The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reported that, so far in 2026, it has added 50 new members, an expansion that strengthens its presence on an international scale and consolidates its position as a reference body for the private tourism sector.
Among the main new developments is the inclusion of the hotel chains Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental on its Executive Committee, a move that boosts the representation of the luxury segment within the WTTC’s governing bodies.
The new additions come from different segments of tourism activity, such as hospitality, transport and mobility, tourism-related trade, investment, and the insurance field.
Among the companies joining are Corinthia Group, Club Med, Investindustrial, Allianz Partners and Pernod Ricard. Likewise, eight companies are rejoining the organization, among them Uber, Barceló Hotel Group, Meliá Hotels International and Avolta.
Mandarin Oriental, which is returning to the WTTC after more than 25 years as a member, currently operates 47 hotels, 16 residences and 43 exclusive homes spread across 30 countries and territories, and has set a goal of reaching 100 hotels by 2033. Four Seasons, founded in 1961, has 140 hotels and more than 60 residential properties in 47 countries.
The president and CEO of the WTTC, Gloria Guevara, has emphasized that the addition of half a hundred new members is a clear sign of confidence in the institution and in the prospects of the tourism industry on a global scale.
This phase of expansion of the WTTC comes in parallel with favorable forecasts for the sector: according to the body’s own estimates, Travel and Tourism will generate 11.9 trillion dollars (10.63 trillion euros) in 2026, the equivalent of 9.9% of global GDP, and will support 375 million jobs across the planet, approximately one in every nine jobs.