WTM® Blog

Gain insight about trends, challenges and innovation across various tourism sectors from our industry leaders, on a regular basis.

Join the conversation by commenting on posts, or contact the Editor to enquire about being featured in one of our guest blog spots.

January 19, 2018May 10, 2018

The package holiday is alive and well

Technology

Expedia has carried out a research study in partnership with The Center for Generational Kinetics. The study is called ‘Generations on the Move – A deep dive into multi-generational travel ... Read more

January 18, 2018August 14, 2020

Women in travel, tourism and hospitality: a case of #MeToo?

Blog, Diversity & Inclusion, Women in Travel

Right from the outset, let me say that this is not going to make comfortable reading. But then, you cannot be sitting comfortably if you’ve being following all the sexual ... Read more

January 16, 2018January 31, 2018

PATA’s excellent new hotel food waste resource shows need for collaborative solutions

Responsible Tourism

This week the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched an impressively extensive resource targeting food waste in hotels. Titled with one of the better acronyms around – BUFFET (Building ... Read more

January 12, 2018February 5, 2018

Five predictions for responsible tourism in 2018… and one I hope won’t happen

Carbon & Water, Development, Human Rights, Overtourism

In my last blog of 2017, I looked back at some of my personal responsible tourism highlights of that year. I’ve been on holiday for most of the time since ... Read more

January 9, 2018February 5, 2018

An Open Letter to a Corporate Traveler (written by a Travel and Events Manager)

Business Travel

*This letter is not real! It is only a didatic and funny way to illustrate to the general travelers and travel arrangers the overall difficulties of this professional in our ... Read more

January 9, 2018January 31, 2018

Taleb Rifai reflects on his tenure as Secretary-General of UNWTO

Development

2017 was the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Taleb Rifai’s tenure of office as Secretary General of UNWTO closed at the turn of the year and I asked ... Read more

January 2, 2018January 2, 2018

Keynote Catch-up: British Airways – A year of mixed fortunes

Aviation

Missed the British Airways – A year of mixed fortunes session? Not to worry, here’s an overview of all the key points from keynote speaker and Chairman & CEO of ... Read more

December 22, 2017December 22, 2017

Keynote catch-up: maximising revenue in the luxury travel space with minimal investment

Luxury

Missed the Maximising Revenue in the Luxury Travel Space with Minimal Investment session? Not to worry, here’s an overview of all the key points from panel member and founder of ... Read more

December 21, 2017December 21, 2017

Governance: whose responsibility?

Overtourism

Looking back over 2017 the issue of governance has come to the fore. The challenge of overtourism has emerged as a cause of significant concern in part because it boiled ... Read more

December 20, 2017May 10, 2018

Is the January feeding frenzy coming to an end?

Technology

Some interesting news from Hitwise. Part 3 of their Cyber Week 2017 report showed increased travel purchase activity during Black Friday in November. As we all know, January has traditionally ... Read more

December 20, 2017

The year in review: My highlights of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

Responsible Tourism

With the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development drawing to a close, I’ve looked back through the year’s headlines to chart an extremely personal selection of highlights from 2017… ... Read more

December 19, 2017

What Women in Travel told us in 2017, and what to expect in 2018!

Women in Travel

So here we are, the end of 2017 is in sight and 2018 is upon us. It has been an important year for Women in Travel as the social enterprise ... Read more

December 15, 2017February 6, 2018

Are convention centres still needed?

Blog, Events

Without a doubt, the internet has nowadays become the largest, most populous, most accessible, most visible, and most practical convention environment. Online, we can do everything from a simple conference ... Read more

December 12, 2017

Social Media – a curate’s egg for tourism?

RT Marketing

The concept of the “curate’s egg” was first used in the British satirical magazine Punch by George du Maurier in November 1895. The curate was too timid to complain of ... Read more

December 5, 2017December 5, 2017

How to redesign tourism to end #pointlessplastics

Carbon & Water

A few days ago, a new hashtag started appearing on Twitter. Created by the Good Awards, #pointlessplastics is encouraging people to tweet images of the unnecessary use of plastics (one ... Read more

November 29, 2017October 13, 2022

Opportunities in the events’ sector

Blog, Events

By Toni Sando There is an intrinsic link between events and destinations. When seeking the integration of a congress or fair with the city that will receive it, the participants’ ... Read more

November 28, 2017

We can deal with climate change, if we all take our share of responsibility

Carbon & Water

At WTM London this month the least well-attended session of the Responsible Tourism programme was the one addressing climate change. We chose a panel of speakers from industry with experience ... Read more

November 24, 2017November 24, 2017

The shape of luxury travel for 2018

Luxury

As we hang on to the remaining weeks of 2017, I can’t help but marvel how time flies so quickly, and it seems to even pick up speed towards this ... Read more

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017

How can tourism help Dominica be the world’s first Climate Resilient Nation?

