Abu Dhabi Sponsors Growing WTM
ABU DHABI UAR, NOVEMBER 12, 2007. World Travel Market is two percent larger than last year, with 5,402 exhibitors from 200 regions and countries, with Abu Dhabi as the premier sponsor. The Emirate has signed a two-year agreement as World Travel Market's official Premier Partner. This is a move that underlines the Gulf emirate's commitment to Britain's top travel show. There are also four new countries which are exhibiting for the first time or returning after a long absence: Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino, Gibraltar and the Yemen.
There have also been nearly 9,500 appointment requests using World Travel Market's Personal Event Planner or PEP for short. Introduced two years ago, the PEP has proven to be a real help to visitors planning their visit more effectively. It matches delegates own business interests and preferences with exhibitors and their products.
Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of World Travel Market said that although she was delighted that the event had broken all records in terms of size, the most important factor was bringing nearly 50,000 senior industry delegates together under one roof to conduct business, network, identify new markets and learn about new global trends and developments.
"World Travel Market has grown virtually year on year, but for us this is not as important as delivering a quality business to business event", she said. "Our objectives centre on attracting international buyers with purchasing authority (via our World Travel Market Meridian Club), as well as senior management and industry professionals representing every region and sector. So far, our independent research and data demonstrates that we have been lucky enough to be able to achieve this.
"One of our growth areas over the past three years has been in technology and online travel, which reflects the fact that it is now a cornerstone of the global industry. Consumer booking patterns have shifted quite dramatically in some regions. Interestingly, our growth is broadly in line with a continuing explosion in the sector of up to 20%."
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