Where Knowledge Sparks Impact – From the Cape to the World
November 4–6, 2025 | Pelham House Resort | Cape Cod, Massachusetts
We’re now accepting proposals for speakers and sessions at the 2025 World Tourism Forum, hosted by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) in partnership with CARE for the Cape & Islands.
Unlike typical industry events, the World Tourism Forum convenes a cross-section of changemakers – from community leaders and academics to entrepreneurs, policymakers, and creatives – to dive into tourism’s toughest questions and co-create actionable, forward-looking solutions.
This year’s theme, “Sustainable Transformation: Where Knowledge Sparks Impact, from the Cape & Islands to the World”, aims to inspire attendees by asking the following questions:
How do we transform tourism so that it can be sustained – equitably, responsibly, and for the long-term?
How can we turn tourism knowledge, research, and insights into real-world practice and impact?
Whether you’re working on community tourism, climate policy, data science, storytelling, or social innovation, if your work intersects with these ideas, we’d love for you to submit an application to speak or present. Our World Tourism Forums consist of incredible panel discussions, energizing fireside chats, and awe-inspiring keynotes.
Who Should Apply to Speak
We’re looking for engaging, original voices from both inside and outside the tourism sector. You might be a tourism practitioner, nonprofit leader, business founder, artist, researcher, public servant, or culture-bearer – but what matters most is your ability to provoke thought, share insight, and inspire action.
This forum is not only about highlighting success – it’s about asking difficult questions, sharing lessons learned, and building bold ideas together.
Potential Topics / Subject Areas
We encourage applications from a diverse range of sectors and geographic locations, including:
- Conservation, tourism, governance, and impact on the Cape & Islands
- Coastal and Island Destination Resilience
- Climate Adaptation & Nature-Based Solutions
- Destination Stewardship & Tourism Governance
- Visitor Behavior and Destination Stewardship
- Regenerative Tourism Frameworks
- Community-Driven Tourism Planning
- Overcoming the Tourism Knowledge-Action Gap
- Impact Tourism & Voluntourism Models
- Inclusive and Equitable Tourism Futures
- Rethinking Measurement: Metrics, Monitoring & Evaluation
- Responsible Infrastructure, Housing, and Workforce Development
- The Role of Technology & AI in Sustainable Travel
- Sustainable Tourism Products & Experiences
- Public-Private Partnerships for Systems Change
Don’t see your topic listed? Submit anyway – we’re eager to learn from work that expands the conversation.
Speaking Formats
We welcome a range of presentation styles and session types:
- Panel Discussions – Join one of our rigorous discussions to take place on the main stage at CREST’s World Tourism Forum. We’re looking for panelists and moderators!
- Fireside Chats – Candid, bold, issue-based conversations
- Workshops & Breakouts – Facilitate an interactive session with attendees.
- Keynotes – Provide an inspirational and engaging keynote address on transforming practices in the tourism space.
Interested in submitting a research paper or poster to our Ideas Exchange? Visit our Call for Papers & Ideas Exchange page.
Logistics
- There is no fee to submit a speaker application.
- All selected speakers are required to register for the Forum within two weeks of notification.
- A limited number of speaker discounts and scholarships are available.
- We kindly ask that you consider the financial realities of nonprofit-hosted events – 2025 has been an extraordinarily challenging year for many mission-driven organizations.
Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: July 31, 2025
- Speaker Notifications Sent: August 15, 2025
- Forum Dates: November 4–6, 2025
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