WYSTC 2025 kicked off with a spark of curiosity and connection on Wednesday, 24 September, setting the tone for a week of inspiration, insights and new business opportunities.
David Chapman, Director General at WYSE Travel Confederation, and Vera Margarida Cunha of Turismo de Portugal welcomed delegates to the conference, officially opening the doors to what promises to be a dynamic edition of WYSTC. The morning keynote, “A City on Mars,” delivered by Dr. Kelly Weinersmith of Rice University, took delegates on a journey beyond the ordinary, exploring innovation, imagination, and the future of travel in truly out-of-this-world fashion.
Coffee breaks, sponsored by Hanover, fuelled early networking and conversations, while the trade hall buzzed with back-to-back business appointments. Greg Richards of WYSE Travel Confederation led a workshop on the global market outlook for youth travel, offering delegates practical insights and data-driven perspectives to guide their strategies.
The “Ask the Buyers: Outlook on Youth Travel” seminar brought industry leaders Philip Russell (Plan My Gap Year), Laura Sampedro (Klook), and Clare Weston (KILROY) to the stage, moderated by Greg Bows (Impact Travel Group), sharing actionable advice and revealing emerging trends across the youth travel landscape. Later, the session “Why the US Is Still Open for Business through BridgeUSA” showcased perspectives from Bill Gertz (AIFS), Modesto Reyes (OFIT), Karen Ward (US Department of State), and Bettina Wiedmann (Experiment e.V.), under the moderation of Carmen Iezzi Mezzera (CAPDL), highlighting the opportunities (and challenges) for cultural exchange in the current climate.
The afternoon continued with discussions on the future of youth travel. Panellists Etienne Matichard (JO&JOE), Kim Callender (SoloTrvlr), and Sofia Ferraz (Tasteology) explored how curation, authenticity, and experience design are shaping the next generation of travellers. Sofia Ferraz later led a workshop on coffee tourism, mapping the intersections of culture, curiosity, and community for an engaging, exploration of experiential travel.
Delegates also heard from Chris Arnold (Made Impact) and journalist Jackson Mvunganyi in “The Critical Connection: Mobilising Change,” a session focused on driving meaningful social and cultural impact through travel.
The day wrapped up with the welcome reception at the beautiful Estufa Fria, sponsored by Cultural Homestay International, offering a relaxed space for new connections and long-awaited reunions. As night fell, delegates carried the energy into the conference bar at Hyatt Regency Lisboa, courtesy of the WISE Foundation.
A heartfelt thank you to all our speakers, facilitators, and sponsors for bringing ideas, insights, and energy to launch WYSTC 2025 in style.
