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WTM London 2019 sees increase in industry leaders

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WTM London 2019 – the event where ideas arrive – saw a 77% increase in ministerial attendance as well as a higher quality of WTM Buyers’ Club Members. It confirms WTM London as the place for senior travel professionals to interact, connect and understand the trends that will determine the future of the tourism industry.

In total, almost 50,000 visitors from 182 countries attended the three-day event at ExCeL London. There were around 1.2 million business meetings conducted and over 110 conference sessions held. This all contributed to a total of £3.75 billion worth of travel industry business deals being signed.

This year the WTM Buyers’ Club was re-formatted to include a stricter vetting process, which focused on inviting only the top industry buyers with the best reputation and purchasing power.

During the event itself, many landmark deals were signed for the travel and tourism industry. These included a deal between easyJet and Atout France that will see a €1 million advertising campaign launched in the UK to promote French destinations.

In addition to this, several large booking deals occurred at the event this year, which will see clients such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the Seychelles secure increased stand-space heading into the 2020 edition of WTM London.

Furthermore, as this was the 40th anniversary of WTM London, this was a show with a difference. Celebrations took place across the regional inspiration zones to mark the significance of this anniversary, with countries from around the world bringing a slice of their unique culture to London.

The event programme for WTM London continued to advance to reflect the modern trends dominating the travel industry. There were sessions on topics as diverse as responsible tourism, LGBT travel, aviation and the crucial role of technology in the future of travel – thus creating a conference programme filled with fascinating content.

With high-profile events such as the annual Leaders’ Lunch and the UNWTO & WTM Ministerial Summit, tourism ministers flocked to the event; there was a 77% increase, taking it from 43 Ministers in 2018 to 76 this year.

The co-located Travel Forward event also saw similar successes this year with visitors experiencing the latest in travel technology. In only its second year as a dedicated travel technology show and conference – exhibitor stand space at Travel Forward increased by 9%, including 49 new exhibitors debuting their companies to the global travel industry.

Highlights of the innovative Travel Forward conference programme included sessions from leaders in the travel tech industry such as Sector Director for Travel UK at Google, Becky Power, and Managing Director of Virgin Hyperloop One in the Middle East & India, Harj Dhaliwal – to name only two. All of the 33 sessions covered insightful topics outlining how the future of travel will look alongside the next developments in technology.

London Travel Week was officially launched over the first week of November and encapsulated the various events surrounding WTM London throughout the capital. With tens of thousands of senior travel professionals ascending on London for WTM, London Travel Week’s diverse collection of networking sessions, conferences and awards helped to create a truly global hub for the travel and tourism industry.

WTM London’s Senior Exhibition Director, Simon Press said: “WTM London 2019 was unquestionably a great success. We are delighted to have been able to facilitate the business and creative connections of 50,000 attendees, exhibitors, buyers and media in order to form the future of the travel industry.

“By welcoming almost 80 Tourism Ministers and increasing the quality of Buyers’ Club members at the event this year, it proves that WTM London is not only the event where ideas arrive, but where decisions are made.

“We challenge ourselves to keep developing this event and to make sure that everyone who travels to WTM London, Travel Forward and London Travel Week – as well as BorderlessLive in September – gets the best possible experience.

“With more than £3.75 billion worth of deals being generated at WTM London 2019 – this has shown how crucial it is to attend from a business perspective. We are incredibly proud of all that WTM London has achieved in the last 40 years and can’t wait to see how it develops over the next forty years.”

eTN is a media partner for WTM London.

About World Travel Market

World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises eight leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. The events are:

WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.4 billion in travel industry contracts.

Next event: Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 November 2019 – London #IdeasArriveHere

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether they are global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have more than 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Julia Newbound – WTM Portfolio Press & PR Lead

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7056 / M: +44 (0)7775 036 858

Nicole Smart – WTM Portfolio PR & Events Consultant

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7032/ M: +44 (0)79 1955 5510

Seychelles Tourism Board signs agreement with UK flag carrier airline in London

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It is earlier this month during the Seychelles participation at the 40th edition of the World Travel Market (WTM) that the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, and  British Airways representative (BA), Mr. Juan C Giraldo, signed the agreement fastening future collaborations between the two companies for the coming year.

The newly signed agreement follows the contract signed in 2017, prior to the start of direct flight to the Seychelles route including joint promotional activities between the two companies.  

As a result of the signature of this agreement, Seychelles was heavily featured across the campaign, which ultimately lead to a great first year of operation on the UK/Seychelles route for the airline.

On the Seychelles’ side, Mrs. Francis mentioned that with STB’s participation to the 2020 January sale partnership with the airline the destination is anticipating another successful campaign next year as the sale is also supported by a large media campaign.

She further mentioned that the STB’s commitment to the project is also an investment to ensure the Seychelles Islands as a holiday destination stands out in the market at a time when other travel brands are also on sale. 

