class hub. The host, Miami International Airport (MIA), emphasized its role as the largest air bridge to Latin America and the Caribbean. “At MIA, we're celebrating 56 million passengers and more than 3 million tons of cargo this year, so we're very excited about our growth, but also about the growth of our community,” said Emir Pinera, Director of Business Development at MIA. “We're very excited to once again support this fair. It's the largest tourism and travel event we have in the United States. It's a great fair for us and our community, and we hope it will be even bigger next year.”

As a global partner, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) emphasized the city's cultural, innovative, and sustainable offerings. "We are thrilled to be back at the third annual WTE Miami as a major sponsor," said Joe Docal, Travel Industry Sales & Marketing for the GMCVB. "We look forward to continuing the growth of this event and increasingly showcasing everything Greater Miami and Miami Beach have to offer visitors."

Building on Success: Heading to 2026

At the close of WTE Miami 2025, Javier Pérez Palencia reflected on the fair's achievements: "Here in Miami, we've seen how cooperation, innovation, and dialogue can help the travel industry navigate change and build a stronger future. The connections established at WTE Miami are the foundation for what's next."

WTE Miami 2025 reaffirmed its position as the leading B2B travel and tourism event in the United States and a hub for international alliances. Preparations are already underway for WTE Miami 2026, which promises an even stronger platform for destinations, airlines, and businesses to connect.

Save the date:

The 4th edition of WTE Miami will be held during the last week of October 2026!

Source: WTE MIAMI.