World Travel Market 2011 Saw 183 New Exhibitors
World Travel Market 2011 Saw 183 New Exhibitors
World Travel Market had a total of 183 new exhibitors at the event for WTM 2011. National tourist boards, destination management companies, technology companies, ground handlers, lodge owners and tour operators all hosted their own stands for the first time.
The growth was largely driven by the technology and online travel region which hosted 71 exhibitors with their own booths for the first time. The increase is symptomatic of the growth of the importance of technology in the industry.
Companies making their débuts covered virtually every aspect of the online travel world and included 3D interactive travel-guide platform 3rd Planet, digital agency Fortune Cookie, hotel room recommendation site Room 77, online marketing specialists World Independent Hotels Promotion and tour operator booking systems provider TigerBay Software.
From the Americas and Caribbean, eight new exhibitors attended the event, including the Belize Hotel Association, tour operator Latin America Travel and luxury ecolodge the Pikaia Lodge from the Galapagos.
Following the technology region was Europe, with 32 exhibitors making their début. Coming from far and wide across the Continent, they included tourist boards the Latvian Tourism Development Agency and the Crimean Tourism Development Centre, tourist attraction the Istanbul Sapphire Observation Deck, Iceland's Blue Lagoon Spa and luxury hotel chain Aqua Vista Hotels.
Asia offered a total of 27 first-time exhibitors at this year's World Travel Market all representing the diversity of product available today in the East. Tourist boards included Goa Tourism and Ile de la Reunion Tourisme, group travel specialists Easia Travel, Mongolia adventure specialists Selena Travel and the Somatheeram Ayurveda Group, owners of the first Ayurvedic resort in India Somatheeram.
Meanwhile, the Global Village region saw 16 exhibitors from all parts of the industry appearing for the first time. They included Bournemouth University, Travel Group Marketing, travel and tourism consultancy Tourism Intelligence International, B2B hotel booking service provider Innstant Travel and SurPrice Car Rental.
A further 15 new exhibitors attended the show in the Africa region highlighting the continued development of African tourism. Those making their débuts included the Democratic Republic of the Congo, newly formed ground-handling company Albrieux Africa Tours, truck touring specialist Nomad Adventure Tours, destination marketeers the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa and the Savoy Sharm el Sheikh.
The UK was next with a total of 14 exhibitors coming from across the country to make their first appearance at the event. They included tour operator Thomas Cook Sport, tourist attraction the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, tourism office Visit Guernsey, Windermere Lake Cruises and hotel operator Millennium & Copthorne Hotels.