Development

Just two months ago, on September 18th, Hurricane Maria hit the Caribbean island of Dominica. Minutes before, this was the Nature Island, a tropical paradise of 365 river and pristine ... Read more

November 21, 2017

When founders met funders at the Women in Travel entrepreneurship meetup

Women in Travel

WTM London has recently shut its doors for 2017, and Women in Travel can count this as one of the most successful gatherings since our inception in 2014! Having Entrepreneurship ... Read more

November 17, 2017May 10, 2018

Digital Hospitality

Technology

At World Travel Market London this year, I ran a Summit called Future Digital Thinking. I split this into 2 two hour sessions, the first focusing on the hospitality sector ... Read more

November 17, 2017

Cape Town, the ‘Events Capital of Africa’ and a year-round destination

Blog, Destinations, WTM Africa

Cape Town is synonymous with a healthy, balanced quality of life and has become a preferred destination for events, exhibitions, concerts and conferences. There are venues across the city, ... Read more

November 14, 2017November 21, 2017

WTM London: Taking responsibility for making tourism better

Responsible Tourism

Tuesday the 14th November 2007 was the first WTM & UNWTO World Responsible Tourism Day, today we are ten years on. This year at WTM London we looked back at ... Read more

November 8, 2017November 8, 2017

#WTMLDN Day 3 – The best bits!

Blog, WTM Team

It may have been the final day of WTM London 2017 but that didn’t mean things slowed down at all, the event was once again packed with business opportunities and ... Read more

November 7, 2017November 7, 2017

#WTMLDN Day 2 – The Highlights!

Blog, WTM Team

The halls were buzzing again on day two at WTM London 2017. Exhibitors continued to meet and conduct business deals with the thousands of industry professionals from around the world. ... Read more

November 6, 2017November 20, 2017

#WTMLDN Day 1 – What did you miss?

Blog, WTM Team

At 10am WTM London 2017 opened its doors to travel professionals from around the world. As the leading global event for the travel industry, everyone was here for the same ... Read more

November 2, 2017February 5, 2018

How businesses can add value beyond the bottom line and create greater benefits for society

Charity

The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework for businesses to explore how they can add value beyond the bottom line and create greater benefits for society, argues Fiona Jeffery ... Read more

November 1, 2017

The Good the Bad and the Ugly – The Airline Business in 2017

Aviation

What a year 2017 is turning out to be for the airline business. It’s been good, it’s been bad & sure as heck it’s been ugly! Good for airlines that ... Read more

November 1, 2017November 1, 2017

Andalusia, an age-old history that has left behind a wealth of artistic heritage

Destinations

Andalusia has a rich ancient cultural heritage, which has increased in value in recent decades; both in recovering signs of identity reflected in its historic heritage as well the force ... Read more

October 31, 2017

From Human Rights to Plastic Pollution – there are 28 Responsible Tourism events at WTM London

Responsible Tourism

With a new Responsible Tourism Theatre in the Africa Section (AS580) the Responsible Tourism programme is now firmly established down on the show floor. An experiment last year it was ... Read more

October 30, 2017October 13, 2022

How to arrange a good ‘marriage’ with a good customer

Blog, Trends

By Ricardo Pomeranz Concerned that her daughter was still single at the age of 30, the mother decided to help her with a tip. “Put on some nice clothes and ... Read more

October 30, 2017

Italy – a journey of inspiration through flavours, landscapes, emotions and art

Destinations

Italy has always been and firmly remains an inspirational destination that every year attracts millions of tourists from every corner of the world; that never fails to receive recognitions and ... Read more

October 27, 2017

The rising demand for experiential consumption and the examples of Mozambique and Tanzania

Trends

There is a fundamental shift in consumer values towards experiences over things that bring happiness and well-being, with spending on experiences like travel, leisure and foodservice to rise to US$8 ... Read more

October 26, 2017

A brief history of travel influencers and what comes next

Blogging

In the old days, about 2014, a travel influencer was a blogger with a decent set of numbers on their website and social media. Such a blogger was very happy ... Read more

October 26, 2017

Look to the leaders for travel career inspiration – but look to your left and right too

Professional Development

Some of the most impressive leaders in travel today will take the stage of the first TTG Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders conference, taking place at WTM London this year. David Speakman, ... Read more

