NEWS INTERVIEW
T
he WTM London team is hoping to make this year’s event a truly capital affair with the launch of London Travel Week as the exhibition celebrates its 40th anniversary. Running from 1-7 November,
the week will coincide with WTM London and highlights the many travel-related events that take place in and around the city. WTM London senior exhibition director Simon
Press is hoping the celebration will help highlight the event and increase its exposure. He said: “We’re launching London Travel Week
this year, which is really embracing the idea that the whole of the (global) travel industry is in London that week for WTM and really celebrating that under the new umbrella brand. “It’s really important to position the industry
to governments and show them how much value travel and tourism generate. “This is not only for the revenue generated on inbound tourism but also the importance of the industry as an employer and also a driver of everything that’s new in destinations. It should be really valuable. “The idea is to break through not just to the
consumer press but beyond, not just for us but for the benefit of the participating brands, whether it be public or private sector.”
LEADING INSPIRATION Press added the decision to resume last year’s “Ideas Arrive Here” theme has been made to again highlight travel’s need to be on the cutting edge in order to meet continual consumer demand for the new and the novel. He said: “We’re really trying to push it further;
we’re looking at innovative perspectives, new possibilities and fresh thinking.” Press added the exchange of ideas had been
greatly helped by the decision to move both the inspiration zones and the majority of talks on to the show floor rather than in the gallery rooms, which are far removed from the main action. He said: “We’ve had some great feedback on that decision, not only from the exhibitors but visitors too. “We saw more than 10,000 unique individuals
attend those sessions over three days last year, although it’s more about making sure we’re putting on the right sessions.
“It’s important to show governments how much value travel and tourism generate”
ABOVE: A session about aviation in the Africa Inspiration Zone at WTM London 2018
“WTM London is all about the business opportunities and bringing together buyers and sellers but, let’s be honest, we’ve got to move on – people attend events for that thematic experience and inspiration.”
BREAKING NEW GROUND Elsewhere, Press said the WTM London Buyers’ Club was being revamped to celebrate the event’s 40th anniversary. Event organisers are expecting even more people will have applied to attend the event than last year, when more than 9,000 took part. The 600 top industry buyers have received
invitations to the event, while a new vetting procedure will mean the data collected will be used to help enhance their experience at the event. Buyers’ Club members will also have access
to luxury lounges with private meeting rooms while the opportunity to participate in at least one Speed Networking event will further increase the option to meet.
GROWING PRESENCE Press added some exhibitors have been increasing their stand spaces, with China alone seeing an increase of 11.1% compared with last year. He said: “A lot of their messaging is not just the cities in China, it is absolutely the whole country and the regions, whether it’s the mountains, the coast or the interior.” He added that Turkey was also growing its
presence with the introduction of two new regions, India remains strong and Saudi Arabia is using the event to highlight its new luxury tourism development, the Red Sea Project. Speakers confirmed to appear at the event
include Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss and Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi, while Monday’s Leaders’ Lunch will be addressed by Lord Sebastian Coe and psychologist and writer Dr Kevin Dutton. “They’re going to do a double act,” Press said.
“They are unpacking the DNA of leadership and how leaders use it for business reasons to implement strategic success.” Given the amount of new ideas WTM London
is introducing to the 2019 event, they may yet find further inspiration when they arrive to speak at it.
04.11.2019 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY 49
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