Now in its third year, Business Travel Market (BTM), the conference & exhibition for European travel buyers, has announced a number of big name exhibitors who have already committed to this year’s event. Prestigious travel suppliers new for 2011 and already confirmed for the event, which takes place 22 and 23 June at London’s Excel include Airplus International, United, Amadeus, Concorde Hotels and Heathrow Express, reflecting the ongoing maturity of the event within the industry as one not to miss.

This year also marks the return of a number of well known sponsors to the event for the third consecutive year since BTM launched, including CWT, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, HRS, Eurostar and Accor. The event will also be joined by new sponsors in 2011 including brands such as FCm Travel Solutions, Airplus International and egencia representing the growing importance of BTM to high quality suppliers looking to meet buyers in a productive environment.

Paul Robin, event director, Business Travel Market said: “Confidence in BTM is high with exhibitors returning now for the third year, boosted by some major, international brands exhibiting for the first time. BTM has received a lot of interest, in particular from travel management companies (TMCs); some like CWT and FCm Travel Solutions returning again - based on their previous success and ROI from the event - but new this year are ATPi, Chambers Travel, Hillgate as well as a partnership with the GTMC..  The TMCs have said BTM is perfectly timed to reach the hosted VIP European travel buyers as it takes place just before the RFP season.”

Robin added: “The display of confidence by the suppliers confirming their participation is clear endorsement that BTM is now recognised by the industry as the event for real buyers and real meetings, where real business gets done! By pre-arranging meetings between suppliers and buyers, BTM ensures that time spent at the event can be used productively.

Earlier this month BTM announced that the number of European buyers being brought to London as part of the VIP Hosted Buyer Programme will be increased by 25%, with 500 arriving from over 20 countries, which means that the average number of meetings per attendee ries from 21 to 30 this year, this is certainly one of the major pulls for international brands.”