October 25, 2017October 25, 2017

Puglia, a region to be discovered all year round

Destinations

A full-fledged, Mediterranean style travel experience. Year after year, millions of tourists flock to Puglia for an all-season, unique and well treasured journey. Nature, culture, art, food & wine, and ... Read more

October 24, 2017

Tourism’s Dirty Secret report reveals working conditions of hotel housekeepers

Human Rights

A report released last week into the working conditions of hundreds of thousands of women cleaning bedrooms and other hotel areas across the world. Published by Oxfam Canada, Tourism’s Dirty ... Read more

October 24, 2017

Three reasons to attend Women in Travel Meetup 2017 at World Travel Market

Women in Travel

If you are looking for inspiration to run your travel business this November, look no further than the Women in Travel Meetup at WTM! This year we are bringing you ... Read more

October 20, 2017October 20, 2017

The struggle for hotels to hold onto loyalty

Trends

Before diving specifically into hotel loyalty, let’s examine if business travelers are interested in loyalty at all. Business travelers are the main users of loyalty programmes, 78% belong to hotel ... Read more

October 19, 2017October 20, 2017

The future of luxury aviation is closer and simpler than it seems

Luxury

Today’s society has never been more educated and aware about being politically, racially, culturally, and sexually correct. Yet whenever I feel that we are truly living in the age of ... Read more

October 18, 2017October 18, 2017

Food trends in the UK

Food Tourism, Hospitality

To discover the truth behind the UK’s latest food trends we teamed up with our operations team, self-proclaimed group meal booking experts! In their defence, they did book over 1 ... Read more

October 17, 2017October 20, 2017

On the Responsible Tourism Agenda at WTM London

Carbon & Water, Certification, Disability, Human Rights

World Responsible Tourism Day is on Wednesday this year and our main focus is on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Tanya Beckett will be interviewing tourism leaders from UNWTO, TUI ... Read more

October 16, 2017October 16, 2017

5 minutes with Msc. Maja Pak, Director General of the Slovenian Tourist Board

Destinations

What are you looking to promote at WTM London this year? Positioned at the intersection of different worlds – Mediterranean, Alpine, Karst and Pannonian – Slovenia has a unique geographical ... Read more

October 13, 2017

A tale of two airlines

Aviation

It wasn’t the best of times, it was the worst of times, it wasn’t the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it wasn’t the epoch of belief, ... Read more

October 13, 2017

The long-term survival of the Travel Agent

Blog, Technology, Trends

They say you cannot serve two masters, but in the old days, travel agents did. Our transactional role as the “agent” between the supplier and customer saw many of ... Read more

October 12, 2017October 12, 2017

Technology and the Future of Travel Loyalty

Trends

The State of Loyalty in 2017 In 2017, there are expected to be 70 billion digital purchases by consumers online, the majority of which are in retailing followed by other ... Read more

October 12, 2017

Crafting a sense of place with food

Food Tourism

After a long day of stunning sights, unusual sounds, interesting smells, and at least 100 certainly never-before snapped pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, we ended up for a late ... Read more

October 11, 2017February 6, 2018

The human element in the travel industry

Blog, Events, Trends, WTM Team

We can book a flight via an app and we can check in using our cell phone, but without the pilot, the flight attendants or even the people who are ... Read more

October 10, 2017October 10, 2017

Electrical Flight is not the panacea for sustainable tourism

Carbon & Water

Alongside the stories of Ryanair and Monarch’s woes in the last few weeks have been excited posts on the potential of electric flight, following Easyjet’s announcement that it hopes to ... Read more

October 6, 2017October 6, 2017

Travel 2018: What the Data Tells Us

Trends

Euromonitor International is excited to share new insights about the travel industry. Travel and tourism continues to remain on track, outperforming the global economy, with arrivals set to grow by ... Read more

October 3, 2017October 10, 2017

The WTM Responsible Tourism Awards 2017

Responsible Tourism

2017 is a transition year. responsibletravel.com has decided to pursue other priorities and to pioneer creative projects to deliver change through our business; our activism and Trip for a Trip ... Read more

September 27, 2017February 6, 2018

A cheer for Tourism!

Blog, Responsible Tourism

September 27th is the date on which we celebrate World Tourism Day and we can stop to analyse: how much has changed in the sector over the last few years? ... Read more

September 27, 2017October 4, 2017

What should luxury hotels do in order to thrive?

