Category Events, Technology, AI, Organisations & Operators

All indications are that 2026 will be the year of agentic AI, succinctly defined as gen AI that can accomplish real-world tasks rather than simply outputting content. Agentic AI is already playing a key role in next-generation automation within companies, increasing productivity and reducing costs. According to Phocuswright’s latest research report Budgets, Barriers and the Race to Agentic AI, more than 60% of travel businesses surveyed are experimenting with or scaling agentic AI, with 6% already actively scaling and 22% beginning to scale.

Who will control travel in 2046: AI companies, governments, or the travelers themselves? What will determine value in an AI-driven industry? And will travel remain accessible to all, or become a privilege?

These questions were at the heart of the inaugural Leadership Exchange, hosted by Phocuswright, a leading global travel research and events company, and ITB Berlin, on March 3, 2026, at CityCube Berlin.

At ITB Berlin 2026, Sabre unveiled the culmination of a multiyear, once-in-a-generation rebuild of its technology, architecture, and operating foundations.

This transformation has unshackled the company to deliver a single, unified, AI-first platform, purpose-built for velocity to innovate for whatever comes next. In the first major milestone for the new Sabre, the company has seized a first-mover position in agentic travel – a clean break from legacy industry architectures that have constrained travel industry innovation for decades. This watershed moment is visually underscored by the debut of Sabre’s new brand identity, reflecting the reality of a company fundamentally reconstructed for what comes next.

This year, the ITB Berlin Convention is focusing on political expertise: The age of polycrisis and the impact of global tensions on travel behaviour are the subject of a keynote speech by Joschka Fischer, former German Foreign Minister, who will highlight how the tourism industry can position and assert itself in a world of increasing political uncertainty. The other events at the convention will also offer first-hand international experience and insider knowledge in 17 themed tracks on four stages: Top executives from global companies – including Google, Microsoft, Expedia and this year’s official Premium Partner of ITB Berlin and co-host of the ITB Berlin Convention, Airbnb – will provide practical information on current strategies and projects that will shape the world of travel in the long term.

Web in Travel (WiT), the leading travel‑technology and innovation platform across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, today announced the return of WiT Africa 2026, taking place on April 9 at Innovation City, Cape Town.  The event marks a milestone year for WiT as it celebrates its 20th anniversary with a powerful theme: “The Next 20.”

Web in Travel (WiT), Asia’s leading travel intelligence and events platform, has unveiled its top five predictions for the year ahead.  Editor‑in‑Chief Siew Hoon Yeoh draws on emerging signals across the region – from shifting traveller behaviour to the rapid adoption of new technologies.