Travel + Leisure
Strategic Supplier Summit 2026
125 attendees. 13 Prime Suppliers. 67 formal meetings.
One connected supplier ecosystem.
The inaugural Summit brought together Prime Suppliers, Small Business Enterprises, Travel + Leisure executives and sourcing professionals, community leaders, and business partners for a full day of education, networking, supplier engagement, and Business Matchmaking.
From introductions to measurable second-tier growth.
The Summit was designed to do more than create meaningful conversations in a single day. Travel + Leisure's broader objective is to strengthen its supplier ecosystem and support a 25% increase in second-tier spend with Small Business Enterprises through participating Prime Suppliers.
The inaugural Summit established the relationships, sourcing conversations, and business connections needed to begin measuring progress toward that goal.
The 25% second-tier spend increase is a Travel + Leisure strategic goal, not a completed result.
Strong signals of business opportunity.
Post-event feedback reinforced the value of direct access to Travel + Leisure leadership, Prime Suppliers, sourcing professionals, and qualified SBEs. Of the current survey respondents, 21 of 22 identified either a definite future business opportunity or a potential follow-up resulting from the Summit.
Survey results reflect responses received to date and may continue to update during the post-event response period.
A day built to strengthen the supplier ecosystem.
The Travel + Leisure Strategic Supplier Summit was designed to strengthen supplier relationships, expand second-tier opportunities, and create measurable pathways for SBE growth across the Travel + Leisure supplier ecosystem. The program combined executive engagement, educational sessions, a curated Supplier Showcase, and structured Business Matchmaking to connect qualified SBEs with Prime Suppliers and the Travel + Leisure sourcing team.
Leadership set the vision for supplier growth
Travel + Leisure leadership opened the day by sharing the company's vision for supplier growth, followed by educational sessions and executive dialogue focused on partnership, second-tier opportunity, and long-term supplier engagement.
A curated Supplier Showcase floor
Prime Suppliers presented their capabilities through branded Showcase stations while Travel + Leisure leaders, SBEs, and community partners circulated throughout the three-hour open floor. The Showcase created an informal environment for conversations and introductions beyond the formal matchmaking schedule.
67 formal meetings, precisely scheduled
Structured Business Matchmaking connected qualified SBEs with Prime Suppliers and the Travel + Leisure sourcing team across dedicated tables — designed to create meaningful business connections.
Every participating Prime Supplier had at least one scheduled meeting with a member of the Travel + Leisure sourcing team.
Relationships that extend beyond the agenda
Between formal sessions and scheduled meetings, attendees connected throughout the Supplier Showcase — creating introductions and relationships that extended beyond the structured agenda. These organic conversations became an important part of the Summit experience and reinforced the value of bringing the full supplier ecosystem together in one environment.
Community leaders & partners
Regional leaders and community organizations joined the Summit to support supplier development and second-tier opportunity across Central Florida.
The Summit was the starting point.
The next phase is to track the relationships, opportunities, and business outcomes created through the Summit. Participating Prime Suppliers, SBEs, and authorized Travel + Leisure users will retain access to the platform so progress can be measured throughout the year and compared from one Summit to the next.
Connect
Continue conversations and internal introductions.
Track
Record opportunities, follow-ups, proposals, contracts, and supplier relationships.
Measure
Monitor second-tier SBE spend and progress toward Travel + Leisure's 25% growth objective.
Tell us about your Summit experience.
Your feedback helps us measure impact and shape future supplier engagement. It takes less than two minutes.
Strategy, production & supplier-engagement platform partner.
Display America designed and managed the event experience and digital operations supporting the Travel + Leisure Strategic Supplier Summit.