The World Travel market (WTM) is the travel tradeå‘s biggest international travel industry business-to-business event.  Organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, this event is taking place in Earls Court between the 12th and 15th of November.

With over 5,000 exhibitors from over 170 countries, World Travel Market is the ideal forum to meet the industry experts, learn more about the up and coming destinations (from the biggest names in the industry), review the most up to date hotel and conference facilities and compare prices and services.

Last years WTM saw an astonishing total of 48,418 participants, including 26,626 trade visitors, 19,343 exhibiting personal and 2,449 international press.

Fiona Jeffory, Group Exhibition Director has commented that “This year’s seminar programme is the most comprehensive ever in the 22 years of World Travel Market.?E

This year has been an exceptional time for the travel and tourism industry. While the tragedy of September 11th leaves the travel industry shaken up and in a predicament of ambiguity, travel is a way of life. The travel industry is one that people rely on all over the world. Now more than ever it is crucial that we meet at Earls Court this year. As Fiona Jeffrey stated, “This is a time for cool heads ?Eas well as warm hearts?E

” The event is part of the very fabric of the industry. It’s where we conduct business, network, learn about new trends and developments. I believe it is up to all of us to collectively show the world that the industry is conducting business as usual, without fear and with determination,” she said. “We are living in exceptional times, but because of its key role in the international industry, it is even more reason to attend World Travel Market this year. There is much for all of us to discuss and address.”

Visitors to this year’s event are promised the opportunity to learn from the experts. This knowledge can be to the benefit of their business.

The World Travel Market will tackle issues raised by information technology and customer relationship management that are set to have a major effect on the travel industry.

Among the seminars taking place, topics that will be tackled include; What are the secrets of attracting and retaining customers online? What are the trends in customer relationship management? How will smartcard technology revolutionise the travel industry? What is the reality of e-customer relationship management?

There are 21 seminars taking place. Fifteen seminars have been organised under the umbrella “raising the e-standard?E The detailed programme will will be run over the two meridian Days on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 and the Discovery Days on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 November.

Meridian Club members are offered exclusive, fast track entry to World Travel Market on the first two days ?EMeridian Days (Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 November), as well as speedy access on the Discovery Days, open to all industry professionals (14 and 15 November) at London’s Earls Court.

World Travel Market traditionally kicks off with the Forecast Forum press conference for the hundreds of journalists who attend each year. This year, Forecast Forum has teamed up with the British national newspaper The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph to search for those new world wide destinations, hotels, attractions and venues that are set to attract travellers in the coming years. What’s going to be hot and what’s not.

Two major and far-reaching international tourism initiatives will be featured on Monday at World Travel Market. One will recognise a newly forged public/private sector partnership in Mexico, while the other will outline peace through tourism initiatives worldwide.

Traditionally, Incentive, Conference and Business Travel Day at World Travel Market takes place on the second Meridian Day ?ETuesday 13 November ?Ereflecting the enormous value World Travel Market places upon this key industry sector

The debate entitled “Travel United: Into the Unknown”,will be chaired by David Hackett, Chairman of leading marketing and event management agency tmo.
High profile industry panellists will include Graham Frazer, Chairman Maritz Travel; Annie Brooks, Vice President, Sales Western Europe, Marriott and Jane Filler, National Account Manager, Specialist Sales Virgin Atlantic Airlines.

Immediately following the debate will be a networking reception providing an invaluable opportunity to meet and seek advice from the major industry associations ?ESITE (Society of Incentive and Travel Executives), ITMA (Incentive Travel and Meetings Association), the MIA (Meetings Industry Association) and MPI (Meetings Professional International) ?Eas well as the debate panellists.

A debate on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) entitled “Who Cares?Ewill be chaired by KPMG partner Oliver Tant. This will be held at the central feature area on Tuesday 13 November, the second day exclusively for Meridian Club members. It will bring together three senior industry figures and a consumer representative to address the problems and identify the opportunities.

Wednesday 14 November is the 7th dedicated Environmental Awareness Day at World Travel Market and is set to tackle an issue that is fundamental to the future of worldwide travel and tourism. The highlight of this year’s day will be the environmental awareness debate ?E"Responsible Tourism: Whose Job is it Anyway?” ?Eto be sponsored by WWF, the global environment network. In which Dr Fons Trompenaars, one of the world’s most respected international business experts, will be outlining his views on the dynamics of change in the travel and tourism industry.

Additionally, the day will feature the presentation of the Environmental Company Awards sponsored by World Travel Market’s Global Media Network, and two educational seminars run by Green Globe 21 . The two seminars will deal with “How to Go Green ?EImprove Market Position and Cut Costs” and “Agro-tourism: Tomorrow’s New Business ” and will take place during the morning of Environmental Awareness Day.

Additionally Mr. Kiyotaka Kaburaki, Vice President Marketing of Japan’s leading industry publication Weekly Travel Journal is set to speak about the major potential of one of the largest and most prosperous nations in the world, giving facts and figures that will help executives to understand more about his country.

The seminar will offer a profile of the Japanese people, a market overview, spending habits and distribution channels. Crucially, Kiyotaka Kaburaki will also reveal the top 20 Japanese travel companies with whom to possibly conduct business. He will also advise about the best ways to enter business negotiations with the Japanese.
For more info. click here:

www.reedexpo.com

www.worldtravelmart.co.uk

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