BITTM, the Beijing International Travel and Tourism Market taking place April 3 to 5 this year, is announcing the participation of exhibitors from 40 countries including South America and the Caribbean. The event, which will enable overseas destinations to identify partnership opportunities with tourist organizations will attract attendance from tourism ministers and ambassadors from Mexico, Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) has announced new dates for its 2006 show. The pre-exhibition conference will take place on 4 December, at the Palais des Congres, Cannes, with the exhibition running from December 5 to 7 in the same venue. The caliber of attendees at 2005´s ILTM in December was second to none –over 98 percent of visitors were prime decision makers in their company (Senior Management, Partner or CEO bracket). But even the lofty come to learn: 94 percent rated the opportunity to understand new product and trends as one of their main motivations in attending the show.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will use ITB Berlin next week to hold its first in a series of briefings on avian influenza and preparedness planning. UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli and his Special Advisor Geoffrey Lipman will be joined by the heads of major travel organizations including David McMillan, IH&RA, Peter de Jong, PATA and Martin Brackenberry, IFTO.

Travel Industry Wire Preliminary indications published in the World Travel Trend Report, and expected to be confirmed by Mr. Freitag during his presentation of the annual Berlin Message at ITB 2006, suggested that tourism enjoyed another year of sustained recovery, and that international arrivals, or outbound trips, increased by between 5 to 6 percent over 2004. “A number of long-haul destinations recorded double-digit increases out of Europe from January through August,” says Mr. Freitag, “among which China, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam.”

Russia´s first international trade fair that is exclusively dedicated to the luxury travel sector will take place from September 19 to 22 in Moscow. Exhibitors have the unique chance to enter a booming market: With 88,000 millionaires in Russia, luxurious travels are on top of the list of holiday priorities. Luxury Leisure will be held in combination with Otdykh-Leisure, Russia´s largest international autumn tourism show and MIBEX/MICE Moscow, the first meeting industry & business travel exhibition in Moscow. The three trade fairs take place in Russia´s biggest and newest exhibition venue “Crocus Expo”.

Some of the biggest names in American music lead the lineup for what organizers call the most important New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ever. The event will be held April 28 to 30 and May 5 to 7 at the Fair Grounds Race Course and will also include a Food Fair and an array of arts and crafts. The first post-Katrina Jazz Fest will feature Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Simon, the Dave Matthews Band, Fats Domino, Lionel Richie, Koko Taylor, Elvis Costello and dozens of other top rock, jazz, blues and gospel artists.