Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #32
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
ELITE TRAVEL TRENDS<br />
Brought to you by<br />
LUXURY TRAVEL PROS FLOCK<br />
TO THE CITY OF STARS<br />
The French city of Cannes is the annual Mecca<br />
for luxury travel professionals - at ILTM<br />
ILTM Cannes, the global flagship event<br />
of the ILTM portfolio of trade-only events<br />
returns to Cannes, 5 – 8 December 2016.<br />
ILTM is truly a not-to-be-missed global<br />
event for the luxury travel industry,<br />
introducing global travel buyers to an<br />
incredible collection of international travel<br />
experiences. The organisers indeed describe<br />
themselves as “the relationship brokers that<br />
provide a platform for you to do business<br />
and build relationships”.<br />
Last year, the show generated over 60,000<br />
business appointments, resulting in business<br />
estimated in the hundreds of millions<br />
of Euros. With around 100 countries<br />
represented, the 3,000 attendees (both<br />
buyers and suppliers) at the show are 100%<br />
international.<br />
While ILTM is largely based on face-to-face<br />
meetings, a number of networking events<br />
enable attendees to build even stronger<br />
relationships.<br />
The strength of the show echoes the solid<br />
growth in the luxury travel segment. Indeed,<br />
an exclusive report released at ILTM in 2015<br />
underlined the fact that luxury travel is<br />
expected to see more buoyant growth<br />
across the globe with highest growth seen<br />
in the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle<br />
East and Africa, thanks to increasing income<br />
and a growing middle class. Germany and<br />
the UK were found to be the top source<br />
markets from Western Europe. Europe<br />
will remain a popular destination, with a<br />
weaker euro currently providing good value<br />
for money for US tourists. Worldwide, the<br />
report reveals that the number of affluent<br />
households is expected to grow between<br />
2015 and 2030. North America will<br />
continue to have the wealthiest number<br />
of households, but despite the economic<br />
slowdown Asia Pacific is still expected to<br />
see the fastest increase, posting a predicted<br />
113% growth between 2015 and 2030.<br />
ILTM is also an annual media showcase<br />
for luxury travel brands that increasingly<br />
leverage the event to announce new<br />
openings, strategies and campaigns. This<br />
THE RELATIONSHIP<br />
BROKERS THAT<br />
PROVIDE A PLATFORM<br />
FOR YOU TO DO<br />
BUSINESS AND BUILD<br />
RELATIONSHIPS<br />
year will no doubt see even more news<br />
coming from the Palais des Festivals in<br />
Cannes.<br />
Last year’s edition of ILTM was also a<br />
platform for US-based Virtuoso to increase<br />
its footprint in Europe, having launched<br />
in this territory only in 2014. “Virtuoso, in<br />
partnership with our global agency members,<br />
is co-creating this network to position each<br />
region for success while simultaneously<br />
building a powerful international brand,”<br />
said Virtuoso Chairman and Chief Executive<br />
Officer, Matthew D. Upchurch •