WORLD Travel Market 2006 has raised the quality of business visitors to this year’s event with an expected increase in the amount and value of business conducted during the four days, according to a statement.
Tightening of the membership criteria for Meridian Club buyers – which through independent research had been requested by exhibitors – has meant overall attendance was down just 2 per cent compared to last year, resulting in a substantially increased visitor quality, the WTM statement said.
Un-audited figures reveal that 47,544 professionals attended the event with a 13 per cent rise in trade visitors (9,661), four per cent increase in exhibiting personnel and a 10 per cent uptake in media (3,165) compared to 2005. Meridian Club membership dropped 14 per cent.
“Early feedback about the extent of business conducted during the event has been extremely encouraging and even on the final day, exhibitors who remained were reporting major business deals of £100,000 ($193,317) plus,” said Fiona Jeffery, WTM managing director.
Jeffery said that although the figures are not audited, she expects them to be broadly in line with the official figures available at the end of the year.