As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the travel industry, international leaders will gather in Paris this month to examine how competing AI systems could influence the future of global tourism, transportation and hospitality.
The Global Travel Futures Forum, scheduled for October 28-29, 2026, will bring together approximately 250 senior executives, technology experts, government representatives, destination leaders and academics for two days of discussions at Sorbonne University and Hôtel de l’Industrie.
The event is convened by the Global Resilience Network (GRN), in partnership with Atout France, the European Travel Commission, the European Travel Association and Sorbonne University.
Opening the main forum on October 29 will be Dr. Luc Julia, an artificial intelligence pioneer and co-creator of Apple’s Siri voice assistant. His keynote, titled “AI Without the Hype: What Artificial Intelligence Can and Cannot Do,” will explore the capabilities and limitations of AI while examining the importance of human responsibility as the technology advances.
Julia previously served as chief scientific officer at Renault Group and chief technology officer and senior vice president of innovation at Samsung. He is also the author of There Is No Such Thing as Artificial Intelligence. Following his presentation, he will join BBC presenter Rajan Datar for a conversation.
A central focus of the forum will be the different approaches to artificial intelligence emerging in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom, China, the Middle East and India. Organizers say these regions are developing distinct AI ecosystems shaped by different approaches to innovation, data governance, trust and technological independence.
The travel industry offers a particularly important setting for examining those differences. A single journey can involve multiple airlines, airports, rail systems, hotels, payment platforms and national borders. As AI agents increasingly help travelers search, plan, book and manage disruptions, companies will need systems capable of communicating across different technologies and regulatory environments.
The forum will address issues including digital identity, payment systems, data protection, mobility, interoperability and the role of human judgment in automated travel services.
European AI adoption will also be part of the discussion. Eurostat figures show that the share of EU enterprises using AI rose from 13.5% in 2024 to 20% in 2025, with adoption ranging from 42% in Denmark to 5.2% in Romania.
The program begins October 28 at Sorbonne University with an academic and intergenerational session examining AI, traveler behavior, the future workforce and tourism in 2030. The executive forum follows the next day at Hôtel de l’Industrie.
Participation is by invitation, with media and partnership inquiries handled through the Global Resilience Network.