The Jumeirah Group is among leading luxury travel companies participating in this week’s International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes which has provided thousands of hosted buyers and exhibitors with an economic insight into 2012 and an opportunity to find out which innovations are driving the luxury travel market share.

Trends and topics that have been highlighted at this year’s event include the rise and rise of multigenerational travel, the importance of acting swiftly to manage the online brand reputation, the ongoing respect for a commitment to sustainability and how adding value via new and creative solutions is essential to stay ahead.

Simon Mayle, Marketing Manager explained: “ILTM 2011 features 49,214 appointments between 1265 luxury travel suppliers and 1268 high-end travel buyers - an increase of 4% year on year. The event really does represent the positive future for luxury travel today.”

Today will include a spotlight on luxury with award winning Jumeirah Group with its expanding portfolio that includes landmark hotels such as Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai; Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London; Jumeirah Frankfurt in Germany, Jumeirah Essex House in New York; Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai and Jumeirah Dhevanafushi in the Maldives.

The Madinat Jumeirah

The Jumeirah Group, which has been nominated in the category of World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand by the World Travel Awards, opened the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel on the Arabian Gulf in the Ras Al Akhdar area of into Abu Dhabi in November, marking the first Jumeirah property to open in the UAE’s capital.

Consisting of 382 guestrooms and suites, 199 fully-serviced residences, 12 restaurants, bars and lounges, Talise Spa and one of the largest conference centres in Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers stands 280 metres tall and is furnished throughout in a modern contemporary design using rich materials including highly prized Italian marble, custom-designed hand-tufted carpets and photographic art works depicting life in Abu Dhabi during the 1960s from the private photographic collection of His Highness Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.

Meanwhile in 2012, the Jumeirah Group [url=http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/jumeirah-group-to-manage-grand-hotel-via-veneto-in-rome/
]will make its first foray[/url] into Rome as it steps in to manage the five-star luxury Grand Hotel Via Veneto. The property will be integrated into the Jumeirah’s portfolio of luxury hotels and rebranded as Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto, Rome.

Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group, commented: “Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto is an important and fitting addition to Jumeirah Group’s portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts. It is also a key part of our global expansion plans following our hotel openings in Dubai, Frankfurt, Shanghai, the Maldives and Abu Dhabi this year. From a Dubai perspective, we are also encouraged that it coincides with the launch of Emirates Airlines’ A380 service to Rome.”

Over the next nine months a further six Jumeirah hotels will open in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the Maldives, Mallorca, Baku and Kuwait.

The Jumeirah Essex House in New York

Jumeirah Group also runs the luxury serviced residences brand Jumeirah Living; the spa brand Talise; Jumeirah Restaurants; Wild Wadi Waterpark; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; and Sirius, its global loyalty programme.

The Jumeirah Group will be among a number of other World Travel Award winners attending the ‘invitation only’ ILTM, which selects only the world’s most elite luxury travel buyers and sought after suppliers.

Exhibitors range from airlines and private jets, to spa and wellbeing, to skiing resorts, golf resorts, cruise lines and luxury hotels to name a few from all over world, with an especially high attendance from Asia Pacific and Europe.

World Travel Award winners who were invited to attend this year’s ILTM include: &Beyond South & Southern Africa, Anantara Resorts, Amanresorts, Casa de Campo, Dukes Hotel, Dusit Thani Maldives, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, several Fairmont properties, Golden Eye Jamaica, Round Hill Jamaica, Jamaica Tourist Board, Mantis Collection, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts,  Qatar Tourism Authority, Rovos Rail, Taj Hotels and Leela Palace.

World Travel Awards Grand Final

After a rigorous selection procedure, Qatar was chosen as the host of the WTA Grand Final Gala Ceremony, reflecting the Arabian nation’s rapid emergence as a tourism hotspot.

Qatar is recognised as the Middle East’s Leading Business Destination by the prestigious World Travel Awards.

Graham Cooke, president and founder, World Travel Awards, highlights how his organisation selects host destinations that are driving the industry to new heights through innovation and experimentation.

He said: “We are delighted to host our Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Qatar as it is such an exciting place to be right now with incredible opportunities within the luxury sector.

“Our Grand Final will see the winners of our five regional heats, who represent the cream of the global travel and tourism industry, compete head to head for the ultimate travel accolade.”