Be in the LOOP with Astrid Oberhummer

Uniting the luxury travel community through knowledge exchange, networking and trend insights, LOOP Luxury Travel Fair returns to Madeira with LOOP Leisure Spring (March 22 to 26) and LOOP MICE Spring (March 26 to 29).
This is a unique opportunity for Middle Eastern hoteliers to showcase their properties and experiences to top travel advisors, building connections that can attract more affluent German-speaking guests from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
We speak to Astrid Oberhummer, Managing Director of Lobster Experience and founder of LOOP, who has been a driving force in luxury travel for over 30 years, connecting top hotels with travel advisors and elite travellers worldwide.

Why should Middle East hoteliers sit up and take notice of LOOP?
Astrid Oberhummer: LOOP was born from a simple belief: luxury travel networking should be precise, curated and meaningful.
No crowded halls, no wasted time - just 150+ pre-qualified buyers and 50+ high-value meetings at LOOP Leisure and 70+ pre-qualified buyers with 35 targeted meetings at LOOP MICE.
Through carefully designed networking activities, every participant connects with everyone else, ensuring each interaction is purposeful and impactful.
Here, deals accelerate, inspiration becomes ROI and connections drive revenue. LOOP isn’t just business - it’s positioning your brand for the future.

Tell us about LOOP’s exciting spring plans in Madeira?
Astrid Oberhummer: LOOP Leisure Spring – taking place from March 22 to 26 and LOOP MICE Spring, taking place from March 26 to 29, will deliver what luxury hoteliers need most: guaranteed access to Europe's highest-spending travel buyers.
Over 150 pre-qualified buyers from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Central and Eastern Europe, and the Nordics - markets where affluent travellers spend 40 per cent above global luxury averages - will gather in Madeira for structured one-to-one meetings with international luxury properties.
LOOP Leisure and LOOP MICE Spring editions adapt Madeira’s natural USPs of longevity as inspiration to shape a specific mindset for how we meet as people, connect and create sustainable long-term value, both personally and professionally.
Through curated formats and small, intentional gatherings, participants experience more meaningful conversations, stronger relationships and more effective meetings, reflecting the Middle East approach to trust and enduring partnerships.

 

 

Why attend LOOP this spring?
To be at the forefront, you need to be at LOOP.
This year, participants will experience the world’s largest cryotherapy chamber, Bodyloop health scans in seconds, yoga, Ayurveda, mindfulness and Madeira’s landscape firsthand. You're not just learning about the wellness market - you're living it alongside your future partners. Relationship-building is our core and we're ahead of where the market is heading.

How does LOOP target hoteliers’ key pain points?
Astrid Oberhummer: Quality over quantity: curated buyers and suppliers, every interaction is purposeful so you meet decision-makers who match your offering.
Streamlined efficiency: meetings, accommodation and networking in one location. Everything is streamlined so you focus on relationships and business, not logistics.
Meaningful connection: it’s not transactional. At LOOP, you're bonding with people, not just exchanging cards.

Are face-to-face meetings important in the luxury segment? How does AI and technology feature at LOOP?
Astrid Oberhummer: Luxury is deeply personal; it demands trust and nuance that screens cannot convey. Buyers curate transformative experiences for discerning clients, and that requires sensing a property’s soul. At LOOP, guided breathing, open-air dinners and immersive experiences create relationships with emotional resonance. Shared moments turn meetings into partnerships and partnerships into mutual success.
Technology enhances, not replaces, human connection. The LOOP App keeps you prepared; LOOP Plus uses AI-powered matchmaking year-round, connecting you 365 days to top luxury travel brands and verified agencies. Intelligent algorithms ensure every meeting matters, while FAM Connect and SPOTLIGHT News optimise strategy and foster sustainable relationships - all without wasted travel or cold calls.

Will you expand to the Middle East?
Astrid Oberhummer: For the past two years, LOOP was held in Abu Dhabi, with exceptional response. Will we return? Why not?
The Middle East deeply values relationship-building, something that aligns perfectly with LOOP's philosophy. Whether in Madeira, Abu Dhabi or anywhere else, what matters is creating a space where genuine bonds form.
Join us in Madeira this March, and who knows where you'll find us next? The LOOP community shows us where they want to connect.

- Click here to learn more or to register for participation