World Travel Market London 2016, the leading global event for the travel industry, has signed up a stellar list of digital influencers for its comprehensive and always popular blogging programme.

This year will again see sessions, organised by Traverse, spread over the full three days of the event, including the ever-popular WTM Bloggers’ Speed Networking event, which links 100 of the world’s most influential bloggers with exhibitors and their PR representatives.

The first blogging session, Mobile and Live Social Media, on Monday, November 7, will look at the impact of the major players in the ‘live’ social media arena.

Experts – including live streamer Tawanna Browne Smith; food and travel blogger Niamh Shields and Kevin Mullaney, Head of Digital at Flagship Consulting – will discuss the merits of Snapchat, Facebook, Periscope and YouTube and the audience will vote on which they think will be the most important going into 2017.

Mobile and Live Social Media takes place in the WTM Inspire Theatre, EU475, on Monday, November 7 2016, 12:30 – 13:15.

YouTube and the Continuing Rise of Video looks at how bloggers and brands can jump start their own video channel and how brands and marketers can effectively work with YouTubers and video creators.

The panel includes Hannah Witton, a 20-something northern girl living in London, who makes weekly YouTube videos about sex education, feminism, travel and life, plus Evan Edinger, an American YouTube creator living in London.

YouTube and the Continuing Rise of Video takes place on Monday, November 7 in the WTM Inspire Theatre, EU475, 13:30 – 14:15. On Tuesday, November 8, blogging takes centre stage – the WTM Global Stage to be precise – for two key sessions.

Session one: Personalisation for Bloggers and Brands discusses the tricky issue of how brands can build loyalty with a fickle user base and looks at how bloggers use personalisation to have a one-on-one relationship with their followers.

Delegates can hear first-hand accounts of how the relationship works, with input from Cheapflights Pleasance Coddington, Global Head of Content, Social Media, Digital Campaigns and Product, among others.

Session two: Harnessing the Power of Influencers on the Path to Purchase, explores the impact of using social media, blog and video content in positively influencing the customer journey, with insight from blogger Sarah Lee, UK director of iambassador, who has developed and organised several campaigns.
Personalisation for Bloggers and Brands takes place on Tuesday, November 8 at the WTM Global Stage, AS950, from 13:00 – 13:45. Harnessing the Power of Influencers on the Path to Purchase is on the WTM Global Stage, AS950, from 13:45 – 14:30.

Wednesday, November 9 is the day that 100 of the world’s leading bloggers meet exhibitors and their PR representatives to discuss ways to increase media exposure. WTM Bloggers’ Speed Networking, in association with Traverse, takes place in Platinum Suite 3 & 4, 10:00 – 11:30.
Traverse founder, Michael Ball, said: “Traverse is again delighted to be working with WTM London to produce the WTM Blogging Programme. 2015’s sessions were standing room only affairs and we are expecting this year’s programme to be as popular.”

After that, it’s over to the WTM Inspire Theatre to hear the findings of a report by iambassador – the world’s leading travel influencer network. Digital and Influencer Marketing Developments and Trends, presented by iambassador and Toposophy, takes place at the WTM Inspire Theatre, EU475, on Wednesday November 9, 14:45 – 15:30.
iambassador will present the next session: How Collaborations are Shaping the New World of Digital Marketing in Tourism, along with marketers who have embraced digital opportunities to create innovative ideas and collaborations in tourism marketing. The session takes place at the WTM Inspire Theatre, EU475, on Wednesday November 9, 15:30 – 16:15.

For the closing blogging session, the founders of Traverse, iambassador and Travel Perspective will come together for a completely unplanned session discussing digital influencers and their role in the travel industry. Chaired by Jennifer Howze, an award-winning journalist and co-founder of BritMums – the UK’s largest parent blogging network – the session takes place in the WTM Inspire Theatre, EU475, on Wednesday November 9, 16:30 – 17:30.

World Travel Market London, Senior Director, Simon Press said: “The digital world is so fast-paced. Blink and you miss a new trend, feature or tool. Ever since blogging was added to the event programme at WTM London in 2011, our sessions have been incredibly well-attended.

“This year’s sessions focus on key elements that make successful digital and social media campaigns, drawing on a variety of case studies, with insight from some of the best digital influencers, bloggers and marketers. And of course, it wouldn’t be ‘social’ media if we didn’t get the audience involved, so there’ll be plenty of time for views and questions from the floor at the end of the sessions.”

WTM London is the event where the travel and tourism industry conducts its business deals. Buyers from the WTM Buyers’ Club have a combined purchasing responsibility of $22.6 billion (£15.8bn) and sign deals at the event worth $3.6 billion (£2.5bn).

WTM London 2016 will be revamped as a three-day event from Monday 7 – Wednesday 9 November, with opening hours extended from 10am – 7pm for all three days.