LCC Summit 2026 brings together 180 participants from 43 markets to explore AI, innovation and the future value of human-centered travel consulting

Frankfurt/Vilnius, 16 June 2026 –– Lufthansa City Center International (LCCI) has successfully concluded its LCC Summit 2026, held from 7–9 June 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva in Vilnius, Lithuania. Bringing together 180 participants from 43 markets and 28 suppliers from across the global travel industry, the summit focused on how artificial intelligence, automation and next-generation agency tools are reshaping the future of travel services.

At the same time, the summit delivered a clear message: while AI is transforming the industry, people remain the true differentiator. Audience feedback identified two equally powerful takeaways from the three-day event — the relevance of “AI, technology and keynote inspiration” and the importance of “networking and human connection,” each named by 27.7% of attendees. This balance became the defining message of the summit: the future of travel will be tech driven, but human centered.

The new summit format marked a clear shift from traditional conference structures toward a more agile, interactive and operationally focused event concept. A dedicated supplier expo was combined with an innovation barcamp format, allowing LCC travel agency entrepreneurs to experience hands-on solutions for their daily business. Key topics included AI applications, automation, travel technology and practical tools for the next generation of travel agencies.

The summit also strengthened Lufthansa City Center International’s global supplier ecosystem, with new collaborations established with ACAI and Infarsight to support international LCC offices through AI-driven technology offers for daily operations. These partnerships underline the network’s commitment to equipping agencies worldwide with practical tools for efficiency and growth. In addition, Cumbaya presented its product during the summit, showcasing further potential; a formal partnership is yet to be finalized.

“The summit’s key message was clear: AI will accelerate the travel industry, but human expertise, empathy, creativity and trusted relationships will continue to define the value of professional travel consulting,” said Heiko Brix, Managing Director of Lufthansa City Center International. “For Lufthansa City Center, technology is not a replacement for people. It is a powerful enabler that helps our entrepreneurs deliver even greater value to customers around the world.”

A powerful conclusion to the summit was delivered by futurist and technology expert Christian Kromme with his keynote “The Human Spark Beyond AI.” His central question to the audience — “What is your spark? What is inside you that is worth amplifying?” — captured the spirit of the event. Kromme emphasized that humans will continue to outperform AI in areas such as flexibility, ethics, compassion, relationships, purpose, creativity, curiosity and empathy — moving from hard skills to “heart skills.”

AI was explored from multiple perspectives across the customer journey and the wider travel industry. Workshops by Saudia, Lufthansa, RateHawk and Amadeus showed how artificial intelligence can support daily operations, enhance productivity and create new business opportunities for travel agencies.

The summit was also connected on the pre-day to the LCC Business Travel Meeting, a dedicated in-person format for LCC members specializing in the global corporate TMC ecosystem. Attended by 38 members from the United States, Asia and across Europe, the session focused on AI applications and technology best-practice use cases from within the LCC Business Travel network. It also marked the launch of a new corporate marketing campaign and the tagline: “Tech Driven. Human Centered. Globally Delivered.”

The choice of Vilnius as host destination reflected the summit’s forward-looking mindset. The Lithuanian capital offered an ideal setting for an international business event, combining a dynamic innovation ecosystem with outstanding hospitality, short distances and strong MICE infrastructure. Participants also experienced the city’s creative meeting culture first-hand, including modern venues such as Aerocity.

“Vilnius was the perfect place to bring the Lufthansa City Center world together in a new, more agile format,” said Siiri Palisaar, Senior Director Sales Steeringx. “The city combines rich history, cultural individuality, a strong start-up spirit and a remarkable pace of change. That made it an ideal setting to work on the future of our industry — and on the value Lufthansa City Center partners can create in times of revolutionary transformation.”

Lufthansa City Center International extends special thanks to the event hosts Go Vilnius and Lithuania Travel, as well as to the hosting Lufthansa City Center West Express, whose support and local expertise contributed significantly to the success of the summit.

The summit demonstrated how industry events can move beyond traditional conference formats and become agile platforms for experimentation, implementation and meaningful exchange in a rapidly evolving travel market. This is especially relevant as the LCC network celebrates its 35th anniversary this year — staying true to its roots while continuously embracing innovative new ways to shape the future of travel.

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