RX Global will launch WTM Spotlight India on 2–4 March 2027, aiming to create a leading travel trade marketplace connecting Indian suppliers with international buyers. The exhibition will focus on inbound and outbound travel, featuring curated buyers, AI-powered matchmaking, and targeted business meetings. The organiser aims to drive measurable business opportunities and strengthen India’s connections with global travel markets.
India’s expanding tourism market has attracted another major international travel trade exhibition, with RX Global announcing the launch of WTM Spotlight India in 2027. The organiser aims to establish the event as a leading marketplace for the country, connecting Indian suppliers with international buyers while also tapping the growing outbound travel market.
The announcement comes amid increasing competition among travel trade exhibitions in India. RX Global, which operates World Travel Market (WTM) events internationally, says the new show will differentiate itself through targeted business meetings, buyer qualification, and technology-led matchmaking rather than simply adding another event to the calendar. However, the company has not yet disclosed the venue, budget, expected visitor numbers, or exhibitor targets. “We don’t just want to be another travel show in India, we want to be the leading travel show in India,” said Pete Kumposcht, Chief Sales Officer, RX Global. He added that the event would be developed “by the market for the market”, with industry participation playing a key role in shaping its offering.
Kumposcht said India presented opportunities on both sides of the travel business, with international interest in the country’s tourism products complementing the growing demand from Indian travellers for overseas destinations. “Our goal is to create a marketplace where we deliver value from both an inbound and an outbound perspective,” he said.
For the organiser, the emphasis will be on generating measurable business for participating companies. Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX Global, said the WTM brand’s international reach and experience across leisure, luxury, and MICE travel would support the new exhibition.
“We’re not just going to occupy another date in the calendar, and that’s not what our aim is,” Curtis said, explaining that the event would focus on delivering commercial value to exhibitors and visitors.
A key differentiator will be the use of AI-powered matchmaking and lead-generation tools to connect suppliers with relevant buyers. According to Curtis, the platform will use information about exhibitors’ target markets, preferred buyer profiles, and business requirements to facilitate meetings.
Buyer selection will also be linked to India’s priority source markets. Curtis said the organiser would initially focus on the top 10 markets from which India seeks to attract leisure visitors, with buyers assessed on their business intentions, purchasing power, and seniority. “They have to show an intention of business, they have to show proof of that intention of business,” she said, adding that the aim was to bring buyers with a genuine likelihood of placing business in India.
The exhibition also seeks to strengthen India’s position as an international tourism marketplace. Curtis described the country as a large and fragmented market, with states actively promoting their destinations domestically. She said the opportunity lay in connecting these destinations with global travel trade networks and creating commercial value for the wider tourism ecosystem.
RX Global said it intends to invest in the exhibition for the long term rather than treat it as a short-term experiment. Kumposcht said the company would bring its global experience and data capabilities to India while working with its local team and industry stakeholders.
With the event scheduled for 2027, details on investment, venue, hosted-buyer numbers, and expected arrivals remain awaited. Its eventual impact will depend on the quality of participation, the business generated, and its ability to complement India’s existing travel trade platforms.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.
