World Travel Market 2003 had a six per cent increase in overseas visitors and a nine per cent rise in…
World Travel Market 2003 had a six per cent increase in overseas visitors and a nine per cent rise in trade visitors, non-audited figures for the global business event held last week at London ExCeL revealed.
Overall there were nearly 45,000 delegates, exhibiting personnel and media as compared to 43,803 last year. A total of 191 countries participated with 119 new exhibitors.
The number of main and sharing stand staff also increased slightly from a little over 18,000 to more than 18,500 – a sign that confidence is returning to the industry worldwide.
Overseas and UK media numbers also rose by seven per cent from 2,578 to 2,757.
Attendance by Meridian Club members was down five per cent from 13,267 buyers to 12,598, which organisers explain is due to a stricter membership focus on quality international buyers with purchasing authority.
Fiona Jeffery, Group Exhibition Director said she was absolutely delighted at the event`s undoubted success. Given the universal climate at present, these are exceptional figures, she said.
Despite the impact of short term challenges such as SARS and the war in Iraq, there was a real air of optimism for 2004, which has been born out by international industry experts.
No other event attracts the number of senior Industry professionals that gathered at ExCeL last week. You only had to look around the halls and the Boulevard to see the volume of serious business being conducted and the amount of networking and catching up with old friends and contacts.
The sheer number of top quality visitors and the initial reports we are now receiving about significant business that took place during all four days is perhaps the greatest proof yet that travel and tourism is getting back on track for the future.
Travel and tourism is still an economic force to be reckoned with in the world which has a wider and positive ripple effect on communities.
She explained that the upscale targeted communications campaign and the largest and strongest event programme ever were also major contributory factors in producing a very successful event.
Delegates were more familiar with ExCeL and the east side of London and with the attraction of a number of new hotels on the venue site and in the vicinity, World Travel Market proved to be much more convenient and enjoyable, said Ms. Jeffery.
However we will continue to work with the ExCeL team, transport providers and other suppliers to continue making improvements where ever necessary for 2004.
The optimism for business next year was mirrored by World Travel Market`s first Global Travel Report, in association with IPK, supported by a number of respected industry associations and launched on the opening day. The report revealed the very latest up-to-the-minute thinking, predicting a surge in tourism in 2004 – mainly because of pent-up demand.
Although the report forecast that tourists were returning, it stressed that yields are still down. Value for money is also likely to be a key issue in the next few years.
New Initiatives
The event saw a number of new and improved features. The comprehensive free seminar, workshop, conference and stage schedule brought together leading industry experts, respected senior management and an unprecedented line-up of well known journalists, television presenters and celebrities to provide a stimulating and entertaining programme.
2003 saw the launch of the Airline Business Conference, The Future of Air Travel: The Way Ahead. This high level conference brought together leading managers from the travel sector with senior airline executives to debate the future of the airline sector.
World Travel Market also introduced a number of new features and improvements to strengthen the UK and Ireland region including a new Youth Pavilion, in association with The British Educational Travel Association (BETA), a co-ordinated London Pavilion and an improved communication and promotional campaign.
A strengthened programme for Thursday included a new agents training initiative, organised in conjunction with top tour operators, incentives, competitions and the new Adventure Game, which underlined a predicted explosion in adventure and youth tourism market in the next five to ten years.
Breaking New Ground
One of the world`s mega global brands – Nokia – the Finnish telecommunications giant was World Travel Market`s premium partner this year.
The event was the first in the world to offer free high-speed wireless access to delegates and the media – the very latest development in internet connectivity.
This meant that visitors with Wi-Fi-enabled laptop computers and handheld devices enjoyed continuous connectivity to the worldwide web at broadband speed in the main exhibition halls, Meridian Lounge and the International Press Centre.
The groundbreaking facility was provided by Virtually the World, a unique one-stop visual and information gathering online resource. The company also provided nine internet cafes at key locations throughout the exhibition with a team from British Telecom on hand to help with technical issues.
Another first for WTM 2003 was live webcasting brought by Travel Media Solutions and Forbidden Technologies where webcams showed live coverage and edited highlights of the event via the WTM website.
Highlights of the Week
- The opening ceremony with David Hempleman-Adams, who in September, became the first man to cross the Atlantic in a balloon; and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight ( taking place on 17 December)
- Captains of Industry Lunch, attended by 120 director-level management from the commercial sector, which raised
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
