The meeting that was held this morning (13), brings together representatives of the tourism trade, including the leaders of entities and strategic partners.
On the eve of its sixth edition, WTM Latin America, the main global event for the Latin American travel industry, on Tuesday, March 13th, brought together leaders of the tourist trade to present the new features of the event that will be held between April 3rd and April 5th, at Expo Center Norte, in the city of São Paulo.
Fernando Fischer, the CEO of Reed Exhibitions Alcantara Machado, opened the meeting emphasizing the strength of the company, which is global terms is responsible for 500 events in 43 countries, catering to 43 economic sectors and bringing together more than 7 million visitors. “WTM is one of the best examples that the company has as it shows how to leverage our global strength. Our focus is on bringing together qualified visitors and exhibitors who are eager to do business”, he said, adding that,” this year we are predicting growth at all of our events. ”
Alongside Fischer, Luciane Leite, WTM Latin America’s director presented the 2018 edition of the event’s challenges and new features. “Over the past few months, we’ve been studying and listening to the market. We will deliver an event with a lot of innovation and new features, which was made possible thanks to strategic alliances such as those that were presented here today”, she said.
Among the strategic partners who were present at the meeting were Giovana Jannuzzelli, manager of ALAGEV (Latin American Association of Corporate Events and Travel Managers); Michael Barkoczy, CEO of Flytour Viagens MMT; and Danielle Clouzet Roman, CEO of the Interamerican Network South America.
One of the new features that was announced by Luciane Leite was the Corporate Tourism Program, which includes the group consisting of TMG, Abracorp and GBTA, ALAGEV – in addition to the support of the airline company Avianca, which is responsible for bringing 50 travel managers from all over Brazil.
Giovana Jannuzzelli, a manager at ALAGEV, when asked about the strategic importance of the corporate sector within the industry, gave a forceful response: “corporate tourism is indeed a part of the general tourism industry. Destinations are increasingly being sought for corporate events and travel”. The association, which brings together travel and events managers in Latin America, will have its own agenda on April 5th – the other days will be set aside for TMG and Abracorp (April 3rd) and GBTA (April 4th).
The return of the destinations Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mato Grosso do Sul, which had not exhibited at any events in Brazil since 2014, were also highlighted during the press conference. In addition to this, the expansion of the stands for destinations such as Argentina, Turkey and Foz do Iguaçu, along with the very first appearance of Ilhabela and the presence of virtually every South American destination were emphasized.
Supplementing the new features, Luciane Leite stressed the importance of listening to the market. “We received a demand and have created spaces to cater medium and small sized technology and accommodation exhibitors, as well as destination companies that are not exhibitors”, she stated, referring respectively to the Travel Tech Pavillion, the Hospitality Lounge and the Destination Pavillion.
Tour Operators Area
A space reserved for tour operators, the Tour Operators Area already has 25 domestic companies who have confirmed their presence – in addition to another 15 international companies in the pavillion. “We have always worked together with the operators. The difference this year is that we are even closer”, explains Luciane.
Michael Barkoczy, CEO of Flytour Viagens MMT, which is a tour operator and one of the strategic partners present at the meeting, emphasized that “there is a great synergy between us. While the event is directed at the B2B audience, our target is the B2C audience”. “WTM Latin America is an excellent opportunity to talk to each of the 600 exhibitors, in a single space”, Barkoczy adds.
700 agents from all over Brazil
With 36 road and air itineraries, Interamerican Network South America, which is the partner of the Caravans, expects to bring together 700 agents from all over Brazil. “In the space of a single week we commemorate the record of more than 300 registrations made. We have significantly diversified the opportunities and we fully expect to exceed the challenge that was presented to us by WTM Latin America, “says Danielle Clouzet Roman, CEO of the Interamerican Network South America. The executive presented the destinations which already have caravans confirmed: Belo Horizonte and Uberlândia (State of Minas Gerais ), Brasília (the Federal District), Campo Grande (State of Mato Grosso do Sul), Curitiba, Londrina, Maringá and Foz do Iguaçu (State of Paraná), Florianópolis (State of Santa Catarina), Cuiabá (State of Mato Grosso), Belém (State of Pará), Fortaleza (State of Ceará), Goiânia (State of Goiás), João Pessoa (State of Paraíba), Maceió (State of Alagoas), Aracaju (State of Sergipe), Manaus (State of Amazonas), Natal (State of Rio Grande do Norte), Palmas (State of Tocantins), Porto Alegre (State of Rio Grande do Sul), Salvador (State of Bahia), Recife (State of Pernambuco), Teresina (State of Piauí), Vitória (State of Espirito Santo), Rio de Janeiro (State of Rio de Janeiro), and the interior of São Paulo, with towns such as Presidente Prudente.
Content & Innovation
A partner in the area of content and innovation, Omnibees will launch the Omnibees Academy during the event. “In addition to supporting us as a business, we are investing in the training and transformation of the tourism trade,” said Melanie Teixeira, a partner and director of the company.
Also recognized for offering content relevant to the market, in addition to conferences and debates that encourage reflection regarding the challenges faced by the sector, WTM Latin America will have its agenda supplemented by five Speed Networking sessions during the event.
The first day will be dedicated to the Speed Networking session between TMG’s (Travel Managers Group’s) corporate travel managers and exhibitors in the Corporate Travel Area, from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. On the same day, between 4.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m., Embratur will be holding a session exclusively for Hosted Buyers and Brazilian exhibitors.
On the second day, the first Speed Networking session, from 10.30 a.m. to midday, will feature 100 buyers, including Hosted Buyers and members of the WTM Buyers’ Club prepared to receive all of WTM Latin America’s exhibitors. In addition, April 4th will also include the Digital Influencers ‘Speed Networking session, from 4.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m., which will feature 30 digital influencers with the aim of promote exhibitors’ destinations and products to their millions of followers.
On the last day, WTM Latin America will offer a further Speed Networking session between 10.30 a.m. and midday, which will also take place in the Networking Area.
WTM Latin America 2018 will be held between April 3rd and April 5th at Expo Center Norte in the city of São Paulo and aims to attract roughly 9,000 unique senior executives. The event generates about US$ 374 million in new business.
Information – WTM Latin America 2018
Venue: Expo Center Norte, Rua José Bernardino Pinto, 333, V. Guilherme – São Paulo
Date/Time: April 3rd to April 5th (April 3rd and 4th, from 12.00 to 8.00 p.m., and April 5th, from 12.00 to 6.00 p.m.)
Website: latinamerica.wtm.com
Press Support – WTM Latin America
MAPA Comunicação Integrada
Milena Furtado – Communication Analyst
Estela Marques – International Accounts Manager
Marcia Leite – Communications Director
Maria Priscila Alves Nabozni – CEO