Luxury

Put yourself in a luxury hotelier’s shoes for a moment. It’s 2017. With endless types of accommodation options and lodging models, it’s a great time to be a traveller and ... Read more

September 26, 2017October 4, 2017

World Tourism Day 2017: opportunities and challenges for achieving sustainable tourism

Development

World Tourism Day occurs this week, with the theme for 2017 being “Sustainable Tourism – a tool for development”. According to the UNWTO’s official site for the event, “World Tourism ... Read more

September 20, 2017October 4, 2017

What contributions do businesses make to local sustainable development? Which do best?

Development, Responsible Tourism

With the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development focus on travelling with respect (#TravelEnjoyRespect) we have focused on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Respect is one of the core ... Read more

September 18, 2017October 4, 2017

Looking for funding for your female travel start up?

Women in Travel

According to the World Bank, in 70% of the world, women owned small business have inadequate or no access to finance. Female entrepreneurship is on the rise, in travel as ... Read more

September 18, 2017August 18, 2020

Ultimate writing tools to regain your blogging mojo

Blog, Blogging, marketing

We can’t all be super productive all of the time. When you hit the wall and lose your mojo, how do you get back on the blogging horse? There’s a ... Read more

September 13, 2017October 4, 2017

After Irma: lessons from nature for tourism and a resilient future

Carbon & Water, Responsible Tourism

The images from the impact of Hurricane Irma on Caribbean islands such as Barbuda are shocking. These are places whose beaches and coastlines epitomise what many of us imagine when ... Read more

September 8, 2017October 4, 2017

Service beyond the sell-by date

Blog, Technology

A recent study by Carlson Wagonlit Travel has discovered that business travellers tend to take four technology devices with them on trips. The survey of more than 1,900 business travellers ... Read more

September 7, 2017August 18, 2020

The rise of influencer marketing and why bloggers need to rebrand

Blog, marketing, Social Media

Brands are increasingly looking to use influencers, such as Instagram stars and bloggers, in their marketing but the chasm between what brands and their PR companies expect to pay for ... Read more

September 5, 2017October 4, 2017

WTM Responsible Tourism Awards

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

Word Responsible Tourism Awards have been presented at World Travel Market in London since 2004. Each year we have seen the bar rise, competition has been tough and the successive ... Read more

August 30, 2017October 10, 2017

Using social media to do more than sell holidays

Overtourism, Responsible Tourism, Social Media

Among this summer’s slew of stories about overtourism, one took a slightly different angle. In an article titled 10 tourist destinations ruined by Instagram, the Independent reported how “the rise ... Read more

August 30, 2017January 11, 2019

Ecotourism and Cultural Experiences are in Demand (and other revealing facts from Adventure Travel research)

Adventure, Blog, WTM Latin America

by JoAnna Haugen Today’s adventure traveler is changing. Not so very long ago, people who defined themselves as adventure travelers sought out extreme, hard-core experiences that involved risk and danger. But ... Read more

August 29, 2017September 19, 2017

How to adapt to doing business with Americans

Destinations

There is no doubt that the USA remains a hugely tempting place to do business. After all, with a population of over 326 million and with many of world’s biggest ... Read more

August 25, 2017January 11, 2019

Infrastructure in tourism

Blog, Disability, Trends, WTM Latin America

by Fedetur There is lot of talk nowadays about the transformation of the tourist, who is a product of the incorporation of technology and the growing awareness of sustainability, both ... Read more

August 23, 2017October 4, 2017

Travel Tech: The Last Frontier for #FemaleFounders?

Blog, Women in Travel

Technology is changing the way we work, travel, socialise and enjoy our leisure time. But when it comes to employment and entrepreneurship, technology is still very much the domain of ... Read more

August 22, 2017October 4, 2017

Modern Slavery in the UK and in orphanages

Human Rights, Responsible Tourism

Modern slavery is an underground issue in the UK, it is hidden from view. Trafficking is at the heart of much of it. I know of no evidence that children ... Read more

August 21, 2017January 11, 2019

Brazil – A border-less vocation

Blog, Destinations, WTM Latin America

by Alexandre Sampaio, FBHA. The numbers involved in tourism give an overview of their importance and, above all, reveal its potential to become Brazil’s main productive activity – one of those that ... Read more

August 16, 2017October 4, 2017

Do bikinis mean bookings?

Blogging

There’s a bit of a joke these days that you’ll never be a successful digital influencer in the travel sphere if you don’t post photos on the beach in a ... Read more

August 15, 2017October 4, 2017

Why tourism needs to support rewilding initiatives

Development, Responsible Tourism

Last week I spent an afternoon training my binoculars on a field of cows. I got very excited by the sight of some pigs walking down a lane. Then had ... Read more

August 11, 2017August 11, 2017

What’s love got to do with it?

