WTTC Considers Relocating Headquarters Outside the United Kingdom
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the organization representing the global private sector of the travel and tourism industry, has announced that it is evaluating the possibility of moving its headquarters out of the United Kingdom. The discussion comes at a time when the WTTC is undergoing structural reviews to ensure it continues to play a leading role in shaping global tourism while remaining aligned with long-term sustainable growth.
The WTTC Board of Directors has approved an exploratory plan that will analyze several relocation scenarios. Among the destinations under consideration are Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, countries that the Council views as offering operational and strategic advantages for a global organization. The process includes an internal evaluation with the team currently based in London, as well as an analysis of the financial, logistical, and regulatory implications of relocating.
Manfredi Lefebvre, Chair of the WTTC Board of Directors, confirmed that Brexit is a decisive factor driving the proposal. “WTTC is a member-centered organization, and we are exploring every option for our future structure. Brexit is one of the main factors in the decision to potentially relocate our headquarters,” he said, acknowledging that the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union has introduced restrictions that affect trade, workforce mobility, and strategic partnerships.
Lefebvre added that being headquartered within the European Union would provide significant competitive benefits, including lower operational costs and access to the EU’s single market. Additionally, it would expand opportunities to attract multilingual, highly skilled talent — a key element for sustaining the Council’s global influence. “We are confident that we can attract high-quality talent in the European market, strengthening our services,” he noted.
The WTTC emphasized that regardless of the final location, all services will remain fully operational. Research initiatives, technical support for members, and representation before governments and international entities will continue uninterrupted. The Council stressed that its commitment to delivering insight, advocacy, and actionable data to its membership base will not be impacted by the evaluation process.
The announcement comes as the travel and tourism sector shows strong and accelerating performance worldwide. According to the latest WTTC projections, by the end of 2025, the global travel and tourism industry will contribute US$11.7 trillion to the world’s GDP — equivalent to 10.3% of the global economy. This outlook signals a return to — and surpassing of — pre-pandemic economic levels.
Tourism’s impact on employment is equally significant. WTTC estimates that the industry will generate 371 million jobs worldwide, accounting for 11% of the global workforce. This means that one out of every three new jobs created will be linked to travel and tourism — positioning the sector as a major driver of economic recovery and a cornerstone of global employment.
The WTTC is expected to reach a final decision in the coming months, once the technical and financial assessments are complete. Moving the headquarters would mark a turning point for an organization that has historically operated from the United Kingdom, and would reinforce Europe’s continued role as a global hub for tourism leadership, innovation, and investment.
