The world’s most elite luxury travel specialists will meet in Cannes in December to source new ideas and meet new suppliers to satisfy evolving high spending customer demand at the leading ‘by-invitation-only’ International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM).

Simon Mayle, ILTM Marketing Manager, comments: “The high-end travel industry is currently facing a huge opportunity with new customers, hotels and luxury experiences from emerging markets. Luxury travellers from across the globe are broadening their travel tastes, seeking new and authentic experiences. As we prepare to meet at next week’s ILTM, creating and maintaining good relationships between agents, luxury travel suppliers and other partners in luxury travel design has never been more essential.”

The most established brand names in luxury travel from over 70 countries across the world have been approved to attend this year’s ILTM including Relais & Chateaux, The Dorchester Collection, Amanresorts, Orient Express Trains & Cruises and Four Seasons. There are also many new high-end travel suppliers attending, including luxury lodges such as Cicada Lodge in Australia, Minaret Station in New Zealand (accessible only by helicopter) and Pikaia Lodge - a 5* eco-lodge set in the crater of an extinct volcano in The Galapagos Islands. Other new, innovative experiences revealed at ILTM include Riad Kneife vintage and design shopping in Paris, Calvados Club whose programmes in the Balkans include truffle hunting in Istria, dining in historical Roman palaces or private fishing cruises or Luxury Adventures Iceland with their indigenous offering of black sand beaches, 130 volcanoes, 10,000 waterfalls and 24 hours of daylight.

The ILTM Ultratravel Forum on Monday 5 December will profile The Economist’s views of ‘The World in 2012’; an overview of ‘The New Luxurian’ - defining the luxury consumer by generation and a high-level live debate exploring ‘Does the Luxury Travel industry meet the needs of a new generation of Luxury Travellers?’.

Isadore Sharp, founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is the ILTM guest of honour and will also take part in a live interview on stage at the close of the Ultratravel Forum.

Shelby Donley of the US based Camelback Odyssey Travel commented: “ILTM really is the most important gathering of who’s who in the luxury travel industry as well as the place to find hidden new gems and make contacts at properties I’ve heard of but am not familiar with.  It also means that as we go into 2012, I will be able to better service my clients, as I will have real relationships with all the stakeholders in my designed travel programmes.”