Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental Join WTTC Leadership

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced 50 new members for 2026, marking the largest single-year intake in its history. Eight returning organizations are included in this significant expansion of the global tourism body's leadership.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, stated that the surge in membership reflects strong sector confidence. "Welcoming 50 new members in a single year is a powerful vote of confidence in both our sector and WTTC," she said.

Luxury heavyweights take seats

Two of the world's leading luxury hotel groups, Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental, have just taken seats on WTTC's Executive Committee. This move reinforces the commitment of the sector's most prestigious brands to global tourism leadership.

Founded in Toronto in 1961, Four Seasons has grown from its first hotel in Canada to a global leader with 140 hotels and more than 60 residential properties across 47 countries. Alejandro Reynal, Four Seasons President and CEO, emphasized the company's foundational beliefs. He highlighted a long-term commitment to communities and destinations as a core strength.

Mandarin Oriental rejoins the WTTC after a previous membership spanning over 25 years. The group currently operates 47 hotels, 16 residences, and 43 exclusive homes across 30 countries and territories. It has ambitious plans to reach 100 hotels worldwide by 2033. Laurent Kleitman, Mandarin Oriental Group Chief Executive, praised the council's unifying role. "The World Travel and Tourism Council has a unique ability to connect people, cultures and communities," he said.

A broad coalition of new members

The wave of new members extends beyond these luxury hoteliers. The diverse group includes other major travel and hospitality brands, as shown below.

This coalition represents a wide spectrum of the travel and tourism ecosystem, from hotel loyalty clubs to service and retail partners.

What the growth means for travel

The expanded membership comes as WTTC research forecasts a robust year for the global sector. The council projects travel and tourism will contribute US$11.9 trillion to the global economy in 2026. This figure accounts for 9.9% of global GDP. The sector is also expected to support 375 million jobs worldwide, approximately one in every nine jobs.

Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental are now positioned to help shape this growth from within the WTTC's leadership. Their expanded influence coincides with the sector's trajectory toward the multi-trillion dollar economic forecast for 2026.