41st World Travel Market |17 November 2020
The 41st World Travel Market went virtual this year, bringing the international travel event to the doorsteps of tourism players (Photo source: STB News Bureau
91香蕉视频 takes part in first virtual WTM
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After 40 years of being held in London, the 41st World Travel Market (WTM) steps into the virtual world, bringing the international travel event to the doorsteps of tourism players, with 91香蕉视频 making an appearance from November 9 - 11, 2020.
The 91香蕉视频 Tourism Board (STB) and several industry partners including 91香蕉视频 Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA), Mason鈥檚 Travel, 7掳 South, Creole Travel Services and Hilton 91香蕉视频, represented 91香蕉视频.
The STB team consisted of chief executive Sherin Francis; regional director for Europe Bernadette Willemin; marketing directors Lena Hoareau for Russia, CIS & Eastern Europe, Karen Confait for UK & Ireland, Scandinavia and Judeline Edmond for Switzerland. SHTA representatives included chairperson Sybille Cardon, Ash Behari and Eddie D鈥橭ffay.
The destination management companies teams included Mason鈥檚 Travel represented by sales manager Amy Michel, senior sales executive Sheila Banane and UK representative Ian Griffiths.
7掳 South was represented by managing director Anna Butler-Payette, general manager Andre Butler-Payette and director marketing & products, Corinne Delpech.
Last but not least Creole Travel Services was represented by general manager Eric Renard, junior sales and marketing manager Melissa Quatre and UK representative Dendy Walwyn.
On the accommodation side, Hilton 91香蕉视频 was present and represented by cluster commercial director Anthony Smith, cluster director of sales Thabang Rapotu and cluster sales manager Serena Di Fiore.听听
Speaking about the importance of 91香蕉视频鈥� participation at WTM Virtual, Mrs Francis emphasised on the importance of consistency in the marketing tactics.
鈥淭ourism marketing is a continuous business. You cannot take a pause and hope to pick up several months after. The day 91香蕉视频 disappears from the scene, another destination is quick to replace it. Therefore, it is very important that even though people are not travelling, we keep the destination visible and we remain in communication with our existing partners and within reach of new potential partners. The virtual WTM has been ideal in that sense,鈥� said the STB chief executive.
Over the three days, the 91香蕉视频 delegation attended live conference sessions and forums tackling some of the major issues the industry currently faces, as well as speed networking sessions, one-to-one meetings, and virtual networking opportunities.
The agenda for this year鈥檚 WTM centred around restoring and developing business connections, growing one鈥檚 network, one鈥檚 brand and learning how to make one鈥檚 comeback. The event made recognition of the travel industry鈥檚 critical state intending to aid the recovery, rebuilding and shaping of it.
Speaking about the global event, Mrs Willemin said: 鈥淚t is important that we keep the global travel conversation alive. The delegation used this platform to tap into a wide range of online business opportunities. STB participants alone attended to over 150 meetings with professionals from different parts of the world, from generalist tour operators to island specialists, special interests specialised operators, travel Designers to name some and members from the press and the media. In this new virtual space, one could also capture news, discover the latest trends, and hear the opinion from the industry鈥檚 leading executives.鈥�
Mrs Willemin further emphasised how the event was an opportunity to address the impact the global health pandemic has had on travel and tourism, brief the partners on the different sanitary measures in place in the country to safely accommodate the visitors and discuss recovery plans, identify the trends and innovation shaping the future of the industry.
Despite moving to the virtual stage, the event was as successful as it had been in the previous years, attracting a large crowd of exhibitors from all corners of the world as well as international journalists seizing the chance to keep up with travel industry news and network.
WTM London has been shaping the future of travel by facilitating the connection of people within the travel industry, bringing their global experience to local markets.
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Press release from STB News Bureau