Pre-Read

How to Show Up, What to Expect, and How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience

The Women Leading Travel Forum is not designed to be a passive experience. It's a space for perspective shifts, honest conversations and meaningful connection. The value you get will be shaped by how you show up.

How to Show Up

Come prepared to:

  • Engage, not just attendThis is a working forum. Expect to contribute, challenge ideas and share your own perspective.
  • Be open, not certainYou may hear viewpoints that differ from your own. That's intentional.
  • Be candid, not polishedThe most valuable moments often come from honest, in-progress thinking — not perfected answers.
  • Think beyond your day-to-dayThis is a moment to step out of operational mode and into strategic reflection.
  • Dress in a way that supports your confidence and comfortBusiness casual is a spectrum, and we encourage you to show up in whatever makes you feel most like yourself. The priority is feeling comfortable, confident and present throughout the day. Please also note that ballroom temperatures can run cool, so we recommend bringing a blazer, wrap or light layer for comfort during sessions.
  • Download the Women Leading Travel Forum AppAccess the full agenda, speaker bios, session materials and connect with fellow attendees. Download the Skift Live App on Apple iOS or Google Play.
  • Share and connectAhead of the event, connect on LinkedIn with other attendees. Throughout the event, post your takeaways and tag us — and use today as an opportunity to connect with the women in this room. The conversations that start here often matter most.
  • Meet our Sponsors & Corporate MembersToday is made possible by our event sponsors and corporate members who believe in this community. Please take a moment to visit their materials, engage with their teams and recognize the organizations investing in women's leadership across our industry.

What to Expect

Over the course of the Forum, we'll explore the forces shaping leadership in travel and hospitality today, including:

  • Leadership in uncertaintyNavigating volatility, making decisions without full information and leading through change.
  • The evolving definition of successRethinking growth, performance and personal ambition in today's environment.
  • Burnout, resilience and sustainable leadershipMoving beyond networking and awareness into practical approaches for building relationships, creating partnerships, and getting business done.
  • Power, influence and decision-makingHow leaders build trust, drive alignment and use their voice effectively.
  • The future of the industryWhere travel and hospitality are headed — and how leaders can position themselves and their organizations.

View the full agenda here.

Expect a mix of mainstage conversations, interactive workshops and small-group discussions designed to move ideas into action.

Capture & Share the Experience

We encourage you to capture moments and insights throughout the Forum. Please feel free to share takeaways, reflections, and content on social media as the event unfolds and after.

When you do, tag Women Leading Travel and use the hashtags:

#WomenLeadingTravel #WLTForum2026

Your perspective helps extend the impact of these conversations beyond the room.

Questions to Consider Before You Arrive

Come ready with your own perspective. You don't need perfect answers — but you should have thought about:

  • Where am I being pulled into the weeds vs. operating at the level I want to be?
  • What decisions am I avoiding — and why?
  • What does success look like for me right now, not five years ago?
  • Where do I feel most energized in my role? Where do I feel depleted?
  • What kind of leader do I want to be in this next chapter?
  • What perspective or challenge would be most valuable for me to hear at this moment?
  • Where could a strategic partnership meaningfully accelerate my business, team, or goals?
  • What kind of business relationships am I looking to build differently than I have in the past?
  • What conversations am I hoping to have here that could lead to real collaboration or opportunity?
  • What assumptions about networking, partnership-building, or business development am I ready to challenge?

How to Get the Most Out of the Forum

  • Prioritize connectionThe conversations outside the sessions are just as valuable as those on stage.
  • Be specificShare real challenges. Ask real questions. You'll get more useful insights in return.
  • Follow your curiosityIf a topic resonates, go deeper — in workshops, discussions and with peers.
  • Give as much as you takeYour experience and perspective are part of what makes this Forum valuable for others.

A Final Thought

This Forum brings together leaders who are shaping the future of travel and hospitality.

You're not here by accident.

Show up ready to think differently, contribute meaningfully, and leave with not just ideas — but clarity on what comes next.

Thank you for joining us at the 2026 Women Leading Travel Forum and for being a part of our community. We'd also like to extend our gratitude for our event sponsors and partners, without whom this event would not be possible.

We look forward to learning, growing and leading alongside you in New Orleans.