The new admission policy underpins the value of WTM as a four-day business-to-business event, and so far numerous “must attend” Thursday initiatives have been created to re-enforce this message, and visitors will be able to have more scope and opportunity to meet with one another across the full four days.
Kicking off the day in Platinum Suite 4 at 11 am the WTM Global Economic Forum is aimed at all national tourist boards, accommodation providers, transport organisers, tour operators and attraction supplier MD’s, CEO’s, CFO’s and senior managers.
Chaired by former broadcaster and economics journalist Peter Hobday, a presenter on the BBC4 radio programme Today and Newsnight, the panel of leading economic experts will provide valuable insight for the tourism industry into the state of the world economy.
The third Eye for Travel Technology Conference, Online Content and Conversion Strategies, also takes place on Thursday and is targeted at exhibitors and visitors looking to learn about web content and the strategies.
Genesys - The Travel Technology Consultancy have arranged three seminar sessions for attendees, starting at 11am.
The Tourism Futures session is provided by the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) School of Services Management at Bournemouth University. Leveraging the power of effective communication can be an elusive goal for many organisations. This year WTM are providing exhibitors and visitors with a first hand look into the basic steps needed to master this effective business tool with two hands-on workshops. Workshops entitled The Introduction to PR and Crisis Communications will be provided by Regester Larkin.
A full travel agents programme of events will be running in conjunction with the Thursday programme on November 13 including educational seminars, the Travel Weekly and WTM Passport competition produced by Travel Channel, and new this year isTravel Pop Stars.