THE second edition of ILTM Americas held at The Fairmont Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya in Mexico saw the number of one-to-one business appointments more than doubling year on year, from 6,000 to 13,000. This year’s event welcomed 230 buyers from 14 countries across the Americas, and 56 per cent of these buyers had never visited an ILTM event before, while 80 per cent were new to ILTM Americas. The event also welcomed 228 exhibitors from 40 countries, of which 46 per cent were new guests to the show.
A total of 13,000 mutually matched, face-to-face business appointments took place throughout the four-day event, introducing buyers and agents to explore the world’s most exclusive luxury travel experiences.
Jack Horne, senior vice president, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts , exhibitor at the show this year summed up his experience: “The on-going success of ILTM Americas is evident: the appointments have doubled and more people are here because there’s business to be done. I think the networking is exceptional, and it’s a wonderful experience.”
Exhibitors, who in 2012 experienced an ROI of 10 times their investment, were enthusiastic in their praise for the event: “This is the second edition of ILTM Americas that Grupo Habita has attended and before we even arrived, we had 69 appointments with the very best buyers we could only dream of meeting. For a hotel group with less than 500 rooms across 14 properties in seven destinations, this is a great achievement. The meticulous planning and organisation of the event has made ILTM Americas a huge success for us. We will definitely be back next year,” said exhibitor Rafael Micha, managing partner, Grupo Habita.
“ILTM Americas has been incredible for Africa Travel to identify new markets, make new face-to-face connections and really get to know the potential of the Latin American market. The introduction to such high-profile media has also been phenomenal – a really intensive and really successful four days of business,” said Aaron Pinkwasser of Africa Travel.
Buyers at ILTM Americas were also keen to share their experiences. Liz Costello of Envisage Travel, USA, stated “ILTM has done an absolutely brilliant job matching travel industry suppliers with sellers of travel like myself. Our businesses are increasingly global, and the hospitality industry is rapidly growing along with the economy. What ILTM has done with their keen screening connects us in a forum that is so efficiently run, it is simply the most effective networking I’ve ever experienced. The Americas show provides a slightly more relaxed venue, but thankfully ILTM ensures we’re all here to conduct serious business.”
Mark Walsh, portfolio director, ILTM Events, reflected on the growth of the event from the previous year: “ILTM Americas has grown 53 per cent year on year. This proves not only that Latin America continues to grow as a market for luxury travellers and travel providers, but demonstrates the potential of the entire Americas as a single continent. We continue to see the potential in Mexico and its economic strength, as a key player in the MINT emerging market destinations (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey), makes it an ideal location for the event”.