As well as revealing that the 2026 show will be much expanded, the organisers of World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) have launched The Journey Circle, an advisory network of airline and hospitality professionals dedicated to shaping the future of inflight catering, cabin comfort, and passenger experience.
Launching ahead of the WTCE 2026 show, which returns from 14-16 April 2026 at Hamburg Messe in Germany, The Journey Circle has been established to strengthen collaboration between WTCE and the airline community. The initiative is intended to provide a platform where airline experts can share ideas, insights and challenges, to help ensure that WTCE continues to reflect the evolving needs of the onboard services industry.
The four founding members of The Journey Circle bring together extensive experience across inflight catering, service delivery and customer experience:
- Simone Walli, catering manager, culinary art & F&B onboard concepts at Austrian Airlines
- Samson Arega, group vice president customer experience, Ethiopian Airlines
- Tobias Ögren, head of inflight product & catering, Sunclass Airlines
- Louise Leaupepe, inflight experience senior manager, commercial, Riyadh Air
Each member has been selected for their expertise and insight into key areas of inflight hospitality, including catering innovation, passenger comfort and sustainability.
The Journey Circle will play a role in advising on content themes, innovation areas and partnership opportunities for WTCE 2026 and beyond. Their collective insights will help guide how the event supports both airlines and suppliers in delivering high-quality onboard experiences.
WTCE 2026 will be bigger
WTCE 2026 will have an expanded show floor, including the addition of a third hall at Hamburg Messe (Hall A2), which will be exclusively dedicated to Gategroup and its onboard brands, underscoring the industry’s continued growth and innovation.
There will also be new show areas to enhance the visitor experience, including a dedicated Drinks Zone in Hall A4, featuring a mix of emerging and established beverage brands, as well as a First-Time Exhibitor Village in Hall A1, offering a first look at new flavours and ideas shaping the future of onboard food, beverage and amenities.
As before, the event will showcase three themed trails, designed to guide visitors towards forward-thinking suppliers and solutions.
- The Steps to Sustainability Trail will highlight innovations across the supply chain that support environmentally conscious production and operations.
- The Wellbeing Walk-Through will focus on the holistic passenger experience, spotlighting products and services that help alleviate the side effects of long-haul travel.
- The Tech Trail will return, connecting buyers with suppliers who are transforming inflight retail and catering through data, digital and automation.
Shona Thomson, event manager for WTCE said: “The onboard experience has changed from a simple offering to a critical driver of airline differentiation and revenue. WTCE 2026 has been designed to reflect these priorities through its new show features including the Drinks Zone, the First Time Exhibitor Village and the returning themed trails. The launch of The Journey Circle will build on this development, ensuring WTCE continues to evolve alongside the industry to remain closely connected to airline’s priorities, helping to steer the future direction of the event and the wider inflight experience.”
WTCE will once again be co-located with Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX). Together, the two events create a comprehensive marketplace for cabin interiors, inflight services and passenger experience innovations, providing opportunities for networking and collaboration.
