World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is extending the opening hours of WTM 2014 to facilitate even more business as part of its 35th event celebrations.

World Travel Market launched in 1980 and has grown to be the event where the industry conducts its business deals.

WTM 2013 saw more than 50,000 senior industry executives attend signing business deals worth more than £2.2 billion.

The exhibition will now open at 9am on each of the four days of WTM 2014, from Monday November 3rd.

Previously, the exhibition opened at 10:00, this will give exhibitors and buyers from WTM Buyers’ Club an extra hour each day to agree business deals.

Furthermore, to celebrate WTM’s 35th anniversary the event will stay open for an extra two hours to 20:00 on the Wednesday evening, giving exhibitors the opportunity to showcase the culture and vibrancy of their destinations.

WTM Premier Partner Flanders and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation are among the many exhibitors that will be hosting WTM Festivals on the Wednesday evening of WTM 2014.

The opening hours for WTM 2014 are:

• Monday November 3rd: 09:00-18:00
• Tuesday November 4th: 09:00-18:00
• Wednesday November 5th: 09:00-20:00
• Thursday November 6th: 09:00-16:00

The Thursday of the show has also been shortened, after complaints in recent years of unattended stands.

World Travel Market senior director, Simon Press said: “We want our exhibitors to be able to share in the long successful history of WTM so are extending the opening hours on the Wednesday evening for exhibitors to host networking parties.

“These events will also give exhibitors the opportunity to showcase the culture and vibrancy of their destinations to their key buyers and visitors.”