The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) announced on Thursday its decision to move its headquarters from London (United Kingdom) to Madrid, after a release process between several candidates, including Geneva, Milan, Paris or Dubai, among which … they.
This decision was unanimously supported by the 17 members of the international organization’s operational committee, based on evaluation criteria in six areas, such as the cost of rent, the tax environment and incentives, government support and proximity to international organizations.
In a statement, WTTC highlighted that the Madrid office will allow them “immediate access” to a “significantly larger and more diverse” talent pool, which encompasses nearly 350 million skilled professionals in the region.
Spain was also selected for its “strong” international connectivity, through the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, its “competitive” business environment, government support, synergies with international sector organizations such as UN Tourism and its alignment with the global mission of the WTTC.
Regarding the reason for the change of headquarters, Brexit-related challenges, such as restrictions on talent mobility, have proven to be the determining factors in making the UK “less attractive”, at a time when the entity seeks to “continue to strengthen its leadership position and be even more agile within the sector”.
For the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, this decision strengthens Spain’s position as a “tourist power” and makes Madrid “the world capital of tourism governance, integrating public and private voices”.
Likewise, during his visit to the Pepsico factory in Etxabarri-Ibiña (Alava), he emphasized that “if the WTTC wants to be physically where the future of tourism is decided and where tourism is truly an economic driver, Spain is the ideal place.”
As indicated in a note from the ministry, the new WTTC headquarters in Madrid will allow the creation of a “global tourism campus”, as well as the opportunity to generate joint projects funded by international organizations and public-private investors to highlight new pilot initiatives and knowledge centers around tourism.
Madrid, competitive city
For her part, the CEO and interim president of the WTTC, Gloria Guevara, highlighted that the location in “a competitive city” like Madrid will help to strengthen itself “even more”, to offer a closer relationship with members around the world and to play a key role in advising on the development of policies that stimulate tourism growth and job creation.
“This step ensures that we operate more efficiently, provide greater value to our members, have access to the best global talent and maintain a truly international perspective, with the strong support of the Spanish government,” explained board chairman Manfredi Lefebvre.
Alongside this new headquarters, Madrid has been home, since its creation in 1975, to the headquarters of UN Tourism – the former World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) -, which will also open new offices in 2026 next to the Paseo de la Castellana Congress Center.
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