DESTINATIONS — WTM 2014 PREVIEW
cruise market (Tuesday, 12-1pm, South Gallery 21-22). With help from Royal Caribbean International’s online marketing manager, digital agency Designate and a marketing consultant, Harmer will look at how to attract new-to-cruise customers while still keeping existing cruisers engaged.
l BIG HITTERS WTM attracts high-profile names to debate the key issues affecting our industry. Kicking things off will be The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Monday, 2.30-3.15pm, Platinum Suite 5-6), followed by the annual UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit (Tuesday, 11am-1pm, Global Stage AS850), which this year takes on the challenge of how to build a lasting legacy from global events. Watch out too for the Global
Trends Report 2014 (Tuesday, 3.30- 4.30pm, Platinum Suite 1) for the insider track on what’s selling well with exclusive analysis from Euromonitor International. Or for a
panel packed with some of the biggest brands in travel, make time for World Travel Leaders at WTM (Wednesday, 4-5.30pm, Global Stage AS850) which will bring together Tui Travel deputy chief executive Johan Lundgren, BA chief commercial officer Drew Crawley, Hilton Worldwide senior vice-president Geraldine Caplin and more to debate how travel is likely to look in the coming years.
l SPORTING CHANCE World Travel Market hit a sporting peak with debates before and after the London 2012 Olympic Games, analysing their impact on the capital. But the sporting story doesn’t end there. Rugby World Cup 2015: the potential for sports tourism (Tuesday, 3.45- 5pm, Global Stage AS850) unites international committee members
WTM organisers expect a record £2.5billion worth of business to be conducted at this year’s show
and former players to discuss how England’s hosting of next year’s World Cup can be used as a springboard for success in tourism as well as the sporting arena. Wednesday’s session, Future
trends in sport tourism as a destination development strategy (10-11am, Platinum Suite 3-4) broadens this
theme, with input from the chief executives of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Tour de France Grand Départ
in Yorkshire among the panel looking at how to harness the potential of
this fast-growing sector.
l FEEL RESPONSIBLE World Travel Market’s dedicated Responsible Tourism programme covers an array of social issues, from wildlife tourism and conservation of endangered species to volunteering abroad, child protection and reducing energy and water consumption. One of the best line-ups will
be at Partnership for better tourism in destinations (Monday, 3.30-4.30pm, Travel Tech Theatre TT390), where Sunvil Holidays chief executive Noel Josephides, Abta head of destinations and sustainability Nikki White and Tui managing director of purchasing Garry Wilson are among those debating how outbound tour operators can work more
46 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 30 October 2014 INSIDE THE ACTION Comment by Simon Press, senior director, World Travel Market
This year’s World Travel Market is the 35th and is poised to be the biggest and best yet.
WTM first opened its doors at Olympia in 1980, when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister and Blondie were
topping the pop charts. Over the past three and a half decades, the event has outgrown both Olympia and Earls Court to become the event where the industry conducts its business. A poll of WTM 2014 exhibitors and buyers revealed more than one
in two expect to conduct business deals worth a greater value than they did in 2013, so we anticipate WTM 2014 will facilitate around £2.5 billion worth of business, up from £2.2 billion in 2013. There are 215 new exhibitors, covering all
regions of the event. Within these new exhibitors there is some really exciting new product and destinations including Myanmar and North Korea. Visit Denmark is returning to WTM, while Bosnia and Herzegovina is also new this year. Furthermore, there are a number of new
events taking place across the four days. These include the Spa and Wellness programme, which includes the SpaFinder Wellness Awards at WTM on the last day of the event. Also on the Thursday is the new WTM Bloggers Speed Networking, which will allow exhibitors to discuss business opportunities with 60 of the world’s leading travel bloggers.
FAST FACT WTM will be
officially opened by former Sainsbury’s
CEO Justin King CBE at the Captains of Industry Lunch on Monday
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