World Travel Market 2012 will generate a record £1,860 million in travel and tourism industry deals – an impressive 13% increase on WTM 2011. This year’s World Travel Market will take place from 4th – 7th November 2013.
Independent research of World Travel Market’s exhibitors shows that WTM 2012 will be responsible for a massive £1,859,713,858.98 million of deals, either through contracts signed at the event or from negotiations with Meridian Club members that will lead to deals before WTM 2013.
WTM 2011 generated £1,653 million in business deals, either on the exhibition floor or in the 12 months that followed, which was a 16% increase on WTM 2010’s £1,425 million. WTM 2009 generated £1,139 million.
The increase in business generated by WTM 2012 can, in part, be accredited to the enhanced Speed Networking programme for exhibitors and Meridian Club buyers to start, continue and conclude business negotiations. WTM 2012 saw the traditional first morning session before the exhibition opened and the new Thursday Speed Networking sessions, aimed at facilitating post WTM business deals.
Furthermore, the key first day of WTM 2012 saw almost 8,000 (7,992) exhibitor invitations attend, according to unaudited figures. These visitors are the people exhibitors have cited they want to conduct business with. The figure compares to 7,614 on the first day of WTM 2011, which was 14% up on the year before.
Simon Press, Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market, said: “World Travel Market 2012 has seen, and will lead to, a phenomenal amount of travel and tourism industry business being agreed.
“The expanded Speed Networking programme played an important role in the success of WTM 2012 for exhibitors and Meridian Club members, offering both stakeholders increased opportunities to meet new contacts, sign contracts and conclude deals.
“The amount of business conducted and the findings from the exhibitor research shows WTM is delivering on its commitment to facilitate business in the travel and tourism industry.
“I am delighted that the amount of business conducted at World Travel Market continues to increase each year. This success is firmly positioning WTM as the must-attend exhibition for national and regional tourist boards, global brands and technology companies.
“The amount of business conducted at WTM clearly demonstrated that ‘WTM Means Business’.”
