The global tourism industry has a new leader to continue the battle to emerge from its worst crisis ever. Julia Simpson will take the reins Aug. 15 as President and CEO of the World Travel and Travel Tourism Council, replacing Gloria Guevara, who has led the WTTC for the past four years.

Simpson has extensive experience in the travel and tourism sector, having served on the boards of British Airways, Iberia, and most recently as chief of staff at International Airlines Group. She previously worked at senior levels in the UK government including advisor for the prime minister.

She replaces Guevara, a former tourism secretary in Mexico, who joined WTTC in August 2017, and has led WTTC and its members through a transformational agenda over the past years, including the sector’s significant impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carnival Corp. President and CEO Arnold Donald, who was recently appointed as Chair of WTTC, called Guevara’s contributions “immeasurable,” adding that she has helped reunite the sector during the pandemic, “providing a clear voice and direction for the safe restart of international travel.”

But he adds the equally capable Simpson is “an exceptional leader with experience both in the private sector and in government.”

Guevara said, “I leave WTTC after completing my mandate, in a stronger position as the voice of the private sector and the leader of the global agenda. I know that under Julia’s solid leadership, WTTC will continue to build on this legacy and lead it into its next chapter, championing the entire global travel and tourism sector to its recovery.”

Simpson added, “The travel and tourism sector has shown real leadership in ‘reopening’ the world safely and securely; and I look forward to shaping and driving the sector’s ambitious agenda to achieve long-term sustainable and inclusive growth.”

Founded in 1990, the World Travel & Tourism Council is a voluntary organization that works with governments and international institutions to promote the economic and social interests and contributions of the Travel & Tourism sector. Council members are the chairs, presidents and chief executives of the world’s leading private sector travel and tourism businesses.