The move to a spacious new state-of-the-art venue at ExCeL has coincided with the largest World Travel Market ever in its 23-year history.

Exhibition space has soared to 36,850 square metres, an increase of 12% compared to last year. Almost every region of the world has seen growth with 17 new countries exhibiting for the first time. This includes Azerbaijan, Algeria, Yemen, Aruba, St. Maarten, Monaco, Serbia, Canouan Island and Senegal.

More than 5,000 exhibitors are participating from 183 countries of which 147 are new exhibitors.

Organisers point to the increase as a direct indication of support for the move to ExCeL, which has seen the largest marketing and communications programme ever undertaken by the event.

Fiona Jeffery, Group Exhibition Director said: The industry faces challenging times ahead and needs and deserves a venue for World Travel Market where it can grow and develop.

ExCeL, without doubt, matches these requirements and in addition opens up a new and exciting area of London for exhibitors and visitors to explore, packed with restaurants of every description, taste, style and price, shops, bars, pubs and other attractions such as nightclubs.

This area is Europe's largest development. For example, next year on site at ExCeL, five further new hotels will have been completed - Holiday Inn, Travel Inn, Ibis, Novotel and Ramada.

The opening day at World Travel Market is the culmination of two years of detailed planning for this moment by the World Travel Market team.

The aim has been to ensure that both exhibitors and visitors were able to travel to ExCeL with the maximum convenience, said Jeffery. For example, we negotiated two unique discounted Visitor Travelcards to save money and avoid queues and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has introduced 24 new trains to provide a two-minute service at peak times.

We have also produced 100,000 World Travel Market Pocket Guides with information on ExCeL and the east side of London.

There is also a team of 'Ask Me' crew strategically located on mainline, underground and DLR stations with distinctive 'lollypop' signs to guide exhibitors and visitors travelling to World Travel Market.

A second team of 'Ask Me' crew, wearing red jackets, will be on hand at ExCeL to help everyone around the venue.

Ms. Jeffery said that many companies had taken advantage of the 55 meetings and function rooms during the four days with a wide variety of events. In addition, World Travel Market has organised a comprehensive programme of free conferences, debates, seminars, presentations and briefings. There is also a full programme of events staged at the Central Feature Area.

Monitors in ExCeL's Boulevard will relay the official Opening Ceremony by Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, on Monday 11 November in the presence of the Guest of Honour, HM Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan. The world renowned Riverdance will provide the entertainment.

Many new initiatives have been produced for the event including the largest social programme ever. On Monday evening the spectacular free World Travel Market Official Welcome or WOW for short, takes place on the river immediately outside ExCeL from 6.00 pm, after the exhibition closes for the night.
During the event, exhibitors and visitors will be able to enjoy ExCeL's waterside location. Seven river cruisers will be moored at the quayside for corporate hospitality functions and dining during the week.

During World Travel Market, ExCeL venue will host a Creative Quarter's Christmas Fair. Situated on Royal Victoria Square, just outside ExCeL's main West Entrance, the World Travel Market Fair will have 100 stands, offering everything from art, sculpture, fashion and footwear, ceramics and jewellery, to exclusive 'Steiff' teddy bears, children's wear and many other gifts.

The Christmas Fair will also feature an international food court and relaxation area, serving hot and cold food from across the globe, including Chinese, Thai, Indian, Moroccan, Creole, as well as soups, cr