ITB Berlin, Connections Luxury Americas, IMM Germany, Routes Americas, Los Angeles Travel Show, Holiday World Prague and More Trade Shows in US and Europe May Face Low Participation as Israel–US–Iran War Tensions Threaten Global Participation in March

ITB Berlin, Connections Luxury Americas, IMM Germany, Routes Americas, Los Angeles Travel Show, Holiday World Prague and more trade shows in US and Europe may face low participation as Israel–US–Iran war tensions threaten global participation in March 2026. The shockwaves are real. The timing is critical. And the travel trade industry is watching every move. As Israel–US–Iran war tensions intensify, ITB Berlin and Connections Luxury Americas are suddenly operating under a cloud of uncertainty. Meanwhile, IMM Germany, Routes Americas, the Los Angeles Travel Show and Holiday World Prague now stand at the centre of a rapidly shifting global risk map.

ITB Berlin is the heartbeat of Europe’s travel trade. Connections Luxury Americas drives elite networking. IMM Germany shapes media narratives. Routes Americas determines aviation futures. The Los Angeles Travel Show fuels US demand. Holiday World Prague connects Central Europe. Yet Israel–US–Iran war tensions are rewriting aviation routes, inflating travel costs and testing corporate confidence. As a result, global participation in March 2026 may weaken. Participation may slow. Participation may decline.

Will ITB Berlin and Routes Americas remain strong? Will Connections Luxury Americas and IMM Germany absorb the shock? Travel And Tour World examines how Israel–US–Iran war tensions could redefine global participation. The full story reveals what every travel professional must know now.

The global travel trade industry stands at a critical crossroads. War-like tensions between Israel, the United States and Iran have erupted into direct military confrontation. Airspace has shut. Flights have rerouted. Markets have shaken. And now Europe and the United States are bracing for a powerful ripple effect. Major travel trade events scheduled for March 2026 — especially in Germany, Spain, Portugal and the US — may face declining participation as safety fears, aviation disruption and corporate caution collide.

The travel trade industry runs on confidence. Confidence drives participation. Participation drives contracts. Contracts drive tourism revenue. When geopolitical risk rises, the entire ecosystem reacts.

Israel–US–Iran tensions are not isolated. They are reshaping aviation routes, altering cost structures and testing the resilience of global travel trade events in Germany, Europe and the United States.

RestaurantPoint West 2026
Mar 1 – 4
Seattle, Washington, USA

Connections Luxury Americas, East 2026
Mar 1–4
New York City, United States

IMM Germany 2026
March 2
Berlin, Germany

ITB Berlin
Mar 3 – 5
Berlin ExpoCenter City, Germany

Routes Americas
Mar 3 – 5
ExpoRio CIDADE NOVA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Philippine Hotel Innovation Summit 2026
March 4
Novotel Manila Araneta City, Philippines

DRT Show Shanghai
Mar 6 – 8
Shanghai, China

Los Angeles Travel Show
Mar 7 – 8
Long Beach, California, USA

Events Club Associations Forum 2026
Mar 8 – 10
Budapest, Hungary

IMM UK
Mar 9 – 10
QEII Centre, London

9th Hospitality Vietnam Conference
Mar 10 –11
Holiday Inn & Suites Saigon Airport,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Holiday World Prague
Mar 12 – 14
Prague, Czechia, Czech Republic

Universal Tourism Exhibitions (UTE)
Mar 10,12,17,19
Sanghai
Beijing
Chengdu
Guangzhou

Deluxe Travl Mart (DTM)
Mar 10–12, Mar 24, Mar 26
Sanremo, Italy
Bucharest, Romania
Warsaw, Poland

IMM France 2026
March 11
InterContinental Paris Le Grand, Paris, France

4th Vietnam Aero Summit 2026
Mar 11–12
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

MITT
Mar 11 – 13
Moscow, Russia

THAIFEX – HOREC Asia
Mar 11 – 13
BANGKOK, THAILAND

Site Incentives Summit Americas
Mar 13 – 16
At Sea (A luxury cruise experience)
Miami, Florida, USA

