26 Feb 2026
Industry Insights and Strong Connections Take Centre Stage at The TravMedia Summit Australia
TravMedia

Sydney, Australia – 26 February 2026 - The TravMedia Summit made its anticipated return to Sydney, uniting Australia and New Zealand's leading travel media and global tourism and travel PR delegates for a compelling day of insights, inspiration and candid industry conversations ahead of IMM Australia 2026.

Hosted the day before IMM at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The TravMedia Summit has become the must-attend event for travel and tourism communicators, media, and storytellers seeking fresh ideas and meaningful connections.

Attendance reflected the full spectrum of Australia's travel industry thought leaders, drawing representatives from destination marketing organisations, hotels and resorts, PR agencies, cruise lines, tour operators, senior travel editors, freelancers and content creators. Both emerging voices and seasoned industry figures came together to gain practical knowledge and new perspectives on a rapidly shifting media landscape.

“The TravMedia Summit explores where travel storytelling is headed and how the industry can evolve together,” said Nick Wayland, Founder and CEO of TravMedia. “It's a space for fresh ideas, shared wisdom and meaningful connection - ensuring delegates arrive at IMM inspired, informed and ready to craft stronger travel stories.”

As a cornerstone of IMM Australia, The TravMedia Summit plays a vital role in preparing both brands and media for meaningful, productive engagement, offering actionable takeaways and current thinking ahead of the one-on-one meetings.
 
This year's sessions included:
 
Travel Trends presented by Katrina Ell, VP – Senior Economist, ANZ, Mastercard

Redefining Wellness Tourism, sponsored by Scenic Group, moderated by Kris Abbey, Founder & Managing Director, Spa and Wellness Media; with Brooke Stevenson, Breathwork Facilitator; Camilla Thompson, Author & Founder, BiohackMe; Janine Cottle, Founder, Escape Haven, Palm Tree House, Mana Sanctuary; Nick Irani, Co-Founder & CEO, Subtle Energies; and Sarah Kingston Clark, CEO, Tourism Tasmania.

State of the Industry Address: The Survey Is In with Rachael Oakes-Ash, Storyteller & Publisher and Julie Ott, Chief Marketing Officer, TravMedia.

Keynote Speaker Nick Abrahams, AI Pioneer & Business Futurist, covering The Best AI Tools for Media and PR's: What's working, What's Not and What's Next.

How Luxury Escapes Changed Travel with Adam Schwab, Co-Founder & CEO, Luxury Escapes; and Cameron Daddo, Actor, Presenter, Musician.

Slam with Travel Editors, moderated by Nick Wayland, Founder and CEO, TravMedia; with Anna McCooe, Senior Travel Writer for Australian Financial Review; Katie Carlin, Head of Content for Australian Traveller Media; Lilit Marcus, Travel Editor & Producer at CNN Travel; and Richard Clune, Editorial Director – Travel, The Nightly.

Rewriting the Rules of Freelancing: Futureproofing for PRs, Content Creators and Writers, moderated by Chris Waite, Co-Founder and Director of Powerhouse Communications; with Anthony Dennis, Editor, Traveller of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age; Ben Groundwater, Freelance Journalist; and Sarah Maree Cameron, Presenter, Journalist and Content Creator.
 
TravMedia is grateful to Headline Sponsor Southern Cross Travel Insurance for their partnership and support of The TravMedia Summit Australia 2026. The program featured Southern Cross Travel Insurance's photobooth and the latest Future of Travel Report. Additional sponsors included networking breaks sponsors Los Angeles Tourism and partners and Destination British Columbia. Scenic Group supported a Summit panel and Lonely Planet by providing media bags with their new Travel Tarot set. The day concluded with networking drinks, featuring fine wines and refined bites, hosted by Sofitel Sydney Wentworth in the Wentworth Bar, creating the perfect opening-night reception for the two-day program.
 
More information about The TravMedia Summit speakers and lineup is available at travmedia.com/immaus/summit
Registration for IMM Australia 2027 will open in June 2026.
 
Media Contacts for IMM Australia:
 
Tom Bonnafoux
Regional Manager, Australia & New Zealand
 
Lauren Moelk
Chief Communications Officer

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About TravMedia
TravMedia is the travel industry's only global media network. Founded in 1999 by Nick Wayland, a former travel editor seeking an easier way to research and report travel news, TravMedia is the one-stop solution trusted by travel PR Professionals and media to network and share press releases, stories, and ideas. The platform hosts thriving online communities and is an essential daily tool for collaboration and the development of long-lasting relationships.
 
TravMedia provides global travel newsfeeds and connects more than 25,000 travel media and more than 20,000 travel brand PRs worldwide via an online newsroom, press release distribution, events, Journalist Alerts, and daily industry updates. To learn more and register for TravMedia, visit travmedia.com.
 
About IMM
TravMedia's IMM is the leading travel industry event for travel brands and destinations to connect with the media. In 2026, in its 14th year, IMM hosts more than 2,500 media and international travel brands in eight countries worldwide. International Media Marketplace events in 2026 include IMM Germany in Berlin on 2 March; IMM UK in London on 9-10 March; IMM France in Paris on 11 March; IMM Brazil in Saõ Paulo on 13 April; IMM Asia in Singapore on 19-20 October; and IMM LUX in Las Vegas in September 2026. IMM North America returns to NYC on 20-21 January 2027 and IMM Australia to Sydney on 18-19 September 2027.
 
For more information and registration for IMM 2026 and 2027 events, visit travmedia.com/imm and immlux.com or email imm@travmedia.com.
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