Asia Luxury Travel Market ‘09 Hailed as “The Best Yet”

Asia Luxury Travel Market, the region’s leading event exclusively for the luxury travel industry, took place in Shanghai from 15th - 18th June for the third consecutive year, with exhibitors describing it as “the best yet”.

The three day event brought together the top 300 Asian luxury travel buyers from 19 countries, close to 280 exhibitors from 36 countries and over 100 media from 11 countries.The world’s most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious accommodation, resorts and spas, elite transportation and unique travel experiences were represented at the exhibition where buyers and sellers meet on a unique pre-arranged appointment system.  Throughout the three day event over 12,000 private, face to face appointments took place.

“ALTM 09 has been a great success and we have received very positive feedback from the attending exhibitors and buyers,” said Debbie Joslin, Group Exhibition Director, ALTM. “It is now clearly established as a “must” for key players in the luxury travel industry who are targeting the important and still growing Asian markets.”

Despite the challenging times, 30% of the show’s exhibitors were participating for the first time this year, a testament to the growing significance of the Asia-Pacific region as a source for outbound luxury travellers.

New destinations participating for the first time included Oman Ministry of Tourism & Industry and Switzerland Tourism, joining returning delegations from the Government of Dubai, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Maison de la France and Tourism Ireland and Spain.

Exhibitor feedback focused on the importance of higher visibility during the current challenging times and how ALTM helped achieve that.

“As we participate in ALTM for the third year in a row we have extended our booth space because our affiliate hotels are finding the Asia Pacific markets and ALTM more relevant in the current economic climate.  It is more important than ever to be highly visible,” said Roland Jegge, Vice President Asia Pacific, WORLDHOTELS.

“This is the third year Silversea has exhibited at ALTM and there has never been a more important time for face to face business opportunity meetings.  The high quality of buyers we have been able to secure appointments with has led to meaningful and useful conversations with the key decision makers.  We will definitely come back for ALTM 2010” said Steve Odell, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Silversea Cruises

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