WTM on course to break records

THE 2013 edition of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, UK,  is expected to set a new record in terms of business deals, according to Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the event’s organiser.

Last year’s event saw a staggering £1.86 billion ($3 billion) in travel and tourism deals set a new record for the show but this year RTE expects this figure to  cross the £2-billion mark, RTE director, World Travel Market, Simon Press tells TTN in an exclusive interview.

Last year’s record was achieved thanks to an enhanced Speed Networking programme for exhibitors and Meridian Club buyers to start, continue and conclude business negotiations, he says, adding that he expects this year’s event, to be held from November 4 to 7 at the ExCel in London, to be the best ever, with more than 200 new exhibitors in attendance. Excerpts from the interview....

2012 projected a 13 per cent increase in travel and tourism industry deals from 2011. What are your expectations and predictions for 2013?

We anticipate that WTM 2013, the leading global event of travel industry, will lead to more than £2 billion industry deals being agreed at the event and during the months that follow before WTM 2014. I am delighted that the amount of business at WTM continues to increase each year. This success is firmly positioning WTM as the must-attend exhibition for national and regional tourist boards, global brands and technology companies. The amount of business conducted at WTM clearly demonstrates WTM means business.

What new attractions will be on offer at WTM this year?

WTM 2013 will be the biggest and best yet with two great new initiatives taking place. Firstly, the Travel Tech Show is being launched as a travel technology focused event alongside WTM while ‘A Taste of ILTM’ will increase the amount of luxury business taking place on the exhibition floor.WTM 2013 will include a full events programme consisting of some great sessions from the popular World Responsible Tourism Day, Technology and Social Media programme, Aviation and Hotels.

How many new exhibitors have signed on?

We are welcoming over 200 new exhibitors to World Travel Market this year, with increases in areas such as the Middle East, Asia and Travel Technology. We also look forward to seeing the likes of the Ghana Tourist Board, Grenada Board of Tourism, Planet Hollywood and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority back at WTM as returning exhibitors.

What are the highlights from the Middle East region this year?

Middle Eastern exhibitors can expect to conduct a great deal of business at WTM 2013. WTM 2012 saw almost 1,600 buyers interested in the Middle East attend the event a six per cent increase on the year before.

Furthermore, the Middle Eastern region will be bigger than ever with a number of new exhibitors including strong participation from both the Iraqi and Iranian private sector and the Yemen Tourism Promotion Board.

Jordan, Qatar and Dubai will also having some exciting news and launches to reveal at WTM 2013, so keep an eye out for these.

With the ILTM set just a month following WTM, what urged the introduction of ‘A Taste of ILTM’?

We’ve seen a great interest in the luxury sector at WTM over the years, even with our sister event ILTM Cannes following a month later. A Taste of ILTM at WTM is solely for UK luxury travel buyers and key decision-makers.

I am delighted with the response WTM has had to the first A Taste of ILTM at WTM. The two-day series of pre-matched pre-arranged appointments with luxury UK buyers brings a dedicated luxury focus to WTM for the first time, bringing new products to the event floor and new buyers, improving the overall offering of WTM for all participants.

What can be expected from the ‘show within a show’ – The Travel Tech Show at WTM?

The Travel Tech Show at WTM has been created following the rapid growth of the Travel Technology region at WTM, which has grown 40 per cent and 30 per cent respectively over the past two years. The event will sit alongside World Travel Market over all the four days (November 4 to 7).

We have had a great response from the industry looking to exhibit at the first The Travel Tech Show at WTM.

The high level of interest justifies WTM’s decision to create The Travel Tech Show at WTM as a ‘show within a show’ concept and commit dedicated resource to an area of the travel and tourism industry which is growing in importance. I am delighted to welcome thank the many that have increased their space for this year’s event. I anticipate the event will be sold out in its first year.

A number of previous exhibitors have doubled their stand space for the Travel Tech Show at WTM, including online travel agent Hotwire, website company Digital Trip and online distribution company SiteMinder. We also have a great Travel Technology event programme in place.

The Speed Networking Event has been an integral part in the success of WTM over the past few years. What is in store for 2013?

The expanded Speed Networking programme has played an important role in the success of WTM for both exhibitors and Buyers’ Club members (previously Meridian Club members), offering both stakeholders increased opportunities to meet new contacts, sign contracts and conclude deals.

WTM 2013 has a whole portfolio of business and networking opportunities across the four days of WTM, starting with WTM Speed Networking before the exhibition opens on Monday 4 November. On the final morning, November 7, there is the Networking Breakfast followed by a second WTM Speed Networking event to initiate post-WTM 2013 deals.

Last year 310 buyers and 867 exhibitors started negotiations at WTM Speed Networking events. On the second evening there is a networking reception for WTM Buyers’ Club members and exhibitors.

Over the years and in your experience what sort of changing travel trade trends have you observed and what in your opinion is the current spotlight?

The WTM Global Trends Report, in association with Euromonitor International, has a long standing history of accurately predicting trends set to impact the travel and tourism industry.

The launch of the WTM Global Trends Report 2013 takes place on   November 4 at World Travel Market, where the next key industry trends will be shared with the international media.

Launched last year at World Travel Market, the WTM Global Trends Report 2012 correctly predicted some significant trends in the travel and tourism industry. These included:

• BRICS’ Grand Shopping Tour of Europe – inbound tourism from BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) experiencing incredible growth in Europe;

• Digital Detox at Hotels; and

• Destination Nollywood, – the world’s second largest film industry in volume terms after Bollywood in India and ahead of Hollywood in the US, would help boost tourism in Nigeria.

The Global Trends Report, in association with Euromonitor International, is highly anticipated amongst travel professionals and I look forward to finding out this year’s global trends.

By Shilpa Chandran