World Travel Market 2013 : More than £2 billion business deals
London: World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, concluded with more than £2 billion in industry deals between hundreds of buyers and sellers.
The first three days of World Travel Market 2013 experienced an impressive overall delegate increase of 5 per cent, covering increases in all major delegate categories.
The first day of WTM 2013 was a resounding success with invite-only visitor attendance up 12 per cent on last year’s event to almost 9,000. It was an exhibitor invite-only day with the aim of allowing exhibitors to hold discussions and negotiations with those buyers that they want to conduct business with.
On second day of WTM 18,292 visitors came to WTM, a massive 7% increase on the second day of last year’s event. A total of 14,324 visitors attended WTM on third day ,5 per cent more than the visitors than WTM 2012 .
According to Reed Travel Exhibitions, Senior Director, World Travel Market, Simon Press , these figures demonstrate the power and importance of WTM to the industry and the role it plays in facilitating business for sector.
“World Travel Market 2013 will facilitate more than £2 billion in industry deals and is poised to the best-ever attended, “he said.
Many had attended networking sessions at WTM and were keen to share experience as it offered the chance to make valuable, targeted contacts in a concentrated period, which enabled them to chase lucrative leads.
London Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise Kit Malthouse said a more cohesive strategy would ensure visitors are encouraged not just to visit London, which currently attracts 80% of all overseas tourists, but to extend their trips and visit other destinations such as Wales and Scotland.
He argued this would not only benefit the entire country financially but would also ensure tourists get a complete experience of Britain, as opposed to simply its capital. – WTM
