Travel industry’s much awaited international annual event- World Travel Mart (WTM) London will take place as scheduled between November 2 and November 4, 2020. Thus, it promises to be one of the first major exhibitions to take place globally since the COVID-19 Pandemic. This was confirmed when the UK Government announced the resumption of the exhibitions industry in the country from October 1, 2020.
This decision meant that England can once again welcome international business delegates from around the world. With travel industry all around the world, reeling under the catastrophic pandemic effect, this WTM gains a lot of importance for industry leaders to chalk out a strategy for coming out of this crisis. WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Around 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating over £3.71 billion in travel industry contracts.
However, World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises nine leading travel events across four continents, generating more than $7.5 billion of industry deals. This year’s WTM was to be focused on the concept of recovery, rebuild and innovate, as global travel and tourism leaders are supposed to meet to discuss the future of the industry and begin its resurgence. The show will also reflect the diverse needs of the travel and tourism industry by incorporating both a live event, at ExCeL London, as well as a virtual event taking place online the week after.
Furthermore, the leading travel technology exhibition, Travel Forward, which is co-located with WTM London at the ExCeL Centre, will also be taking place this year inspiring visitors to embrace the latest technology that will help rebuild the industry. Travel Forward London is the leading travel technology event, co-located with WTM London. Travel Forward is renowned for showcasing the next-generation technologies for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Over 19,000 travel officials and 150+ innovative solution providers attend for 3 days of cutting-edge insights, open debate and unrivalled networking opportunities. The combination of a 2-day conference, interactive exhibition and Startup showcase makes Travel Forward truly unique.
These two events and few more organised under aegis of WTM London, combine together to comprise London Travel Week, one-stop-shop for event hosts and visitors to be able to shape the next 12 months of travel together. It’s a festival of events supports the global travel and tourism industry through capturing invaluable news and enhancing industry connections.
And, as is the new normal for all public events and movements, highest standards of health and safety will be followed across all elements of the shows this year with WTM London, Travel Forward and London Travel Week adhering to UK Government guidelines on social distancing and all other aspects of COVID-19 prevention. Visitors will not only have the chance to meet other travel and tourism professionals in person for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19, but they will be able to do this in a safe environment too.
WTM London’s Event Director Simon Press said, “This is truly fantastic news to hear with regards to not only our industry but also the thousands of companies we directly support through WTM London in the global travel and tourism industry.”
“We look forward to welcoming people to London this November in a safe way and providing the platform to help our industry recover, rebuild and innovate. By hosting both a live and virtual event as part of WTM London 2020 we will be providing a truly essential service for the global travel and tourism industry as it looks to rebound heading into 2021.”