Insider
Inside the trade shows shaping luxury travel
We put three questions to eight of the industry's most respected trade shows
Knowing which trade shows to attend is one of the most important decisions a travel advisor makes each year. The right ones open doors, build relationships and sharpen your knowledge in ways that directly translate into better business.
To help you decide, we went directly to the shows themselves and asked three questions: what will an advisor take away, what conversation is most exciting right now, and what is new this year? Here is what they told us.
DUCO
DUCO is an annual boutique travel summit, invitation-only and destination-oriented, with three editions each year across Italy, France, and Spain and Portugal. Rather than a traditional trade show format, it immerses advisors in a destination, holding its events at landmark properties in the heart of each country. DUCO Spain and Portugal takes place in October 2026 in Marbella, DUCO France in November 2026 in Paris, and DUCO Italy in March 2027 in Rome.
What you will take away: Deeper destination understanding, relationships that drive business and exclusive access to hidden gems.
The conversation that matters: The shift from luxury as exclusivity to luxury as authenticity and meaningful experiences.
What is new: Every edition gives advisors the opportunity to experience the destination firsthand, extend their stay to deepen their knowledge and connect with senior local experts who reveal the destination beyond the obvious.
Best for: Advisors who want to sell Italy, France or Spain and Portugal with genuine authority rather than surface-level knowledge. Primarily aimed at advisors from English-speaking markets.
ILTM Cannes
ILTM Cannes is one of the most established names in luxury travel, held annually in Cannes, France. Invitation-only with all attendees vetted prior to attendance, it facilitates over 85,000 pre-scheduled meetings each year. The next edition takes place 30 November to 3 December 2026 at the Palais des Festivals.
What you will take away: New luxury travel business opportunities, insights into future travel trends and stronger relationships with global partners.
The conversation that matters: The decarbonisation of the events industry and the collective effort to achieve Net Zero, an increasingly important consideration for advisors whose clients are asking more questions about sustainable travel.
What is new: The venue is expanding to accommodate growing business demand and create additional opportunities for meaningful connections and commercial success.
Best for: Advisors looking to strengthen global partnerships and stay ahead of where luxury travel is heading.
PURE Life Experiences
PURE Life Experiences is an annual experiential travel show held in Marrakech, built around the belief that travel can be a force for positive change. It brings together a highly curated selection of directors, business owners and senior decision makers from the experiential travel sector. The next edition takes place 7 to 10 September 2026.
What you will take away: Connections with experiential global suppliers, boutique property relationships and specialist DMC introductions, all within a strong community environment.
The conversation that matters: This year's theme, Create Your Movement, explores how the industry can drive positive change, inspire new ways of thinking and travelling, and continue changing the world for both travellers and local communities.
What is new: Three additional meetings per advisor versus last year, bringing the total to 45, new inspiring travel topics at Open House, three new themed parties, a 50% intake of agents who are new to the show and morning wellness activities to set the tone for each day.
Best for: Advisors specialising in experiential, purpose-driven or adventure travel who want to connect with the most innovative suppliers in the space.
Further East
Further East is an innovative trade show focused on the luxury travel market in the Asia-Pacific region, held annually in Seminyak, Bali. Invitation-only, it invites only high-quality delegates who are focused on Asia-Pacific, with up to 42 pre-scheduled appointments on the showfloor. The next edition takes place 2 to 5 November 2026 in Seminyak, Bali.
What you will take away: Strong connections, clear ROI and serious business conducted in a relaxed environment.
The conversation that matters: The evolution of Further East itself and how the event is growing its identity within the trade show landscape.
What is new: A new Event Director joins, bringing years of experience from PURE, with the aim of elevating the event and building on its strong foundations.
Best for: Advisors focused on Asia and the East who want meaningful relationships in a more intimate, less overwhelming format.
Connections Luxury
Connections Luxury is a well-established event known for facilitating genuine business relationships in a focused, efficient format. It hosts multiple editions across the year in different regions. The UK and Ireland edition takes place from 20 to 23 September 2026 in London, and the Americas West edition 8 to 11 November 2026 in West Hollywood.
What you will take away: Better business relationships, increased industry knowledge and destination insight.
The conversation that matters: The use of AI in luxury travel and what it means for the future of the industry.
What is new: The event is expanding its reach and introducing new destinations to the programme.
Best for: Advisors who want to maximise their time through well-matched appointments and come away with actionable destination knowledge.
Synergy – The Retreat Show
Synergy is the only trade show dedicated entirely to the wellness travel sector, bringing together around 300 carefully selected participants including wellness experts, retreat leaders and luxury travel professionals. The 2026 edition takes place 29 September to 2 October in Istria, Croatia, at the Pical Resort, Valamar Collection in Poreč.
What you will take away: New wellness properties and retreat destinations for your clients, direct partnerships with pre-qualified retreat leaders and venues, and fresh insights from leading speakers and facilitators in wellness travel.
The conversation that matters: The healing power of nature, adventure and freedom, which is this year's overarching theme.
What is new: A new location for this year's edition in Istria, Croatia, bringing a fresh energy to a show with a strong and loyal following.
Best for: Advisors who want to build a credible wellness and retreat offering and connect directly with the specialists in the space.
Emotions Maestro Greece Edition
Emotions Maestro Greece is a distinguished gathering held in Athens, bringing together Greece's finest high-end travel suppliers with a hand-picked selection of international travel advisors. The event features pre-arranged one-to-one meetings and is curated by the Emotions Travel Community. The next edition takes place 5 to 7 October 2026 in Athens.
What you will take away: Immersive specialised experiences, a thorough understanding of Greece's full range of offerings and pre-selected appointments with suppliers that genuinely match your interests.
What is new: The entire buyer guest list is new this year, meaning every supplier approaches the event with genuine interest in making the most of fresh connections.
Best for: Advisors specialising in Greece or looking to build serious depth of knowledge in the destination.
Private Luxury Events
Private Luxury Events does not operate from a single convention centre. Instead, it hosts highly exclusive, invite-only luxury travel forums in carefully chosen upscale destinations worldwide, taking a curated, quality-over-quantity approach that brings together pre-qualified luxury buyers and suppliers for high-value, purposeful connections.
What you will take away: High-value qualified business connections, deeper market insight and buyer intelligence, and long-term partnerships that extend well beyond the event itself.
The conversation that matters: The shift towards more intentional, experience-led luxury travel, where buyers are focused on personalised, meaningful journeys rather than traditional luxury markers.
What is new: This year's edition places an even stronger emphasis on quality over quantity, with more carefully curated buyers and a sharper focus on conversations that translate into real business.
Best for: Advisors who want fewer, better meetings in a setting designed for serious, high-value connections.
The Little Emperors team attends a number of these events each year. If you would like a recommendation on which shows are best suited to your business and specialisms, get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.