PHNOM PENH — The opening of the third annual GX Summit, hosted by G Adventures, launched with a party in a magical, only-in-Cambodia setting.

G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip welcomed more than 600 media, travel advisors, VIPs – including Cambodia’s minister of tourism and the governor of Phnom Penh – and other special guests at a ‘Temple Fair,’ on the historic grounds of Wat Phnom, a Cambodian temple in the heart of the country’s capital, Phnom Penh. 

Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, Huot Hak_ Bruce Poon Tip, founder, G Adventures_ Governor of Phnom Penh, Khuong Sreng

At the fork of where the mighty Mekong River and the Tonle Sap Rivers converge, the Buddhist temple glowed after dark – and even the rain couldn’t dampen the spirit of the night.

Within walking distance of luxury host hotels The Rosewood Phnom Penh and the storied Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh, it is a popular landmark for tourists and locals. The grounds were transformed into a Cambodian-style fair/night market, with twinkly lights, food stalls, local artisan goods and the sounds of traditional entertainment filling the air.

David Green, G Adventures’ VP Customer & Sales Operations and Managing Director, Canada, with Canadian advisors at the opening night of GX 2026

“There’s no better backdrop than Cambodia,” Poon Tip told the 600+ revellers. More than 100 Canadians from the travel industry are taking part, including 20 travel advisors, according to David Green, Managing Director for Canada at G Adventures. “There are Change Makers, which is our incentive program for agents that sell the most G trips based on traveller numbers, and there are the Trailblazers, a newer track for agents who have paid to be here that might be new to the industry. GX allows us to showcase the best of G Adventures and Planeterra initiatives.”

Cambodia, known as The Kingdom of Wonder, is the star of this year’s GX, said Poon Tip. “It’s a great partner for G Adventures.” 

Yves Marceau, VP, Product, told Travelweek the company is looking to do more Cambodia-only itineraries and currently has about 30 itineraries that feature Cambodia, along with other neighbouring countries such as Vietnam and Laos. “It’s now about how we revisit Cambodia and how we integrate the latest Planeterra projects. And we are starting to look at creating single country itineraries – which is also a current travel trend. Geluxe covers a significant part of Cambodia and goes to parts where there’s very limited tourism.”

“It’s a country that needs tourism, a country that has incredible tourism assets but, more importantly, it benefits from the transformational nature of tourism when done the right way,” Poon Tip said.

Watch for more Travelweek Daily coverage from GX 2026.

Lead image caption: Bruce Poon Tip, founder, G Adventures (photos courtesy Lucas Kschischang for G Adventures except where indicated)