WTM 2003 declared a success

World Travel Market group exhibition director Fiona Jeffery has declared this year’s event a success, with visitor numbers increasing slightly to almost 45,000. The figure marks an increase of roughly 2.5% on last year’s event which attracted 43,803 delegates, exhibitors and media. Attendance by Meridian Club members was down 5% from 13,267 to 12,598 which the organisers said was “due to a stricter membership focus on quality international buyers with purchasing authority.” Overseas visitors increased by 6%, while there was a 9% rise in trade visitors according to non-audited figures. Ms Jeffery claimed: “Given the universal climate at present, these are exceptional figures.” She added: “No other event attracts the number of senior Industry professionals that gathered at ExCel last week. You only had to look around the halls and the Boulevard to see the volume of serious business being conducted and the amount of networking and catching up with old friends and contacts.” Ms Jeffery said delegates were now more familiar with ExCel, but that the organisers would continue to work to make “improvements where ever necessary for 2004.”