More than 200 invited luxury travel suppliers, including Dubai-based hotel group Jumeirah, have confirmed their attendance at the inaugural Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM), the first event in Asia Pacific aimed exclusively at the luxury end of the travel industry, said a statement from oragnisers.
Among the brands that have confirmed their attendance are some of the world’s leading luxury brands such as Amanresorts, Peninsula Hotels, Oberoi, Taj, Abercrombie & Kent, Mandarin Oriental, Dorchester Collection, Bombardier Skyjet, Hyatt, Hunt & Palmer, Ritz Carlton and more.
“Jumeirah is delighted to participate in this important inaugural luxury travel event in Shanghai and we look forward to a successful show,” said Serge Zaalof, senior vice-president, Asia-Pacific Jumeirah. “We have identified the Asia Pacific region as one of the key geographical growth areas for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts with expansion targeting both gateway cities and some of the world’s most successful and idyllic resort destinations. This region is now the world’s fastest growing travel market and therefore a key market for us.” With the group currently developing hotels Shanghai and Phuket, and having already established a regional office in Shanghai, participating in ALTM is an important, strategic step for the group with regard to its business and development in this region, he added.
Of the 300 targeted invited buyers, over 260 have already been confirmed and will be coming from 25 different countries across the Asia Pacific region. Top buyers attending the show include Club Concierge from Japan, Hyundai Dream Tour from Korea, and Jetset and Harvey World Travel from Australia.
Buyers are attending by invitation only and are fully hosted.
To preserve the exclusivity of the inaugural event, only 300 exhibitors and 300 VIP Buyers will be allowed to attend the show.
“The demand is phenomenal, exhibitor space and VIP buyer places are disappearing fast. Of course we now have the experience and brand strength of ILTM, but I believe the main reason for such an exceptional start is both the demand for luxury travel, and the luxury product in Asia,” said David Hammond, executive director, ALTM.
ALTM is the sister event to the highly successful International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), now in its fifth year, held every December in Cannes. ALTM is staged in a highly exclusive environment in which buyers and sellers meet on a pre-arranged appointment system. High tech devices known as ‘Spot Me’ will also play a part in helping to make ALTM successful for buyers and exhibitors. This handheld PDA device, which will be made available, is preloaded with details of buyers and exhibitors, and which will allow buyers and sellers to message each other to arrange additional appointments. It even has a radar function built that alerts people when someone that they wish to meet is close by.
ALTM will be preceded by a high-level conference of international experts presenting insights into the latest trends shaping the world of luxury travel.