This year's Trade Open Days at World Travel Market - Wednesday and Thursday November 13 and 14, ExCeL, Dockland's London - gives travel trade professionals the opportunity to meet over 5,000 exhibitors representing over 180 countries and participate in the many conferences, debates, seminars and workshops dealing with issues that directly impact on the industry.
Fiona Jeffery, group exhibition director, World Travel Market comments: "We have created a two day programme that tackle issues as diverse as branding, technology and training to online distribution, sustainable tourism and global marketing. "Additionally, we have linked up with some of the biggest and most respected names within the industry - Travel Choice, OTC, My Travel, Advantage and World Choice, KPMG, WWF, United Nations Environment Programme, ABTA, CIMTIG, and the UK's leading travel trade publications." Now in its eighth year, Environmental Awareness Day has become an established and highly popular part of WTM. Supported by WWF, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ABTA and Green Globe 21, it is a day of diversity, an opportunity for those who have not as yet embraced the issues to do so and to recognise the effect and impact they potentially have on their business. WWF, the global environment network, will be sponsoring the debate for the second year running. 'Destination Sustainability' is to be hosted, as last year, by broadcaster and TV personality John Stapleton. United Nations Environment Programme together with Tour Operators Initiative are running a workshop entitled 'Sustainable Tourism; Your future - The Business Perspective' and Green Globe 21 a mini conference on 'Organic Agritourism and Rural Ecotourism'. In addition the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) are holding a seminar on 'Corporate and Social Responsibility'.