Section WTM past & present ® 2001 2007
What do 6 royals, 4 British Government Ministers, 7 industry fi gures, 4 explorers, 2 London Mayors, an opera singer and a Miss World have in common? They have all opened WTM! But how did WTM start and why? Here are some quick facts to take us back to the beginning...
Back in 1980, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and Blondie, Abba and David Bowie were all topping the music charts, World Travel Market fi rst opened its doors and welcomed visitors inside.
The news at the time was full of the election of former actor Ronald Reagan to US President & the assassination of Beatles’ legend John Lennon while fi lm-lovers were treated to the spectacular Star Wars epic, The Empire Strikes Back.
But how has WTM developed since 1980 to be the leading global event for the travel industry? Here are some key facts and fi gures...
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WTM has been hosted in three venues over the years, launching at Olympia, moving to Earl’s
Court and, from 2002, to ExCel, London.
The combined exhibiting fl oor space of WTM totals almost 1.4 million square metres – that’s the equivalent of almost 350 football pitches!
1992 1986
More than 1.2 million participants have passed through the doors of WTM.
WTM’s Global Media Network was formed; it now has 43 WTM offi cial media partners from all around the world.
1994
The WTM Meridian Club (rebranded WTM Buyers’ Club in 2013) was launched. WTM Buyers’ Club is for the industry’s senior buyers who use WTM to negotiate deals with the exhibitors.
2013
The Travel Technology Show at WTM was launched. The technology region has grown by 70% over the past three years and is anticipated to show a further growth of 20% in 2014. WTM 2013 also facilitated £2.2 billion in travel industry deals.
So why come to WTM 2014? With many new initiatives being launched, extended opening hours and record-breaking Speed Networking sessions, turn to page 6 to fi nd out how you can be a part of these exciting 35th anniversary celebrations….
Watch the video here
2009
Environmental Awareness Day was launched (renamed World Responsible Tourism Day – in 2004); this is now supported by UNWTO and leading industry associations.
WTM’s programme was rewritten following the events of 9/11; a two-minute silence was held to mark the attacks.
WTM hosted the fi rst UNWTO Ministers’ Summit on Tourism and Climate Change, a key part of an international programme to widen and deepen the debate on climate change.
WTM celebrated its 30th event and launched its successful Speed Networking programme. WTM Vision Conference Series was also launched which now has events in Moscow, Dubai, Shanghai, Cape Town, Sao Paulo and Rimini (Italy).
2010
Reed Travel Exhibitions launched WTM Latin America in Sao Paulo. 2014 saw further expansion with WTM Africa in Cape Town.
A WELL TRODDEN PATH
In 2013, one delegate walked 120,000 steps – that’s a whooping 60 miles, burning almost 1,600 calories!
Did you know?
EVERYONE LIKES A DRINK
During the last 7 years more than 180,000 glasses of champagne, 9,030 bottles of wine and 875,000 cups of coffee have been drunk...
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