- Shows announced activities taking place before, during and after the physical shows from 2-4 November 2020 at ExCel London
- WTM London and Travel Forward create a safe forum to help travel industry recover, rebuild and innovate
- Registration is now open for media and buyers attending both shows
WTM London – the event where Ideas Arrive – and Travel Forward – the travel and hospitality technology event co-located with WTM London – are working closely with partners and experts to ensure a safe and successful experience at ExCeL London (2-4 November, 2020).
Detailed plans are being made for every aspect of the shows, which is set to be one of the first major exhibitions to take place globally since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
The preparations were given a boost earlier this month when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light for conferences and exhibitions to resume in October.
WTM London’s Senior Director Simon Press announced the live shows’ highlights during a virtual press conference which combined more than 200 pre-registered journalists and digital influencers from nearly 30 countries.
Simon Press also revealed the details regarding WTM Virtual event, which is taking place virtually from 10-11 November 2020 to embrace travel professionals from all over the globe, especially the ones who can’t attend the live event due to travel restrictions.
WTM London – 2-4 November at ExCel London
UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit Expands into New Territories
Tourism leaders from around the world will once again come together for the Ministers’ Summit – the largest annual meeting of tourism ministers – at WTM London to set out a roadmap for a safer, greener and smarter future for the sector.
Given the unprecedented scale of the challenge facing tourism, the UNWTO and WTM will partner with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which is representing the global travel and tourism private sector at the event for the first time in its history, making it the UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit. The summit will feature a day-long think-tank on Monday 2nd November during WTM London.
WTM London partners with ITIC to launch investment summit
WTM London and ITIC will come up together to host a tourism investment summit that will help recover businesses and restore travellers’ confidence after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conference aims to explain the financial mechanisms that allow travel companies to recover and rebuild. Investment experts will also give guidelines on how to prepare for any other future global disaster.
Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC and former Secretary-General of UNWTO said: “It is a great honour and a privilege for ITIC to partner with WTM, the greatest and most impactful Tourism Trade Show in the world. It will focus to prepare a comprehensive tourism recovery plan, to rebuild destinations, encourage innovation and investment, and rethink the tourism sector”.
Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO, MD and Organiser of ITIC said: “We are thrilled to partner with WTM for our third tourism investment conference where Ministers, Policy Makers, Tourism Leaders and Projects Owners will engage with Investors and Private Equity firms to discuss and explore new financial mechanisms and alliances in sustainable investments in the industry and readying for market recovery in the post COVID-19 era”.
New Marketing Conference and Master Class Workshop in partnership with The Five Percent
WTM London will partner with The Five Percent to launch Marketing Conference and Master Class.
The Five Percent will be hosting a one-day workshop with globally acclaimed paid traffic, branding, and marketing experts who will be sharing their knowledge on what is working right now across the businesses they work with.
The agency brings over 20 years of business training experience and due to its influential management team, it has rapidly become renowned for creating highly actionable content for entrepreneurs to improve their marketing, sales, leadership, and financial skills.
Simon Press said: “We’re looking forward to a long-lasting partnership with The Five Percent and our continued commitment to up-level and bring the world’s leading experts and expertise to our clients, partners and visitors”.
Enhanced WTM Buyers Club Program
In 2019, WTM Buyers’ Club programme was revamped to create a new and exclusive experience for buyers, exhibitors and visitors. This year the programme will be even more exclusive.
“More than ever before, WTM London will refine products in order to give attendees the best experience possible. Our exclusive approach to the Buyers’ Club will produce fantastic results, making WTM London the location for the world’s top buyers to do business and to enhance the global travel industry”, said Simon Press.
WTM Speed Networking New Format
WTM Speed networking will deliver a new format in line with new physical distancing procedures. There is a huge demand to gain access to speed networking from both exhibitors & buyers.
The new format will deliver better connections and more meetings all in a safe environment with plans being announced by the organisers in the coming weeks.
New Customer Experience
WTM London’s organisers have been liaising closely with Public Health England, the UK Government, ExCeL London and the Association of Event Venues to enable the safest possible experience in November.
Simon Press, WTM London’s Event Director, said: “This year’s event might be slightly different but visitors can expect the same great WTM experience.
“We’re working with partners to ensure we are confident in the safety measures they have in place for getting WTM and TF attendees to and from Excel. We’ll carefully manage the capacity of the venue, and make sure all protocols to allow physical distancing will be followed.
There will also be hand sanitiser points, hygiene screens and increased cleaning schedules and every system.
“We’ll use contactless technology for interactions such as scanning badges and payments at catering outlets, and food and drinks will be pre-packaged.
“It’s exciting to think that, in just three months’ time, we will be welcoming professionals from around the world to the event where Ideas Arrive – to help our industry recover, rebuild and innovate.”
WTM Virtual – 10-11 November
WTM Portfolio has officially announced the launch of WTM Virtual, a two-day event that will take place from 10-11 November 2020 and will be an extension of WTM London and Travel Forward live shows.
Following on from the success of ATM Virtual, WTM Virtual will feature a host of conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking, and one-to-one meetings.
The virtual show aims to ensure participation and global reach and to offset any attendee that cannot attend the live event due to travel restrictions.
