p12 ILTM Dec18 16/12/09 16:13 Page 12
news conference report
ttglive.com
International Luxury
Travel Market 2009
December 7–10 ■ Cannes
HOTELIERS.
‘Barometer’ event
shows confidence
HOTELIERS said they felt the recession had
bottomed out and business was starting to look
a lot more normal.
Jennifer Fox, InterContinental’s chief operating
officer for Europe, said: “Booking pace seems
back to normal. But we won’t see real rate return
for another year yet. Leisure travel has kept
hotels going, especially in some markets where
the corporate market was around 25% down.”
Six Senses’ founder and chief executive, Sonu
Shivdasani, said he had been surprised by how
well the group’s most expensive room categories
Optimism was high among the 3,000 buyers and
had performed this year. He added the company
suppliers at the luxury sector’s leading annual
was continuing to seek new and remoter
destinations for resorts, to fulfil a “demand for
show. April Hutchinson reports from Cannes
scarcity and rarity” among affluent travellers.
Elegant Resorts’ commercial director, Alison
Scott, said: “The general vibe from everyone at
‘Are you future-proof?’
the show was a lot more positive this year and
there seemed to be signs of recovery.”
ILTM exhibition director Debbie Joslin said:
“Many people saw this year’s ILTM as a
AGENTS and suppliers in the luxury sector need year. Travel has been going one of two ways: barometer on the luxury travel market sector:
to make products and services relevant for the commoditisation with sales based purely on it seems the sector can look to 2010 with
“next generation”, according to American agency price, or completely service-driven,” she said. confidence and renewed optimism.”
consortium Virtuoso. John Gianquitto, chief executive of The
President Kristi Jones said: “The current glut Appointment Group, said: “Travel advisers now
of luxury hotels and property was built to appeal have little more than their service to put them
SPACE TOURISM.
to ‘baby boomers’, but I don’t think people know above competition from the internet.”
ILTM reaches for the stars
how to appeal to the next generation of affluent He added that hotels needed to use
young travellers.” technology to recognise guests more effectively, THE DEMAND for consumer space
Virtuoso was seeking to bring in younger including knowing what each guest looks like travel has been accelerated during
advisers who could understand the travel needs before they arrive and addressing them the recession, according to Space
of their peers, she added. personally at all main contact points. Adventures’ vice-president of sales
“One of the key factors is the technology used “Hotels are lacking behind other sectors in and marketing, Tom Shelley.
to communicate with them. They also expect these types of customer recognition,” he said. He was backed by keynote
their world to be much more socially and speaker Dr Buzz Aldrin (pictured), one of the first
culturally responsible, so travel providers have men to set foot on the moon. He said: “Opening
to respond to and respect that.” ILTM 2009: The show, now in its eighth year, up the commercial elements of space travel was
Speaking during the inaugural ILTM Ultratravel attracted about 3,000 buyers and suppliers from the right thing to do as there are clearly gaps in
Forum, Jones said Virtuoso’s strength in service 70 countries. All buyers were vetted before what governments are doing with their own
provision had helped it through the recession. being invited to attend. They engaged in 43,000 space programmes.”
“Even in January 2009, bookings through the appointments with suppliers over the three-day Richard Branson made a pre-recorded address
network’s travel advisers were up by 3% on 2008, show. Next year’s event is set for December 6-9. to the ILTM audience on the eve of his unveiling
and in November they were up by 46% year on of SpaceShipTwo in the Mojave Desert last week.
12 18.12.2009
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