Hunter Hotel Investment Conference 2026
Mar 16–18
Signia by Hilton Atlanta

Environments for Aging (EFA) Conference + Expo 2026
Mar16–18,
Phoenix, AZ

Visit North Carolina Tourism Conference
Mar 16-18
North Carolina
Visit North Carolina Conferences & Events
HSMAI Mike Leven Leadership Conference
Mar 17 – 18,
Los Angeles, California

British Tourism & Travel Show
March 19
Birmingham, UK

China Beijing Attractions Expo 2026
Mar 19 – 21
China International Exhibition Centre, China

B-TRAVEL
Mar 20–22
Montjuïc Venue, Barcelona

IITM AHMEDABAD
Mar 20 – 21
AHMEDABAD, INDIA

TravelXpo
Mar 20 – 22
Lillestrøm, Norway

Travel & Adventure Show
Mar 21-22
Bay Area

ITB Berlin 2026 in Germany Faces Pressure as Israel–US–Iran Tensions Shake Global Aviation Confidence

Germany is preparing to host ITB Berlin 2026, the world’s most influential travel trade event. ITB Berlin brings together tourism boards, airlines, hotel chains, cruise companies, travel technology firms and buyers from more than 170 countries. It is the centre of gravity for the travel trade industry.

But now Israel–US–Iran tensions threaten to cast a long shadow over Germany’s flagship event.

Airlines are rerouting flights to avoid Middle Eastern airspace. Travel times are increasing. Ticket prices are rising. Insurance costs are climbing. Delegates travelling from Asia, Africa and the Middle East often rely on Gulf transit hubs. When those hubs face disruption, connectivity to Germany becomes more complex.

ITB Berlin depends on seamless global participation. If travel becomes unpredictable, participation may decline. Not collapse. But soften. Even a modest reduction in attendance at ITB Berlin would signal that Israel–US–Iran tensions are influencing the travel trade industry beyond the immediate conflict zone.

Europe’s Travel Trade Events Brace for Impact as Israel–US–Iran Crisis Disrupts Connectivity and Costs

Europe remains operational. Germany is secure. Spain is open. Portugal is welcoming. Yet the Israel–US–Iran situation affects Europe through aviation networks and economic psychology.

European travel trade events rely on global access. Buyers from Asia and the Middle East must reach Europe efficiently. When airspace closures occur, flights detour around restricted corridors. Longer routes mean higher fuel consumption. Higher fuel consumption means higher ticket prices.

Corporate travel managers notice these costs immediately. They review budgets. They reassess non-essential travel. They examine risk exposure.

Travel trade events in Germany, Spain and Portugal now sit within this broader geopolitical environment. Even if no direct threat exists, perception alone can influence participation decisions.

Confidence is fragile. And travel trade events require strong confidence to thrive.

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Portugal’s BTL and Spain’s Regional Travel Trade Platforms Feel the Strain of Global Uncertainty

Portugal’s Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa is a major March travel trade event. It connects European destinations with Latin America and Africa. It thrives on international representation.

Spain’s regional tourism trade events also rely on international buyers and exhibitors. These events build partnerships ahead of the busy summer season.

Israel–US–Iran tensions introduce hesitation into international travel planning. Delegations may shrink. Exhibitors may reduce booth sizes. Buyers may shift to virtual attendance.

Small and medium travel operators are especially sensitive to cost increases. A spike in airfare can be decisive. When budgets tighten, physical participation is often the first item reconsidered.

Europe’s travel trade calendar remains intact. But participation levels now depend on how long Israel–US–Iran tensions continue and how severely aviation routes remain affected.

United States Travel Trade Industry Faces Indirect Consequences of Israel–US–Iran Escalation

The United States hosts major travel trade conferences and inbound tourism summits in March. While geographically distant from the Middle East, the US is politically involved in the escalating situation.

This involvement creates diplomatic tension. Diplomatic tension affects global perception. Perception influences travel behaviour.

International buyers travelling to the US may face higher fares due to rerouted flights. Corporate policies may require additional travel approvals. Insurance providers may adjust risk assessments.

The travel trade industry in the US depends heavily on international attendance. Reduced participation from Asia or Europe would alter networking dynamics and contract negotiations.

