ALTM (Asia Luxury Travel Market), the “by invitation only” exclusive event for planners and designers of luxury travel experiences, closed today in Shanghai, with exhibitors and suppliers conducting some 16,000 business appointments during the event.

Acclaimed as the region’s most successful event of its kind, ALTM offered a platform for businesses to showcase their most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious accommodation, elite transportation and unique travel experiences to the Asia Pacific region’s most discerning luxury travel buyers.

ALTM is dedicated to delivering a business environment that provides 1 VIP Hosted Buyer for every exhibitor – this year over 330 of each attended the show. At the same time, more than 20% new exhibiting companies and a similar number of buyers were qualified to participate.

Debbie Joslin, Event Director said “The results of this year’s ALTM proves that the Asia Pacific region is expanding rapidly, driven by strong economic growth in China and already established markets such as Japan. The record number of press briefings by our exhibitors also indicated that operators had expanded their portfolios many to match the trend to have more personalised and unique experiences.”

Exhibitors found ALTM particularly rewarding this year. Mark Wong, Area Director for Asia Pacific Small Luxury Hotels of the World commented; “All buyers were well qualified and relevant to the luxury travel sector. It has been a very rewarding event for us.”

“ALTM is vital for us in penetrating the luxury travel market and we met all the right buyers who understood the needs of their clientele”, said Lianne Kelly-Martens, International Sales & Market Manager, Hong Kong, SE Asia, Japan and Korea for Sun International.

Elizabeth Duke, Vice President Commerce Development MasterCard Worldwide said; “ALTM provided me with great networking opportunities. I was able to discover new trends, such as medical tourism, and learn about some undiscovered properties. I can get 7 months work done in a few days.”

A key highlight of ALTM 2010 was the Ultratravel Forum which was headlined by a panel of high level industry figure heads from both suppliers and buyers of luxury travel in China and the Asia-Pacific region including representatives from BrandStory, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and American Express International Inc.

“The Forum added another dimension to ALTM, providing an excellent insight into what is happening in China and Asia in general”, said, Lianne Kelly-Martens, Sun International.

The focus will now turn to ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) which will take place in Cannes from 6-9 December 2010.

Reed Travel Exhibitions are delighted to announce that for the next event ALTM will enter a new era and be re-named as ILTM Asia. It will take place from 13-16 June 2011. To be part of the world of new possibilities at ILTM events go to www.iltm.net.