Travel Technology Show event director, David Chapple says dwindling numbers of technology suppliers at last year’s World Travel Market in London, signals a decline in the event’s importance for travel technology.
“WTM only had around 20 suppliers last year, where as in previous years they’ve had 80 to 100. The fact that very few UK companies are supporting the event means that perhaps it is not doing the business for them,” he said.
Mr Chapple was bullish following the release of positive figures for this year’s Travel Technology Show, held in London’s Olympia earlier this month. Visitor figures were up 44% from last year’s show to 3,148, 90% of whom said they either influence or make the decision on where to spend their IT budgets.
Mr Chapple said WTM was still popular with overseas suppliers because of its large international audience, but added that 20% of exhibitors at the Travel Technology Show were from outside the UK, and he anticipates this number growing next year.
He added that the Travel Technology Show was not considering a move out to ExCel in east London. He told TravelMole: “60% of people visiting the show come from outside London or the south east and want to do a bit of shopping in central Lodnon as well as attending the show. It’s more appealing than going out to the Docklands.“
Report by Ginny McGrath
