Focus on travel technology, luxury and business travel

World Travel Market 2013, the leading global event for the travel industry, will be the biggest and best ever with an increased focus on three growth sectors of travel technology, luxury and business travel.

The new look WTM 2013, which takes place between Monday, November 4 – Thursday, November 7, will see:

– The Travel Technology region becomes its own event within WTM called The Travel Tech Show at WTM;

– World Travel Market is also launching a dedicated Luxury Showcase, in association with fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) event International Luxury Travel Market; and

– Business Travel Market (BTM), WTM’s sister event, will co-locate with WTM at ExCeL for Wednesday, November 6, and Thursday, November 7.

Travel Technology has been the event’s fastest-growing region over the past few years. In 2011, the region grew by 40% and has increased by a further 30% for WTM 2012. WTM 2011 generated more than £102 million in industry deals for travel technology exhibitors and is the biggest travel technology event in the UK (in terms of floor space, exhibitors, and events program).

The success and size of the Travel Technology region merits it being an event in own right. Technology purchasing is done by different buyers to holiday contracting and this will be recognized by The Travel Tech Show at WTM, with dedicated focus and resource.

The Travel Tech Show at WTM will take place across the four days of WTM (Monday, November 4-Thursday, November 7).

Recognizing the growing importance of the luxury sector WTM is launching a two-day Luxury Showcase event, which will take place on Monday, November 4-Tuesday, November 5, at ExCeL, London.

The first day will be appointment-led with the second day including a dedicated conference program.

Finally, RTE research shows 17,000 WTM visitors are interested in business travel meaning the co-location of Business Travel Market with WTM improves the offering for exhibitors and visitors for both events and demonstrates RTE’s continued commitment to deliver new business opportunities for its stakeholders.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Chairman World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery said: “World Travel Market is the event where the industry comes together to conduct its contracting. WTM 2012 will generate close to £2 billion of industry deals, following on from WTM 2011 facilitating £1.7 billion.

“The increased focus on travel technology, luxury and business travel will only increase the business opportunities for both WTM exhibitors and visitors across the four days of WTM 2013.

“Travel Technology at WTM has been phenomenally successful over the past few years so it was the natural and obvious progression to give it its own event status.

“The luxury market has ridden the recent global financial downturn better than any other sector and is a growing market around the world. While the high proportion of WTM visitors interested in business travel means the co-location of Business Travel Market will increase the business potential for exhibitors and visitors from both events.”