The inaugural FACTS Summit & Expo officially opens today at ICC Sydney, bringing together 1,500 delegates, over 160 speakers, and over 100 exhibitors from across the global corporate travel, business events, travel payments and aviation ecosystem.
Designed as a platform for groundbreaking ideas and cross-sector collaboration, FACTS launches at a pivotal time for an industry navigating rapid technological change, shifting traveller expectations and increasing sustainability pressures.
“FACTS was created to give the corporate travel and business events sector a strategic forum equal to the scale of its transformation. The pace of change is now exponential,” FACTS co-founder, Derek Sadubin said.
“Whether it’s AI, digital identity, airline retailing, traveller wellness or the decarbonisation challenge – the entire ecosystem is being reshaped. FACTS is about bringing leaders together to share insight, confront the hard questions, and shape what the next decade of travel looks like.”
Across two days, delegates will hear from top international and Australian leaders including Massimo Morin, Global Head of Travel, AWS; Cam Wallace, CEO International & Freight, Qantas and Libby Minogue, CMO, Virgin Australia.
Key program themes include The rise of AI and agentic automation in corporate travel, plus sustainable aviation and decarbonisation pathways.
“Australia is a global leader for business travel, with GBTA’s latest Business Travel Index projecting an annual spend for the market of $AU42.7 billion in 2025. As well as being a trailblazer in its own right, Australia is fuelling the sector’s growth across wider Asia Pacific, currently the world’s top business travel region,” said Suzanne Neufang, the CEO of the event’s strategic partner GBTA.
“Globally, however, our sector does face headwinds, which impact Australia as much as any other country. These include ongoing uncertainty around trade policies, inflationary pressures and shifts in global supply chains. Against this backdrop, FACTS 2025, of which GBTA is delighted to be a partner, provides a vitally important and very timely opportunity for business travel professionals and wider stakeholders to come together, share knowledge and insights and innovate, so we can navigate the current uncertainty and ensure the long-term resilience of our sector.”
Penny Spencer, who recently sold her Spencer Group of Companies (SGC) – Corporate Travel Division to LodgeLink, a Black Diamond Group company, is chairperson of the event’s strategic partner, the Association of Travel Management Companies (ATMC).
“FACTS brings our industry together to share ideas, challenge thinking and shape the future of corporate travel, ” she said. “ATMC is proud to support a forum that sparks meaningful conversations and strengthens our sector for the years ahead.”
Platinum sponsor Webjet Business Travel sponsors the Main Stage, while Air Canada sponsors the Expo Stage and Serko provides this year’s colourful delegate lanyards. TAG hosts the Happy Half Hour and Enterprise hosts the Day 1 Networking Reception, continuing emphasis at FACTS on high-value, relationship-driven engagement.
Turning point for the region
FACTS aims to be the premier annual gathering for stakeholders shaping the future of mobility, corporate travel and events across Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia Pacific region.
“FACTS is unapologetically future-focused,” Sadubin said.
“This sector deserves a platform that doesn’t just react to change – but anticipates it. And as we all know, an industry that gathers together, gets stronger together.”
Program designed for the future
Across two days, delegates will hear from top international and Australian leaders including:
- Massimo Morin, Global Head of Travel, AWS
- Cam Wallace, CEO International & Freight, Qantas
- Libby Minogue, CMO, Virgin Australia
- Senior executives from Amadeus, BCD, CT Connections, CTM, Cvent, Emburse, FCM, Serko, Visa and many more.
Key program themes include:
- The rise of AI and agentic automation in corporate travel
- Sustainable aviation and decarbonisation pathways
- Travel payments innovation, including fintech disruption
- Business events technology, experience design and personalisation
- Airline retailing, NDC, distribution strategy and traveller-centric service models
- Workforce transformation, wellbeing and the next generation of travellers
- A Marketplace for Ideas and Partnerships
The FACTS Expo floor features more than 100 exhibitors showcasing innovations in:
- Accommodation
- Airlines and air charter
- Event-tech
- Ground transport and mobility platforms
- Payments, fintech and expense management
- Safety, risk and medical assistance
- Travel-tech, including a Start-up Village
