WTM London 2018, the event where ideas arrive,
will generate a record £3.4 billion in travel and tourism industry deals, surpassing
the figure of £3.1 billion from WTM London 2017.
The global travel and tourism industry
continues to grow with more than £1.4 billion trips predicted to taking place
globally in 2019, with the number predicted to rise to £1.8 billion by 2030.
Inbound tourism to the UK is approaching 40 million trips annually, while Brits
make almost 73 million outbound trips each year.
WTM London 2018 reflected this growth with
an increase in visitors of more than 4% to a record 32,462, with the event
seeing a total of almost 89,000 (88,742) visits from 51,409 participants. In
total 4,664 exhibitors from 182 countries and regions took part in the event.
Independent research of WTM London’s
exhibitors reveals WTM London 2018 will generate a massive £3,353,042,708 in travel industry deals, either through contracts
signed at the event or from negotiations with WTM Buyers’ Club members – the buyers with the greatest purchasing
responsibility in the travel industry – which will lead to deals signed before
WTM London 2019.
The record number of visitors and
business conducted demonstrates the success of WTM London 2018’s new Ideas Arrive Here concept,
which included the introduction of five regional Inspiration
Zones – UK&I and
International Hub, Europe, Asia, Americas and Middle East and Africa. These
Inspiration Zones led to an increase in content,
ideas and inspiration for participants to take back to their business and
implement to help fuel the growth of the travel and tourism industry.
This strategy saw a greater number of senior CEOs
and tourism ministers take part in the content programme – including easyJet’s
CEO Johan Lundgren and UK tourism
minister Michael Ellis. Meanwhile,
more research was added to the programme – including dedicated regional
research sessions – from respected research organisations including Euromonitor International, Mintel, ForwardKeys and Nielsen.
Furthermore, two new launches in Travel Forward
and the International
Travel & Tourism Awards (ITTAs) grew WTM London’s reach further.
Travel Forward – the event to
inspire the travel and hospitality industry with the next generation of
technology – was a great success with more exhibitors and visitors than its
predecessor The Travel Tech Show at WTM.
The inaugural ITTAs saw almost 500 audience celebrate excellence within the
travel and tourism industry.
WTM London, Senior Director, Simon Press
said: “I am delighted with the record amount of business conducted at WTM
London 2018. This success firmly positions WTM London as the event where ideas
arrive and a must-attend for national and regional tourist boards, global
brands, luxury and technology companies.
“The record visitor numbers
at WTM London 2018 alongside the £3.4 billion in business generated shows that
WTM London – as it approaches its 40th event in 2019 – and the
travel and tourism industry are both in good health.”
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