“This agreement reinforces the collective business rapport between STB and British Airways. Since the airline has started flying again to Seychelles in 2018 the arrival numbers for the UK, market has been increasing consistently to our mutual satisfaction. Our partner investment will definitely up-weight the campaign, which will provide an add-on to our image as a destination,” said Mrs. Francis.

The campaign runs at a peak booking period on the UK and Irish markets.  As such, many airlines, Tour operators and tourism boards including the STB choose to advertise heavily at this time to ensure we are at the forefront of the consumer’s minds as they plan and book their holidays for the year ahead.

The event, which was part of the engagements of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis during her business trip in London also focused on the collaboration of the two companies, their respective strategies.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  www.seychelles.travel

London Travel Week debuts to huge acclaim

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The launch of London Travel Week, which took place from 1st to 7th November 2019, was a great success as destinations, brands and tourism organisations came together to shape the next twelve months of travel.

More than 50,000 travel professionals flocked to London to take part in London Travel Week’s most well-known and prestigious event, WTM London, as well as attend the numerous other industry events that took place in Britain’s capital.

The events that formed the inaugural London Travel Week included over 25 conferences, seminars, parties, award ceremonies, product launches and networking evenings, positioning London as a true a world-class travel hub.

The International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC) kicked off the week of events, with their annual two-day conference, bringing together international leaders in the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors and connecting them with investors, project developers, entrepreneurs, Government Ministers and policy makers.

The Henan Tourism Bureau held a gala in celebration of the Chinese province on Monday 4 November. The event included a seminar highlighting the growing tourism interest in Henan as well as the rich cultural and historical offerings for travellers that are present in the region.

Later that evening, it was the turn of Greece to hold their own event, as they gave visitors the chance to learn how to make iconic Greek cocktails. While shaking up a storm at the bar, those attending were given the chance to network with hotels, tour operators and regional tourist boards from the iconic Mediterranean country.

Visit Rwanda used London Travel Week as a chance to invite international tour operators, buyers and press to a special networking evening with leaders from the Rwandan Tourism Industry on Tuesday 5 November. The evening was hosted by Rwanda’s Chief Tourism Officer Belise Kariza and featured a cultural dance performance, engagement opportunities with travel experts from Rwanda and a screening of the new film, Rwanda Royal Tour. The event was a huge success and illustrated London Travel Week as the perfect forum for showcasing global tourism prospects.

Belize Kariza said of the event: “Rwanda’s participation at WTM London was incredibly fruitful and gave our world class local tour operators the chance to meet and create business ties with international travel trade.

“Our event, ‘An Evening with Visit Rwanda’ highlighted the country’s many and varied tourist attractions – from jet skiing on Lake Kivu to Big Five safaris – and was the perfect platform to foster business between travel trade and Rwandan operators. We look forward to returning for London Travel Week in 2020, which promises to be bigger and better than ever!”

Tuesday night saw one of the most glamorous events in the London Travel Week calendar take place as WTM London presented the second edition of the International Travel and Tourism Awards (ITTAs) at Magazine, London. The ITTAs celebrated the leading public and private bodies of the tourism industry across sixteen separate categories with independent judges choosing the winners of these prestigious awards.

Wednesday night provided another chance to celebrate during London Travel Week as TTG hosted their annual WTM Closing Party. The event was designed to bring together travel buyers, sellers, operators, airlines and the rest of the trade that had taken part in WTM London helping to celebrate its successes. It proved to be a great night for all and a fantastic way to celebrate what had been another brilliant WTM London.

The inaugural London Travel Week demonstrated a wide array of new business opportunities for all in the travel industry to utilise. Julie Thérond, PR and Marketing Lead for London Travel Week said: “We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from the global travel & tourism industry, including event hosts and attendees.

“By broadcasting the events happening around WTM London, we empowered our visitors and encouraged connections beyond their existing networks. We are delighted by the very successful launch of London Travel Week and we are even more excited to see how the programme develops with London Travel Week promising to be even bigger and better next year.”

About World Travel Market

World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises eight leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. The events are:

WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.4 billion in travel industry contracts.

Next event: Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 November 2019 – London #IdeasArriveHere

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether they are global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have more than 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Julia Newbound – WTM Portfolio Press & PR Lead

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7056 / M: +44 (0)7775 036 858

Nicole Smart – WTM Portfolio PR & Events Consultant

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7032/ M: +44 (0)79 1955 5510

Another successful World Travel Market for the Seychelles

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The Seychelles islands sparkled through its strong delegation at the 40th edition of the World Travel Market (WTM), held from November 4, 2019 to November 6, 2019 at ExCel London.

Representatives from various sectors of the Seychelles tourism industry were present at the WTM, showcasing the destination in all its splendour as one of the must visit destination around the world.

Seychelles featured at this key UK event alongside the biggest countries and brands around the world

The Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Mr. Didier Dogley, who was present at the Seychelles stand for the opening of the fair, led the Seychelles delegation.