Blog, Technology

In the last month, I was invited by an airline to contribute to a strategy day. A few external experts such as myself had been invited along to the strategy ... Read more

August 8, 2017October 4, 2017

“Anarchist threat to tourists”

Overtourism, Responsible Tourism

Last Saturday the London Times led its front page with a photo of Mo Farah winning the 10,000m at the IAAF world championships. But the headline on the front page ... Read more

August 1, 2017October 4, 2017

How can we truly measure tourism’s impact?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

When people are looking to assert how important tourism is as an industry, they are likely to cite the proportion of global Gross Domestic Product that it is responsible for. ... Read more

July 27, 2017July 27, 2017

Transform your business, transform the industry at #SATSA2017

Blog, Trends

Transformation is at the forefront of the debate of the current political economy. The focus is often on how to carve up the pie and then distribute the pieces equally. ... Read more

July 26, 2017October 4, 2017

How can brands sell luxury travel effectively?

Blog, Luxury

As each year brings different travel trends in the luxury market, we see the face of luxury travellers changing. Their lifestyle, the way they travel, and even who they are, ... Read more

July 25, 2017October 4, 2017

Tourism is not a zero sum game

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

When you are working in the field trying to improve the livelihoods of local people this is the kind of email you want to receive: ““Hi – Peter , sorry ... Read more

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017

Team bonding #UpattheO2

WTM Team

When travelling to WTM London in November, the Emirates Cable Car will get you across the Thames and offer stunning views of London. Whilst taking in the views you might ... Read more

July 20, 2017October 4, 2017

Purpose as well as profit motivates travel and tourism female entrepreneurs

Blog, Women in Travel

In the 1970’s, economist and Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, from the Chicago School of Economics, asserted that the purpose of organisation is to create value for its shareholders Numerous ... Read more

July 19, 2017October 4, 2017

Could the world’s hotels run on renewable energy?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

Last week a significant climate change milestone was passed. On July 10th, the Climate Group’s RE100 (the RE standing for renewable energy) announced that the 100th multinational had signed up ... Read more

July 18, 2017July 18, 2017

What to expect at the 20th Edition of IGTM

Blog, Events

The first edition of IGTM launched in 1998 to give the golf travel industry a forum to meet and do business. The need for such an event was evident from ... Read more

July 17, 2017October 4, 2017

The general data protection regulation

Blog, Technology

The Data Protection Act 1998 is old news. Taking over is the General Data Protection Regulation. The Regulation will harmonise data privacy laws across Europe. It will protect EU citizens’ ... Read more

July 14, 2017September 18, 2017

Tourism’s Natural Advantage: Creating Shared Value

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

The concept of shared value emerges from the writing of Harvard Professor Michael Porter– well-known for his previous work on competition strategy, value chains and cluster theory. In 2011, in ... Read more

July 4, 2017September 18, 2017

Why tourism finds it hard to talk about climate change

Carbon & Water, Responsible Tourism

Despite the rain pouring down outside my window right now and the fact I am wearing a jumper in late June, I can’t actually see climate change. I can go ... Read more

July 3, 2017June 28, 2017

How Hoteliers react to vacation rentals

Hospitality

While the vacation rental (VR) industry has a long history, it has mostly been limited to resort destinations. Recent disruption of new platforms, technology and the sharing economy bring drastic ... Read more

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017

An inside look at the golf tourism industry in France

Blog, Trends

France is preparing to showcase the quality and diversity of its golf heritage and golf courses over the next eighteen months, when it will stage the 20th edition of golf travel’s premier ... Read more

June 27, 2017September 18, 2017

Tourism, decent work and the SDGs

Development, Disability, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

Tourism and hospitality are labour intensive, with 8% of the global workforce employed in the sector. As the ILO has pointed out there are many highly skilled well trained professionals ... Read more

June 26, 2017October 4, 2017

Young, Rich and Adventurous: What do the Affluent Chinese Millennial Travellers Want?

Luxury

It’s not news that Chinese travellers have been dominating the tourism sector over the last decade as outbound travel from China continues to grow. It’s also no secret that Asian ... Read more

June 21, 2017October 4, 2017

So You Are A Female Travel Entrepreneur…Now What?

Women in Travel

Female entrepreneurship is growing at a fast pace. Although globally the gap between women- and men-owned businesses is still high, female entrepreneurship is one of the fastest growing areas of ... Read more

June 20, 2017September 18, 2017

How tourism is providing hospitality and support to refugees and asylum seekers

Human Rights, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog for this site reporting on inspirational tourism industry initiatives responding to the refugee crisis. My aim was to show “how tourism ... Read more