Israel–US–Iran tensions therefore extend beyond the battlefield. They reach into boardrooms and conference halls across the United States.

Airspace Closures Trigger Immediate Network Disruption

Following coordinated military strikes and retaliatory threats, multiple Middle Eastern countries imposed temporary airspace closures. Civil aviation authorities in Iran, Iraq and surrounding states restricted or suspended overflight permissions. As a result, airlines were forced to redesign long-haul flight paths linking Europe, Asia and North America.

This region is not peripheral to global aviation. It functions as a central transit corridor. Airlines routinely cross Iranian and Iraqi airspace when operating between Europe and South Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. When these corridors close, carriers must reroute aircraft, often adding one to three hours of flight time depending on destination.

Longer routes mean higher fuel consumption. Higher fuel burn increases operating costs. Those costs are either absorbed temporarily or passed on to passengers.

Major Carriers Suspend or Adjust Services

Several prominent airlines suspended selected routes or adjusted schedules. Gulf-based carriers faced operational strain due to proximity to affected airspace. European airlines cancelled flights to specific Middle Eastern destinations or paused services entirely until security assessments stabilised.

Air India publicly cancelled dozens of international flights connecting India with Europe and North America due to airspace complications and risk considerations. European carriers such as Lufthansa and Air France–KLM adjusted flight operations in response to regulatory advisories and safety protocols.

These suspensions reflect precautionary risk management rather than financial collapse. Airlines are prioritising crew safety, passenger security and insurance compliance.

Passenger Impact and Financial Strain

The conflict has disrupted tens of thousands of travellers. Flights were diverted, delayed or cancelled with short notice. Airlines issued waivers, refunds and rebooking options. Airport congestion increased in several hubs as aircraft were rerouted away from restricted airspace.

Financially, the impact is measurable but not yet catastrophic. Airlines operate within thin margins. Extended rerouting increases costs across three key areas:

1. Fuel consumption
2. Crew duty time adjustments
3. Insurance premiums

War-risk insurance premiums typically rise during regional conflicts. Carriers flying near sensitive zones face elevated underwriting costs. If instability persists for weeks or months, cumulative financial strain could become significant.

However, at present, no major airline has declared insolvency directly due to the Israel–US–Iran escalation.

Global Ripple Effects Beyond the Middle East

The aviation network is globally interconnected. A disruption in one region reverberates worldwide. Flights between Europe and Asia must detour. North American services linking through Gulf hubs experience schedule irregularities. Cargo operations are also affected, influencing freight pricing and logistics timing.

Yet aviation resilience mechanisms remain active. Airlines maintain contingency routing plans. Aircraft can be redeployed. Networks can be temporarily reshaped. The industry has learned adaptive strategies from previous crises, including regional conflicts and pandemic-era disruptions.

Israel–US–Iran War-Like Situation Pushes Insurance, Fuel and Operational Costs Higher

War-like conditions increase aviation insurance premiums. Airlines pay more. Airlines charge more. Delegates absorb the increase.

Fuel prices fluctuate in response to Middle East instability. Airlines hedge where possible. But volatility remains.

Travel trade participation is an investment. Companies measure return on investment carefully. If travel becomes expensive and unpredictable, some firms postpone attendance until stability returns.

Geopolitical research consistently shows that tourism demand decreases when global risk perception increases. The travel trade industry is no exception. Israel–US–Iran tensions therefore represent both a psychological and financial barrier to participation.

Hybrid Participation Expands as Organisers Respond to Israel–US–Iran Tensions

Event organisers in Germany, Europe and the United States are adapting. Hybrid formats are expanding. Virtual meeting platforms are becoming standard. Digital matchmaking systems are improving.

ITB Berlin already integrates digital participation tools. Other European travel trade events are accelerating their online components.

Hybrid attendance reduces risk exposure. It lowers travel costs. It ensures business continuity.

However, the travel trade industry values face-to-face interaction. Deals close faster in person. Trust builds quicker across a table than across a screen.

Hybrid solutions provide resilience. But they do not fully replace physical participation.

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