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Dedicated day for meetings, conference&incentive travel at WTM goes from strength to strength

A day focusing on the meetings, conference and incentive travel sector has become an established part of World Travel Market. This year’s programme of events – Tuesday 11 November – is undoubtedly the strongest and very comprehensive …

A day focusing on the meetings, conference and incentive travel sector has become an established part of World Travel Market. This year’s programme of events – Tuesday 11 November – is undoubtedly the strongest and very comprehensive .



There is no doubt that the sector has been hit hard in the past years, having to face up to the effects of terrorism, war and SARS to name only a few. To generate debate, discussion and hopefully to provide some answers on how the sector is likely to fair and develop in 2004, World Travel Market has organised a range of debates, conferences and seminars that make this a ‘must attend’ day for all those with an interest in this growing area of travel and tourism.



The key issues of the day can be summed up by the keynote debate ‘Gain v Pain: What Price the Future?’



Who in the sector will gain and who will suffer? How has new technology impacted on the sector? With the cutting of costs and the evaluation of expenditure being a key priority, how will budgets be controlled and measured?



What makes a destination hot? Are crisis management packages in place to deal with the ‘unexpected’? What makes a successful incentive trip or conference? Is there a need for more and better quality conference venues and exhibition halls? Is there a place for a standardised approach to sustainable practices and policies?



The debate, organised in association with MPI UK, brings together five major international players with a broad range of views that are bound to cause controversy and discussion. Chaired by Mary Casey, Vice President Sales & Product Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, panellists include Bruce Macmillan, President and Chief Executive Officer Toronto Tourism; Stephen Dowd, Chief Executive BITOA; Jaap Liethof, Hotels Van Naringhe and Caroline Windsor, founder, Meeting Point.



The day also features four seminars run by EIBTM, MPI UK, CIMPA and ITMA and the closing session of a major two day conference – The Future of Air Travel: The Way Ahead – run by Airline Business magazine. Taking place on the WTM Stage, the session will take an overview of the current outlook and the challenges facing the world airline industry, including liberalisation and the changing market dynamics.



EIBTM will be hosting a seminar with Rob Davison, Senior Lecturer in Tourism at the University, who will be providing an up-to-date review of current industry trends since the publication of The EIBTM 2003 Industry Trends & Market Share Report first published at EIBTM earlier this year.



MPI UK will also be holding a seminar on a topical issue of the day.



ITMA are running a seminar entitled “Regulatory Confusion: Measure Up’ and Dr Andrea Sigler from CIMPA takes a look at ‘International Meetings in a Changed Meeting World’



Commenting on the day Fiona Jeffery, Group Exhibition Director said: ‘This day puts the meetings, conference and incentive travel sector at the heart of the travel and tourism industry.”

Co-Founder & Managing Director - Travel Media Applications | Website | + Posts

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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