THE upcoming ASIA Luxury Travel Market (ALTM) 2008, is going to be even bigger and better than last year’s inaugural event, according to the organisers who have managed to secure several more high profile exhibitors.
ALTM is the only event in the region held exclusively for the luxury travel industry and will be take place in Shanghai from June 16 to 19, 2008 at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.
“ALTM 2008 promises to be an event that will exceed our expectations. The enthusiasm expressed by all the delegates for the second year of the event, is proof of this. To date 65 per cent of the space has been booked and confirmed, and a third of our targeted buyers have signed up for the 2008 event,” said event director Jay Martens.
This confidence was reinforced by event co-founder Serge Dive. “We have built a great foundation from which to establish ALTM as the annual event on the luxury travel calendar for those who target the Asia Pacific buyers market. Several new exhibitors will be joining us next summer, including Monaco Tourism Authority, One&Only Resorts, Cap Estel, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Conde Nast Johansens and Silversea Cruises among others,” he said.
Organisers revealed that since a group of the top sellers of luxury travel came together for a recent three-day invitation-only gathering, most have already signed up for ALTM 2008 and another 1000 sq m of exhibition space has been added to meet this demand.
“The tremendous support for ALTM shown by our exhibitors could not be demonstrated better than in the bookings we have received; leading the way are the Government of Dubai, The Leading Hotels of the World and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, all of which are doubling their stands, and Relais & Chateaux who are tripling their presence,” said event co-founder David Hammond.
Among returning exhibitors, Sonu Shivdasani, founder, chairman and CEO of Six Senses Resorts & Spas said of the show, “ALTM answers a need for luxury hoteliers to be able to meet small niche travel agents that plan unique holidays for wealthy clients.”
ALTM works on a pre-arranged appointment system, where all appointments are organised prior to the event.
“The success of ALTM is reflected in the number of pre-scheduled appointments that were organised in its first year. Over 10,000 appointments took place over the three days of the event,” said Martens.
The majority of VIP buyers who attended ALTM 2007 have committed for the 2008 event; amongst them representatives from Virtuoso Australia/New Zealand, American Express Asia Pacific, Quintessentially, Ten Lifestyle Management, as well as many independent travel organisers catering for niche luxury travel.
Graham Elsom, managing director, Concorde Travel Consultants said, “The event was very well organised and attracted the class of exhibitor that fits the profile of my customers. We have watched our clients’ demand for luxury holidays and experiences grow enormously over the past decade or more, and therefore to have a forum like ALTM for the players in the region to meet is long overdue.”