During the 3-day event, the Seychelles stand, which consisted of members of Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) team and trade partners working in unison to charm the many WTM visitors to the beauties of Seychelles.

Representatives from Maia Luxury Resort, Hilton Seychelles, Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Coco-de-Mer hotel (and Black Parrot Suites), Eden Bleu, the H Resort Beau Vallon and Savoy Resort & Spa were present on the accommodation providers side. Representing the destination management companies were 7 Degrees South, Creole Travel Services, Mason’s Travel, and Satguru Travel.

The Seychellois Company Maz Million was also represented, present at WTM promoting the Maz Luxury Seychelles Tourism Lottery.

The STB team was represented by its Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis; the Regional Director for Europe, Mrs. Bernadette Willemin; the Director for UK and Ireland, Ms. Christine Vel; Senior Marketing Executive, Ms. Mavreen Pouponneau and Marketing Executive, Ms. Eloise Vidot.

While in London, Minister Dogley and Mrs. Francis conducted various meetings with travel trade professionals and interviews with high-profile media.

Commenting on the marketing mission, Mrs. Francis stated the importance of the destination’s presence at such events. 

“The destination’s participating in such fairs is not only a platform for the visibility through the media exposure throughout the events but also provides a perfect opportunity for our local partners to meet the various Tour Operators and Travel Agents in the UK to discuss their plans for 2020,” said Mrs. Francis.

STB’s Director for UK & Ireland Christine Vel expressed her satisfaction for another successful year on the market.

 ‘’The arrival figures have increased by 10% compared to the same period last year.  We expect this trend to continue and further develop our business together with the support of local Seychelles trade partners which will keep the growing confidence of the UK & Irish travel operators and agent in continuing to sell the destination and increase the sales figures,”

Since its start four decades ago, WTM London facilitates £2.8 billion in industry deals and has around 5,000 exhibitors from 182 countries and regions and more than 51,000 participants.

Last year WTM London sparked a million meetings, resulting in around £3 billion in contracts.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  www.seychelles.travel

The UK’s top long-haul tourism source markets are revealed at WTM London

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The USA, Australia and India continue to take the top spot for the UK’s most favorite long-haul inbound tourism markets, according to research revealed today (Monday 4 November) at WTM London 2019, the event where ideas arrive.

In a list of the top 30 long-haul countries and the top long-haul 50 cities, there have been some significant new entrants. Nigeria has made it back into the top 10 countries, up 13.7% year-on-year, kicking out the UAE, and Bangladesh has made it in to the top 30, replacing Chile.

Impressive growth has been recorded from several markets, most noticeably Bangladesh, up 32.5%, China, up 19.8 and Taiwan, up 16%.

The top three long-haul cities are New York (up 3.6%), Hong Kong (up 7.4%) and Sydney (down 2.1%).

The most notable risers in the list of cities during the past year are Abjua (up 21%), Delhi (up 21%), Miami (up 20%) and Seattle (up 17%), all of which have climbed four or more places up the ranking.

The research, carried out by travel analytics firm ForwardKeys and WTM London, was based on long-haul flight bookings to the UK for the year 1st October 2018 to 30th September 2019 and benchmarked against the same dates a year before and five years ago.

Behind the changes in rankings are strong trends including the continued growth of China and other Asian economies, the strength of the US dollar, improvements in connectivity, recovery of commodity prices, particularly oil, the Argentine debt crisis and even the attractiveness of the Cricket World Cup.

Currency, competition and connectivity have all helped keep the USA in the top spot according to author of the research, Olivier Ponti, VP Insights, ForwardKeys.

“Overall connectivity between the UK and the US is improving, there is more competition with flights which reduces the cost of airfares. The UK has become a cheaper destination and it’s easier to get to,” he said, citing Norwegian Air’s 12.5% increase in capacity.

Despite retaining second place in the rankings, visitor arrivals to the UK from Australia are down 2.1%, the result of Australia entering its first economic depression in more than 20 years in the last two quarters of 2018, according to Ponti.

“The Australian dollar was dropping, people had less money and it was becoming more expensive to visit the UK. The situation has improved in the year with forward bookings looking promising,” he said.

In third place, India showed a phenomenal growth, up 14.5% compared to 2018, with a quarter of all Indian arrivals staying more than 22 nights. The Cricket World Cup, held in the UK in May and June this year, were cited as having a huge impact on visitor numbers.

Ponti said there were some general principles that explain why origin markets become stronger or weaker, including performance of the local economy, currency fluctuations, airline competition and major events.

However he said the rise of second tier cities was an interesting trend, one that was most marked in the two leading outbound travel markets – the USA, where 16 cities feature in the top 50 list and China, where growth for the country exceeds the growth of its two biggest cities.

Simon Press, WTM London Exhibition Director, said: “These rankings will be useful to everyone who is in business promoting the UK.”

For more news about WTM, please click here.

eTN is a media partner for WTM London.