CHANGES are happening within the admissions policy of this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) from November 10 to 13, to better facilitate business across all four days of WTM, say WTM organisers.
On opening day on November 10 admission is by invitation only, open to pre-registered ministers, exhibitors, international press and exhibitor invited guests. Visitors wishing to attend on Monday 10 are advised not to make any travel arrangements unless they have received their official invitation confirming their admission to WTM on this day.
Exhibitors will be asked to submit the names of key trade professionals that they would like to meet and do business with on the opening day. WTM will send an invitation by email to all of the exhibitor invited individuals in early September 2008.
On November 11 through to 13 admission is open to all pre-registered travel trade industry professionals including Meridian Club members, trade visitors, exhibitors and international press. Only pre-registered World Travel Market visitors who are badge holders, trade visitors who register on the day and exhibitor badge holders will be able to attend World Travel Market. World Travel Market is not open to the general public.
Visitors who have not pre registered will have to pay an admission fee to enter, and these are £295 for November 10, and £45 for the remaining days.
WTM remains a trade only exhibition, and offers a full programme of conferences, seminars, B2B meetings, and industry initiatives including the UNWTO Minister’s Summit, WTM World Responsible Tourism Day (WTM WRTD) and other exhibitor to exhibitor networking initiatives.
Speaking about the new policy, exhibition director Craig Moyes said, “The new admissions policy is a very exciting step for the future of World Travel Market. It underpins the value of WTM as a four day business to business forum for the travel and tourism industry and re-enforces the significance of delivering buyers to exhibitors.”
The opening day exhibitor invitation process will be managed by WTM. Allocations for exhibitor invitations will be calculated in accordance with stand size and the number of registered exhibiting partners. The deadline for submission is August 18, 2008. All opening day exhibitor invitees will be contacted directly by WTM.
The new admissions policy separates the Meridian Club brand from the admission policy structure and eliminates previous misuse of the brand purely to gain access to WTM during the first two event days, according to organisers.
The Meridian Club will be defined as its own brand to truly identify senior industry buyers. Members will continue to benefit from the exclusive use of the Meridian Club Lounge, the special exhibitor networking opportunities including the M Bar and meeting room facilities, welcome packs and Meridian Club badge, allowing exhibitors to identify buyers on the show floor.
The new policy creates more flexibility to visiting travel trade professionals and exhibitors alike. Both have more scope and opportunity to meet with one another across the full four days.
Other requirements are that visitors must wear business dress as a condition of entry, must be involved in the travel trade industry and associated industries and badge holders must not allow their badges to be worn by anyone else.
All attendees should carry some form of photo-ID (passport, photo-ID driving licence, national identity card) or other identification acceptable to the organisers (Reed Exhibitions), which they may need to see.
Visitors must not take part in any canvassing, leafleting, demonstrations or any disruptional activity. The organisers reserve the right to exclude or remove anyone from WTM and ExCeL London who do not comply with this policy or who they reasonably consider are likely to break these rules.
Those under 16 years old will not be admitted. Student admissions are restricted to individuals on travel and tourism related courses that are accompanied to the exhibition by college tutors or lecturers and have pre-registered for the event. Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis. The invitation to attend is based on an acceptance of the Student Codes of Conduct.
Smoking is no longer allowed within the venue during WTM (and including ExCeL London).