Simon Press says:
“Our virtual event provides us with the opportunity to work closely with the global travel professionals and ensure we can support the industry in recovering, rebuilding and innovating as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“WTM Virtual will embrace travel professional’s communities around the globe. We’re very excited to provide to our clients and visitors the opportunity to attend both shows: live and virtual this year”.
Travel Forward – 2-4 November at ExCel London
Travel Forward is the travel and hospitality technology event co-located with WTM London.
This year the brand is introducing The VIP Buyer Programme. A handpicked selection of buyers will be invited to attend prearranged meetings with exhibitors at the show. This is a brand new addition to TF and is in line with their commitment to deliver high quality interactions, according to the organisers.
In addition, the Travel Forward Conference will now be free to attend. This year’s theme is Resilience, Innovation and Response and will focus on helping travel companies, from across the globe, steer a path on the road to a post-COVID recovery.
The brand will also be joining WTM Virtual which will take place from 10-11 November 2020.
Travel Forward’s Event Manager Richard Gayle said: “The VIP Buyer Programme will refine our products in order to give attendees the best experience possible. We feel our more exclusive approach to the Buyers’ Club will produce fantastic results, making Travel Forward the location for the world’s top travel tech buyers to do business and to enhance the global travel industry.”
London Travel Week – 30 October – 5 November
London Travel Week will unlock invaluable networking and business opportunities for those who journey to London, and the UK, for WTM London this year and will be an essential stepping-stone in the recovery of the tourism industry.
This series of events compliments the plethora of opportunities that are present for visitors of WTM London and will be a one-stop-shop for the travel industry to innovate into the future.
The event will aim to accelerate business growth through its unique combination of networking, knowledge sessions and sponsored, bespoke events.
The industry has been hit hard by the effects of COVID-19 but London Travel Week, including WTM London and Travel Forward will be the start of the recovery as the global community comes together to build a more sustainable, responsible and better travel industry.
– ENDS –
About World Travel Market
World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises six leading travel events across four continents, generating more than $7.5 billion of industry deals. The events are:
WTM Global Hub, is the new WTM Portfolio online portal, created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio – the parent brand for WTM London, WTM Latin America, Arabian Travel Market, WTM Africa, Travel Forward and other key travel trade events – is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.
WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Around 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating over £3.71 billion in travel industry contracts. http://london.wtm.com/
Next event: Monday 2nd to Wednesday 4th November 2020 – London #IdeasArriveHere
Travel Forward London is the leading travel technology event, co-located with WTM London. Travel Forward is renowned for showcasing the next-generation technologies for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Over 19,000 travel officials and 150+ innovative solution providers attend for 3 days of cutting-edge insights, open debate and unrivalled networking opportunities. The combination of a 2-day conference, interactive exhibition and Startup showcase makes Travel Forward truly unique. http://travelforward.wtm.com/
Next event: Monday 2nd to Wednesday 4th November 2020 – London #NeverStandStill
London Travel Week, brought to you by WTM London, is the one-stop-shop for event hosts and visitors to be able to shape the next 12 months of travel together. The festival of events supports the global travel and tourism industry through capturing invaluable news and enhancing industry connections. https://londontravelweek.wtm.com/. Next event: Friday 30th October to Thursday 5th November 2020
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), now on its 27th year, continues to be the focal point for the Middle East’s resilient and ever-changing travel and tourism landscape and prides itself on being the hub of all travel and tourism ideas – providing a platform to discuss insights on the ever-changing industry, share innovations and unlock endless business opportunities. www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.
Next event: Sunday 16th to Wednesday 19th May 2021 – Dubai
WTM Latin America attracts around 19,000 participants – 11,586 unique. The trade show, which takes place in São Paulo, has a worldwide audience that meets to establish the direction of the travel industry. The event is recognised for attracting a high level of professionals from the segment, including buyers and travel agents. It also offers programmes with qualified content and plenty of opportunities for networking and generating business that is relevant to the travel industry http://latinamerica.wtm.com/.
Next event: Tuesday 20th to Thursday 22nd October 2020 – Expo Center Norte, São Paulo
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. More than 6,000 travel industry professionals attend Africa’s leading inbound and outbound travel and tourism market. WTM Africa delivers a proven mix of hosted buyers, media, pre-scheduled appointments, on-site networking, evening functions and invited travel trade visitors. http://africa.wtm.com/.
Next event: Wednesday 7th to Friday 9th April 2021 – Cape Town International Convention Centre
Reed Exhibitions is a leading global events business. It combines face-to-face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 500 events in almost 30 countries across 43 industry sectors, attracting more than 7 million participants.
Our events, organized by 35 global offices, leverage industry expertise, large data sets and technology to enable our customers to generate billions of dollars of revenues for the economic development of local markets and national economies around the world. Reed Exhibitions is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. www.reedexhibitions.com
Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 20 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether it is global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, LGBTQ+ travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf and spa travel. We have over 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions. https://www.reedtravelexhibitions.com/
More information, please contact:
Natalia Hartmann – WTM Portfolio Press & PR
E: natalia.hartmann@reedexpo.co.uk
T: +44 (0)20 8439 5535/ M: +44 (0)7775 036 858
