The first edition of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Asia Pacific took place in Singapore (21 – 24 May), hosting 538 high-end travel agents, concierge companies and private travel designers from 16 countries across the Asia Pacific, 7 across Russia & CIS and 11 international countries.
They came to build business with international and regional suppliers of luxury travel products carrying out some 30,000 pre scheduled appointments during the week.
During the week exhibitors also met with 45 international Editors and influencers of luxury travel publications both online and in print who attended exhibitor press briefings and round-table “speed dating” presentations from suppliers who would rarely meet with the press individually.
Sue Basdow of Australia’s MTA Travel commented:
“ILTM Asia Pacific was amazing - to be able to sit in front of a quality supplier for 15 minutes & learn all about their product and ask valid questions in a relaxed time frame, was GOLD to me! It was also extremely refreshing to meet so many high end non-Virtuoso suppliers and I am now very keen to highly recommend the luxurious properties and the DMC’s I discovered.”
“ILTM Asia Pacific was amazing - to be able to sit in front of a quality supplier for 15 minutes & learn all about their product and ask valid questions in a relaxed time frame, was GOLD to me! It was also extremely refreshing to meet so many high end non-Virtuoso suppliers and I am now very keen to highly recommend the luxurious properties and the DMC’s I discovered.”
Rakus Cuuabria, Yes Travels, Mumbai India added:
“This is my first time at any ILTM event and it’s been really fruitful. The organisation is fantastic and I’ve met some great luxury products and experiences in this really effective system.” Koichi Imabayashi of Japan’s Grace Inc agreed with the quality of the event, saying: “I’ve met with many different experiences from across the world at ILTM Asia Pacific this week and I'm looking forward to sharing these new and exciting opportunities with my clients.”
“This is my first time at any ILTM event and it’s been really fruitful. The organisation is fantastic and I’ve met some great luxury products and experiences in this really effective system.” Koichi Imabayashi of Japan’s Grace Inc agreed with the quality of the event, saying: “I’ve met with many different experiences from across the world at ILTM Asia Pacific this week and I'm looking forward to sharing these new and exciting opportunities with my clients.”
For exhibitors ILTM Asia Pacific presented a far greater variety of international and regional Hosted Buyers all of whom were focused on learning about the region and placing business there on behalf of their HNWI clients
Maxine Howe of Niccolo Hotels said: “The calibre of buyers at ILTM Asia Pacific has been exactly what we were looking for. Travelling to wherever we need to and then identifying and meeting these important buyers is simply impossible, and we are delighted ILTM has made the job so easy for us here in Singapore.”
Jacquie Spice from New Zealand’s Touch of Spice and a Virtuoso member commented: “This has been a great show with high quality buyers and perfectly timed appointments - exactly what we wanted. My objectives were to pick up more business here, particularly from HK and Asia in general. I achieved that and will come back again.”
Mercedes Garcia of Barcelona Tourisme added:
“By splitting the regions, this show has given us a real reach into Asia Pacific buyers. I have seen Korean, Singaporeans, HK and Malaysian agents and planners, all of whom are really sophisticated and know exactly what their premium traveller clients are looking for. It’s been a great opportunity for me to give them tips and information about our City.”
“By splitting the regions, this show has given us a real reach into Asia Pacific buyers. I have seen Korean, Singaporeans, HK and Malaysian agents and planners, all of whom are really sophisticated and know exactly what their premium traveller clients are looking for. It’s been a great opportunity for me to give them tips and information about our City.”
Sheila Gomez of SG Luxe Collection (representing South Africa’s Sun International) commented “We know the importance of the market as we are based here in Singapore but we have been able to meet new buyers, forming new relationships and building on those with our current travel partners. It has been a great job done by the ILTM team in finding and preparing the buyers for the show. We don’t find this anywhere else. It was fabulous, a great success.”
Giuliana Sersale of Le Sirenuse, Positano Italy, taking part with Leading Hotels of the World said: “I have met a great quality of buyers from Asia, India, Singapore and Taiwan - each has been really useful and I have made thousands of notes. I think it will give me some great business. I would definitely return.”
LA Tourism & Convention Board and the NoMad Hotel shared a stand. Robert Kellerman Director of Sales & Marketing for NoMad said “ We had great appointments, the quality was phenomenal. We met with a lot of new Australian buyers – a big market for us in LA. The event has been great “.
ILTM Asia Pacific was created following extensive research among ILTM suppliers who said they were separating their own marketing and business plans for the continent into two: Asia Pacific and China. These strategies are reflected in the ILTM portfolio for the region and last week’s inaugural ILTM Asia Pacific will be followed by the portfolio’s first edition of ILTM China in Shanghai, 31 October – 2 November 2018. ILTM Asia Pacific returns to Singapore 27 – 30 May 2019.
Alison Gilmore, Portfolio Director concluded: “Our objectives for both suppliers and buyers were simple, provide the business opportunity, create a lot of fun, many social events and a pre-show Forum to both entertain and educate the industry. We are delighted by the response from our guests, and we are now looking forward to start the process of planning for 2019 in Singapore alongside our industry partners there.
Tags: ILTM
