REPORT – CANNES - ILTM 2006: The 5th International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) has opened its gates with exhibitors and buyers from all around the world in Palais des Festivals in Cannes until Thursday 7th of December.

The exhibition that is fully operated and owned from Reed Travel Exhibitions since last year, has celebrated its five years of operation and it becomes stricter in its choices and services to the luxury travel market that is addressing.

From this year ILTM becomes a private club where only strictly chosen exhibitors and buyers have the right to participate while entrance to non exhibitors and buyers is not allowed.

More than 1,240 companies from 80 countries are participating at this year’s ILTM and 1,100 buyers from 64 countries are being hosted by ILTM’s organizers. The prescheduled meetings between exhibitors and buyers have surpassed 42,000.

In order to ensure the quality of the exhibitors and buyers organizers have implemented a strict report system. This system is for both exhibitors as far as the quality of buyers is concerned and the buyers for the quality of the exhibitors.

The organizers took also care for the careful increase of the exhibition at 5% in exhibitors’ numbers and 10% in buyers to ensure the character of ILTM as a luxury travel exhibition.

The outcome is that the 98% of the exhibitors in 2005 reported that they have had meetings that will lead to sales in the near future and the 100% of the buyers reported that it fulfilled its ambitions for new suppliers and partnerships.