ILTM Africa is gearing up for a significantly expanded and more immersive 2026 edition, following what organisers describe as a transformative year for the continent’s premier luxury travel trade show. Speaking on the VA Tourism Podcast hosted by Kojo Bentum-Williams, ILTM Africa Sales Manager Lanese Carstens reflected on the event’s evolution, its growing impact on African tourism businesses, and what exhibitors and buyers can expect next year.
Carstens explained that ILTM Africa is deliberately focused on the high-end segment of tourism. “We specifically focus on the luxury sector rather than the broader spectrum of tourism as a whole,” she said. “So, we showcase luxury product which includes experiences, it includes some of our local African DMCs, it of course includes various game lodges, city hotels, etc. Anything that falls within the luxury sector that can be booked outside of Africa as an inbound product is what we showcase at the show.”
She added that the event is intentionally Africa-focused, attracting buyers who are committed to selling the continent. “We want to get people here who are interested in Africa, who want to sell Africa, and that is specifically what we’re about,” Carstens noted, revealing that from 2026 the show will also incorporate selected Middle Eastern luxury products for the first time, while maintaining its core African identity.
Reflecting on the appeal of luxury tourism in Africa, Carstens said the continent continues to challenge outdated stereotypes. “There is this magical Africa idea out there, which I think we fully live up to,” she said. “But we’re also showcasing that the luxury sector doesn’t just have to be about extravagance. It is about the experiences, it is about the storytelling, it is about people making an impactful difference in terms of sustainability and uplifting local communities.”
According to her, Africa excels at redefining luxury. “Luxury can be about so much more than the thread count of your linen or how many staff you have per person who stays, and I think that’s what we do really well in Africa.”
Carstens highlighted 2025 as a pivotal year, marked by the show’s move to the Norval Foundation in Cape Town. “The show was really transformed by a move to the Norval Foundation, which is an art foundation, and it’s the first time ever that the show was held there instead of a more traditional conferencing space,” she said. “It elevated the experience, it allowed for growth on the show floor, and it brought a fresh focus and new energy to the event.”
The tabletop, one-to-one format will remain central in 2026. “When you meet with your pre-selected appointments, it is a one-on-one interaction for 20 minutes long across the tabletop,” Carstens explained. “It is very intimate, and that intimacy, along with the exclusiveness of the art foundation, is very much what we want to bring to the show.”
On tangible outcomes, she shared a powerful example of business impact. “A DMC was selected as the buyer’s preferred DMC on the ground, and it actually means that she has to employ six additional staff to grow the business,” Carstens said. “That’s the kind of interaction we really want to bring about—sustainable growth, not just a flash in the pan.”
ILTM Africa 2026 is expected to host around 85 exhibitors, up from approximately 63 in 2025, alongside a matched number of hosted buyers. The programme will also feature strong sustainability-driven activations, including an art and conservation partnership with Painted Wolf Wines and an awareness campaign supporting the critically endangered African penguin in collaboration with SANCCOB.
“We really believe it’s going to be one to blow all the previous ones out of the water,” Carstens concluded, expressing confidence that ILTM Africa 2026 will further cement the continent’s position as a global leader in meaningful, sustainable luxury travel.
