WTM London and Travel Forward reveal plans for 2020

WTM London and Travel Forward – the travel and hospitality technology event co-located with WTM London – are working closely with partners and experts to ensure a safe and successful experience at ExCeL London, taking place from November 2-4.

Detailed plans are being made for every aspect of the shows, which is set to be one of the first major exhibitions to take place globally since the Covid-19 pandemic started.

The preparations were given a boost earlier this month when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light for conferences and exhibitions to resume in October.

WTM London’s Senior Director Simon Press announced the live shows’ highlights during a virtual press conference which combined more than 200 pre-registered journalists and digital influencers from nearly 30 countries.

Simon Press also revealed the details regarding WTM Virtual event, which is taking place virtually from November 10-11 to embrace travel professionals from all over the globe, especially the ones who can’t attend the live event due to travel restrictions.

WTM London – November 2-4 at ExCel London

UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit Expands into New Territories

Tourism leaders from around the world will once again come together for the Ministers’ Summit – the largest annual meeting of tourism ministers – at WTM London to set out a roadmap for a safer, greener and smarter future for the sector.

Given the unprecedented scale of the challenge facing tourism, the UNWTO and WTM will partner with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which is representing the global travel and tourism private sector at the event for the first time in its history, making it the UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit. The summit will feature a day-long think-tank on November 2 during WTM London.

WTM London partners with ITIC to launch investment summit

WTM London and ITIC will come up together to host a tourism investment summit that will help recover businesses and restore travellers’ confidence after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The conference aims to explain the financial mechanisms that allow travel companies to recover and rebuild. Investment experts will also give guidelines on how to prepare for any other future global disaster.

Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC and former Secretary-General of UNWTO, said: “It is a great honour and a privilege for ITIC to partner with WTM, the greatest and most impactful Tourism Trade Show in the world. It will focus to prepare a comprehensive tourism recovery plan, to rebuild destinations, encourage innovation and investment, and rethink the tourism sector."

Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO, MD and Organiser of ITIC, said: “We are thrilled to partner with WTM for our third tourism investment conference where Ministers, Policy Makers, Tourism Leaders and Projects Owners will engage with Investors and Private Equity firms to discuss and explore new financial mechanisms and alliances in sustainable investments in the industry and readying for market recovery in the post Covid-19 era."

New Marketing Conference and Master Class Workshop in partnership with The Five Percent

WTM London will partner with The Five Percent to launch Marketing Conference and Master Class.

The Five Percent will be hosting a one-day workshop with globally acclaimed paid traffic, branding, and marketing experts who will be sharing their knowledge on what is working right now across the businesses they work with.

The agency brings over 20 years of business training experience and due to its influential management team, it has rapidly become renowned for creating highly actionable content for entrepreneurs to improve their marketing, sales, leadership, and financial skills.

Simon Press said: “We’re looking forward to a long-lasting partnership with The Five Percent and our continued commitment to up-level and bring the world's leading experts and expertise to our clients, partners and visitors."

Enhanced WTM Buyers Club Program

In 2019, WTM Buyers’ Club programme was revamped to create a new and exclusive experience for buyers, exhibitors and visitors. This year the programme will be even more exclusive.

“More than ever before, WTM London will refine products in order to give attendees the best experience possible. Our exclusive approach to the Buyers’ Club will produce fantastic results, making WTM London the location for the world’s top buyers to do business and to enhance the global travel industry," said Simon Press.

WTM Speed Networking New Format

WTM Speed networking will deliver a new format in line with new physical distancing procedures. There is a huge demand to gain access to speed networking from both exhibitors and buyers.

The new format will deliver better connections and more meetings all in a safe environment with plans being announced by the organisers in the coming weeks.

New Customer Experience

WTM London’s organisers have been liaising closely with Public Health England, the UK Government, ExCeL London and the Association of Event Venues to enable the safest possible experience in November.

Simon Press said: “This year’s event might be slightly different but visitors can expect the same great WTM experience."

“We’re working with partners to ensure we are confident in the safety measures they have in place for getting WTM and TF attendees to and from Excel. We’ll carefully manage the capacity of the venue, and make sure all protocols to allow physical distancing will be followed."

"There will also be hand sanitiser points, hygiene screens and increased cleaning schedules and every system."

“We’ll use contactless technology for interactions such as scanning badges and payments at catering outlets, and food and drinks will be pre-packaged."

“It’s exciting to think that, in just three months’ time, we will be welcoming professionals from around the world to the event where Ideas Arrive – to help our industry recover, rebuild and innovate.”

WTM Virtual – 10-11 November

WTM Portfolio has officially announced the launch of WTM Virtual, a two-day event that will take place from November 10-11 and will be an extension of WTM London and Travel Forward live shows.

Following on from the success of ATM Virtual, WTM Virtual will feature a host of conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking, and one-to-one meetings.

The virtual show aims to ensure participation and global reach and to offset any attendee that cannot attend the live event due to travel restrictions.

Simon Press said: “Our virtual event provides us with the opportunity to work closely with the global travel professionals and ensure we can support the industry in recovering, rebuilding and innovating as quickly and efficiently as possible."

“WTM Virtual will embrace travel professional’s communities around the globe. We’re very excited to provide to our clients and visitors the opportunity to attend both shows: live and virtual this year."

Travel Forward – November 2-4 at ExCel London

Travel Forward is the travel and hospitality technology event co-located with WTM London.

This year the brand is introducing The VIP Buyer Programme. A handpicked selection of buyers will be invited to attend prearranged meetings with exhibitors at the show. This is a brand new addition to TF and is in line with their commitment to deliver high quality interactions, according to the organisers.

In addition, the Travel Forward Conference will now be free to attend. This year’s theme is Resilience, Innovation and Response and will focus on helping travel companies, from across the globe, steer a path on the road to a post-Covid recovery.

The brand will also be joining WTM Virtual which will take place from November 10-11.

Travel Forward’s Event Manager Richard Gayle said: “The VIP Buyer Programme will refine our products in order to give attendees the best experience possible. We feel our more exclusive approach to the Buyers’ Club will produce fantastic results, making Travel Forward the location for the world’s top travel tech buyers to do business and to enhance the global travel industry.”

London Travel Week – October 30 – November 5

London Travel Week will unlock invaluable networking and business opportunities for those who journey to London, and the UK, for WTM London this year and will be an essential stepping-stone in the recovery of the tourism industry.

This series of events compliments the plethora of opportunities that are present for visitors of WTM London and will be a one-stop-shop for the travel industry to innovate into the future.

The event will aim to accelerate business growth through its unique combination of networking, knowledge sessions and sponsored, bespoke events.

The industry has been hit hard by the effects of Covid-19 but London Travel Week, including WTM London and Travel Forward will be the start of the recovery as the global community comes together to build a more sustainable, responsible and better travel industry.