The relevant tourism and travel professionals fair will run until November 8, taking place at the ExCel venue in the British capital
World Travel Market is held annually in London, where various destinations and industry sectors are presented to a dedicated audience of professionals from the UK and the world.
It is a unique opportunity for the entire tourism industry to meet, exchange experiences and carry out their activity. For WTM participants, attending the event is a competitive advantage for their businesses and the possibility of being in touch with the latest news on the development of the industry.
This year the event has three exciting new areas on the show floor this year: Accommodation and Wholesale, Experiences and Transportation. The new areas will replace the International Center and will predominantly showcase off-road and private sector exhibitors.
Accommodation and Wholesale, Experiences and Transportation were launched following extensive research by World Travel Market earlier this year, which identified a trend towards experience-based, rather than purely destination-based, travel purchasing decisions. particularly among the younger generations.
WTM Behavioral Research Highlighted Changing Traveler Habits: Millennials and Generation Z Increasingly Making Travel Decisions Based on Experience or Wish Lists, Rather Than Just City, Country or Region that they want to visit.
Juliette Losardo, exhibition director at the World Travel Market in London, said:
“While Generation
“This year we have seen an increase in the number of off-site exhibitors signing up to WTM London, in response to the changing needs of younger travellers, who make travel decisions based on what they want to do and experience.
“The show’s new Accommodation and Wholesale, Transportation and Experience areas take advantage of this cultural shift, offering a place where shoppers can come and see the new and exciting things on offer, all in one place.”
In the Accommodation and Wholesalers area, visitors will find dozens of suppliers, including:
Hilton Hotels & Resorts, a global brand of full-service hotels and resorts and the flagship brand of the American multinational hotel company Hilton; Intrepid Travel Group UK, one of the world’s best-known small group travel organisers, with over 30 years’ experience delivering adventures around the world; European Association of Tour Operators, the trade association for global and European tour operators and suppliers in European destinations; and Miki Travel, one of Europe’s largest and most experienced wholesale tour operators.
Visitors to the Experiences area will be able to find exhibitors such as:
Go City (formerly known as Leisure Pass Group), the world’s largest tourist pass company, operating in more than 30 destinations including London, New York, Sydney and Oahu, and Montparnasse 56, operator of the panoramic observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower offering incredible panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower and other iconic monuments of Paris also waiting to be discovered in the Experiences area.
Sporting event providers are also represented in the Experiences area, with exhibitors such as XS2Event and Champions Travel Ltd, both offering access to many of the world’s best events.
Also in the Experience area, City Sightseeing, the ‘hop on hop off’ tours; Big Bus Tours, which allows travelers to discover places in an open-top bus; and experience in the company City Cruises Ltd.
Last but not least, in the Transportation area, visitors can meet with representatives of companies, including car rental operators and transportation providers, such as:
Rail Europe, European provider of train tickets and passes; car rental giant Enterprise Rent-A-Car; German car rental provider Wheego Mobility; and Global Passenger Network, an organization of independent coach companies operating in more than 40 countries around the world.
Additionally, in the Transportation area will be representatives of the rapidly growing river cruise sector, including the 14-ship operator Amadeus River Cruises, Dutch Cruise Line BV – which operates a fleet of nine river ships – and United Rivers AG, service provider tailored. -White label river cruise operations.
Meanwhile, the topic of experiential travel is discussed extensively during the London 2023 WTM Conference Programme.
The program includes a session by Lonely Planet Vice President Tom Hall, titled Captivating Experience Seekers: Embracing the Next Generation Mindset , on the Innovate Stage on Tuesday, November 7, from 10:30 to 11:10.
On Wednesday, November 8, from 10:30 to 11:10, Vaishali Patel, Founder and Director of Vaishali Ltd ; Jo Fennell, Northern Europe Sales Director at GetYourGuide, and Nishank Gopalkrishnan, Commercial Director at TUI Musement, will take part in a panel discussion titled Curating Unique Customer Experiences Anywhere and Everywhere .
Source: WTM London
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