WTM Preview
The world at your doorstep
With more than 50,000 senior travel executives from 178 countries and 8,500 buyers in attendance alongside
5,000 exhibitors, World Travel Market 2014 expects to do business upwards of $4 billion on its 35th birthday
WORLD Travel Market (WTM), the leading global event for the travel industry, is celebrating its 35th event this year from November 3 to 6 at ExCeL – London. Last year, WTM recorded it highest-ever participant level with more than 50,000 senior travel industry executives in attendance.
World Travel Market 2014 will facilitate more than £2.5 billion ($4 billion) in industry deals, with more than 8,500 buyers from the WTM Buyers Club attending. More than 50,000 of the global travel and tourism industry most senior executives from 178 countries will be in attendance, alongside 5,000 exhibitors – including a host of new exhibitors. There are new exhibitors taking part in WTM this year including Ajman in United Arab Emirates, Maltese accommodation agency Busyrooms, Saudi Arabia, G2 Travel and the development agency for the Turkish regions of Butsa, Eskise and Bilecik.TTN spoke to World Travel Market senior director Simon Press for more details.WTM 2013 saw more than £2.2 billion worth of industry transactions. What are your expectations and predictions for this year?A poll of almost 1,300 WTM exhibitors and buyers shows that more than one in two expect to conclude business deals of a greater value than they did at WTM. With this in mind, we expect WTM 2014 to facilitate around £2.5 billion in industry deals.What new attractions would be on offer at WTM this year?WTM 2014 has a number of new initiatives, particularly on the final day of the event (Thursday 6 November). Speed Networking between bloggers and exhibitors is the highlight of the new initiatives, alongside new programmes for Adventure and Youth Tourism. The final day of WTM also hosts a new digital hotel marketing conference and industry charity The Family Holiday Association’s annual conference. How many new exhibitors have signed on?We have more than 215 new exhibitors taking part in WTM this year. These new exhibitors are across all regions. Bosnia and Herzegovina are exhibiting for the first time at WTM, as are tour operator Expeditions Myanmar. Visit Denmark is returning to WTM and Flynas is also new to WTM this year.What kind of footfall are you expecting this year? WTM 2013 saw more than 8,500 WTM Buyers’ Club members attend the event, what’s the expected number this year?WTM 2014 will see more than 50,000 participants attend WTM with a similar number to buyers to WTM 2013.