On September the 24th, 2025, inside SPACE at One Ayala, Miles Caballero looked across a room filled with partners, exhibitors, and media. “Looking around this room, I feel nothing but gratitude,” she said. “You are not just here to witness a launch. You are here because you believe in the spirit of travel and in what the World Travel Expo stands for.”
That moment wasn’t just ceremonial. It quietly set the tone for what could become a turning point in how the Philippines imagines travel, tourism, and cultural connection.
The 9th year of the World Travel Expo (WTE) carries its own kind of ambition. The first leg returns to Makati’s One Ayala on October 17–19. The second arrives November 14–16 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay. This dual staging is more than a logistical expansion — it’s symbolic.
Caballero explained: “With back-to-back editions in Makati and Manila Bay, we open doors to new audiences and wider participation.” Makati offers the expo its strong, urban heart, Manila Bay offers something new, an open, waterfront gateway where families, casual passersby, and new communities can encounter the world of travel in unexpected ways.
The expo has more deals on culture, connection and collaboration and remains true to its signature offerings, the exclusive airfare, hotel, and tour packages, exhibitors ranging from airlines and resorts to cruise lines and tourism boards, and family-friendly features like raffles, cultural performances, and lifestyle booths.
But in her remarks, Caballero underscored a broader vision: “Year 9 is not just about unbeatable promos. It’s about reigniting the passion for discovery, strengthening industry partnerships, and celebrating the role of travel in connecting cultures.”
At the media launch, industry voices echoed that vision when Rico Duque (GDS International Travel Agency) said that “Exhibitors and agencies must move from competing to co-creating offers. That’s how we craft seamless travel experiences.”
May Abigael Legaspi-Maguigad from The Manila Hotel shared, “We have to deepen travelers’ sense of place, not just lodge them. The World Travel Expo is one chance to tell those stories.”
Jed Ernest Uytiepo of Arpan Air/Royal Caribbean Philippines also said that, “Partnerships forged at expos like this can become the seeds of new air or cruise routes that elevate less-visited destinations.”
And Sheila Sun-Hernandez from Must Be Sun Retail Corporation espressed that “Lifestyle booths and regional products let regional SMEs step onto a bigger stage.”
These voices remind us that World Travel Expo is not just a market—it’s a meeting ground for ideas, partnerships, and possibilities.
WTE’s Manila double-header follows successful forays into the regions earlier this year. Cagayan de Oro hosted Northern Mindanao’s first edition in July, and Cebu welcomed its own WTE showcase in August.
In CDO, Caballero highlighted the intent behind this outreach, “Northern Mindanao is full of untapped potential, and we’re here to celebrate that.” Reports from Cebu, meanwhile, called it a “huge success,” with exhibitors selling out packages and visitors flocking to explore and engage.
These regional editions prove that the spirit of World Travel Expo doesn’t belong to Metro Manila alone. They show that stories from Mindanao, Visayas, and beyond deserve—and demand—a national stage.
In keeping with its vision of inclusivity, the World Travel Expo 2025 has set affordable entrance fees to make the event accessible to a wide spectrum of travelers:
₱80 for walk-in guests
₱50 for those who register online in advance
₱40 for students, offering young dreamers and future travelers a discounted gateway into the world of exploration
This pricing isn’t incidental, it signals WTE’s intent to welcome not just seasoned travelers, but families, students, and first-time explorers. By keeping the entry cost friendly, the expo affirms that the joy of discovery belongs to everyone.
Beyond the deals and discounts, the markers of WTE’s evolution will be clear in.
Thematic zones on wellness, heritage, and adventure, transforming booths into immersive experiences.
Conversations and forums with creators, tourism leaders, and community voices, where ideas and stories carry equal weight to itineraries.
Matchmaking opportunities linking exhibitors with agencies and collaborators long after the expo doors close.
Cultural showcases that elevate indigenous stories, regional crafts, and community tourism initiatives.
Year-round engagement—ensuring that WTE’s impact doesn’t end when the lights switch off.
As the October and November dates draw near, questions emerge: Can Makati’s polished core resonate alongside Manila Bay’s diverse walk-in crowd? Can regional exhibitors feel equally centered, not overshadowed? Will visitors leave with more than brochures—will they leave inspired, connected, and ready to discover?
Year 9 is not just WTE’s largest edition. It may be its most defining. “Let us Discover Beauty. Let us Explore Freely. Let us make this journey unforgettable together,” Caballero urged at the launch.
And if WTE fulfills its promise, that journey won’t end at the expo doors—it will continue in the lives, travels, and stories of everyone it touches.
