Feature: WTM Preview

Sponsored by Dolphin Dynamics, Stand TT686.

Overcoming objections has been a major exercise for Reed Exhibitions this year as they geared up for World Travel Market 2002.

Having got the annual exhibition comfortably bedded down in London’s Earl’s Court over the past few years, the organisers of the UK’s leading travel industry trade show risked an exhibitor and visitor backlash by moving it out to Docklands this year. The reason given for decamping to the new Thames-side location of ExCel was, more space and better facilities.

And according to group exhibition director Fiona Jeffery, the move was not before time.

“We are delighted that for the first time for some years we have been able to meet exhibitor requests for further space,” she said.

Fulfilling that demand has meant that exhibition floor space at World Travel Market this year will be more than 10% up on last year’s, housing some 5,000 exhibitors from 180 countries.

It will be the largest WTM ever and this has been taken by Fiona Jeffery as a vote of confidence in the new venue.

“This is a very important indication of international support for world Travel Market at its new home,” she said.

Reed Exhibitions claims that virtually all regions have shown growth over last year, with Africa taking on 21% extra space, Europe 20% and the Americas and Caribbean 9%. The number of sharing companies has also gone up, says Reed.

Among the 16 new countries exhibiting for the first time are Azerbaijan, Algeria, Yemen, Aruba, St Maarten, Monaco, Serbia, Canouan Island and Senegal.

While Reed has been keen to highlight the increased exhibition space and better facilities at ExCel it has also had to work hard to overcome objections that the new exhibition venue is too far from London’s city centre and offers too few nearby hotels.

The exhibition organiser’s answer was to set up Reed Travel Services (RTS), an online travel and accommodation facilitator.

In conjunction with hotel specialist, Expotel, RTS has negotiated special hotel rates with 20 three- and four-star hotels near London Underground stations that are within 35 or 40 minutes travelling time from ExCel by public transport.

Reed says visitors are encouraged to use availability in those hotels, although RTS is also offering hundreds of other two- three- four- and five-star London hotels.

For those with rather deeper pockets and who had the foresight to book early, there are suites aboard the Sunborn Yacht Hotel, moored in Royal Victoria Dock, right next door to ExCel.

And as for getting in and out of central London to the exhibition site, Reed Exhibition points out that it takes only 35 minutes from Bond Street by Underground and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The easiest way to get to ExCel from most west-end locations is to take the Jubilee Line to Canning Town and change on to the DLR. It is then two stops to Custom House, the station for ExCel.

With 24 new trains now in service on the DLR it is anticipated that a two-minute shuttle will be possible during peak times with each train carrying up to 400 passengers.

Reed Exhibitions says that DLR customer service staff will be on hand at Custom House and Canning Town to direct WTM passengers, and announcements will be made on trains and platforms. Additional signs are also planned at all key stations.

As a further back-up during peak periods, WTM is providing a fleet of 50-seat coaches to provide alternative transport from ExCel to Canning Town where delegates can move onto London Underground. These coaches will also provide a shuttle service to local hotels within the Docklands and Canary Wharf area.

ExCel will also operate three taxi ranks during WTM, catering for up to 1,000 people per hour. Approximate fares to Central London are £25-£30.

Apart from providing a venue for hunting out new product and contacts from around the world, World Travel Market also sets out to educate with a series of seminars and discussions every day.

The programme is:

Monday, November 11
* You’ve Gone Online – Now Achieve Success. Alicia Gardner, vice president marketing, Sabre.

Tuesday, November 12
* Online Bookability – Does It Matter? Paul Richer, senior partner, Genesys.
* Buying and Selling Private Companies in the Travel Sector – Getting to the End of the Rainbow. Roger Luscombe, managing partner, Continental Capital Partners and David Jones, director, Continental Capital Partners.
* World Travel & Tourism Global Trends 2002-2003. Rolf Frietag, managing director IPK International; Franceso Fangialli, secretary General, World Tourism Organisation; German Porras, president, European Travel Commission; William S. Norman, president and CEO, Travel Industry Association of America; and Peter de Jong, president and CEO, PATA.
* Travel e-Commerce in the 21st Century. Paul Richer, senior partner, Genesys.
* Marketing to American Associations and Corporations. Dr Andrea Sigler, president, Connected International Meeting Professionals Association.
* How to Organise and Association in your Area. Industry panel.
* Tourism in the Middle East North Africa Region – Time for Revival. Egyptian Minister of Tourism, H.E. Mr Talab Rifai and Mr Ibraham Ahli, manager overseas promotions, Government of Dubai.

Wednesday, November 13
* Strategies & Partnerships for the Future of Travel Distribution. (Full day conference)
* Global Marketing – It’s a Small World. Chairman: Tim Gresty, managing director Cognito. Speakers: Gwyn Hughes, managing director P&O Princess Cruises; Tom Knopek, director of leisure sales, Avis; and Laurie Young, global head of marketing, Pricewaterhousecoopers.
* Sustainable Tourism. Your Future – The Business Perspective. Speakers from the United Nations Environmental Programme and Tour Operators Initiative.
* Corporate and Social Responsibility. The World Travel and Tourism Council.
* Organic Agritourism & Rural Ecotourism. Green Globe 21’s mini conference.
* Selling Tourism to People on your Doorstep. English Tourism Council.

Thursday, November 14
* The business case for training. Claire Steiner, Travelbag. Caroline Harrigan, TTENTO (Travel, Tourism Services Events National Training Organisation).
*Making that sale is up to you. Richard English, managing director, Retraining.
Further information about World Travel Market can be found by logging on to www.reedtravelexhibitions.com and clicking on the WTM logo. This is also where Reed Travel Services can be found.