World Travel Market has confirmed it will is introduce an extra Speed Networking event following the phenomenal success of the concept over the past three events.

Speed Networking was introduced at WTM 2009 and led to an increase in the amount of business WTM generates for the travel and tourism industry, culminating in WTM 2011 being responsible for £1,653 million in travel industry deals – a 16 per cent increase on the previous event.

More than 200 buyers and 438 exhibitors took part in the Speed Networking on the Monday morning of WTM 2011.

The event took place before the exhibition opened to give exhibitors and buyers from the WTM Meridian Club even more time to discuss and conclude business deals.

Furthermore, the WTM Meridian Club Networking Breakfast was introduced on the final morning at WTM 2011 to give buyers and exhibitors an informal opportunity to discuss business deals with new contacts.

For WTM 2012, the WTM Meridian Club Networking Breakfast will be followed by the WTM Speed Networking Thursday event, for discussion about further business opportunities beyond WTM.

WTM Speed Networking Monday will focus on driving business deals during the four days of WTM.

Reed Travel Exhibitions director World Travel Market, Simon Press, said: “WTM Speed Networking has been a great success since it was introduced in 2010.

“Both exhibitors and WTM Meridian Club buyers have really embraced the concept of quick initial business meetings to discover if there is an opportunity for further detailed discussions.

“World Travel Market’s purpose is to facilitate business deals between exhibitors and buyers and the expansion of the WTM Speed Networking programme can only lead to WTM generating even more industry deals.”