ILTM Asia (International Luxury Travel Market Asia) 2013, the exclusive business hub for buyers and designers of bespoke luxury travel experiences, which held its seventh edition in Shanghai, China, last month, wrapped up a successful show this year with an impressive increase in participation.
Alison Gilmore, exhibition director of ILTM Portfolio, said: “It is our aim to ensure that in delivering luxury travel events we satisfy and exceed the needs of the industry. As a result, this year’s ILTM Asia increased the number of participating buyers by 11 per cent. In our continuing efforts to support the industry, ILTM is committed to growing its events in the Americas, Japan and Africa and will launch a new show, ILTM Spa in London in September.”
Over than 25,000 business appointments were held during the three-day event which was attended by 500 buyers from 19 countries across the Asia Pacific and more than 500 suppliers.
Maita Barrenechea, managing director of Argentina’s Mai 10, said: “This is our third ILTM Asia and it is an icon for our calendar: nowhere else can we develop our relationships with all the top players of our industry. We are now really looking forward to our second year of ILTM Americas.”
Shane Arrold, regional director of sales Asia-Pacific, Orient Express added: “A great calibre of buyers, inspirational panel discussions and really beneficial networking events. From an incredible ILTM Asia, our eyes are now firmly set on the next – ILTM Americas and the opportunity to build relationships with the top-tier buyers from equally important, but very different emerging markets.”
The show hosted an opening forum on its eve featuring Dr Pierre Xiao Lu, an international expert on luxury brand management and a Professor in luxury brand marketing at Fudan University. He highlighted the prominence of China continuing to drive and dominate luxury global travel over the next eight to 10 years.
Dr Lu said: “There are some two million millionaires or super rich with fortunes ranging from nearly $2 million to $10 billion in China and the greater China region accounting for about 25 per cent of the world’s international luxury brand consumption. The key to the success of luxury brands however will be how they identify, engage and interact with China’s wealthy and create experiences which are tailored to suit and fit their needs and aspirations.”
The Forum also included two panel sessions – ‘Trends Among Pan Asian Travelers’ featuring Janet Tan-Collis, chief executive of East West Planners and David Chai, director of Product Development, Tidesquare and ‘Building Loyal Customers Among Asian Travellers’ featuring Markus Engel, chief executive officer of Urban Resort Concepts, Michael Hobson, chief marketing officer of Mandarin Oriental Hotels and Marissa Sukosol Nambhardi, executive vice president of Sukosol Hotels.
Gilmore concluded: “There is a new intensity to ILTM Asia this year and feedback continues to confirm this as the leading luxury travel event for the region.”
ILTM Asia 2014 will take place from June 2-5 June in Shanghai.