WTM Posts Visitor Increase In 2018

WTM London 2018 and its co-located sister event Travel Forward experienced a 6% increase in visitors fueled by an increase in senior travel and tourism industry professionals attending the event, according to unaudited figures.

WTM London 2018 (including the new travel technology event Travel Forward) saw visitor numbers — including exhibitor invitees, WTM Buyers’ Club members and trade visitors — increase by 6% to 32,700.

Overall participant numbers increased to 51,409 — making it one of the highest attended of the 39 WTM London’s that have taken place since it launched in 1980.

The record number of visitors to WTM London — surpassing 2014’s figure of 32,462 — was fueled by a massive 39% increase in the key benchmark of exhibitor invitee visitors. Exhibitor invitees are among the most important and senior professionals in the travel and tourism industry, invited by exhibitors on the invite-only first day of the event to conduct high-level meetings and conclude business deals. A total of 17,567 exhibitor invitees attended WTM London across the three days of the event (Nov. 5 to Nov. 7), compared to 12,662 at the 2017 edition.

WTM London, senior director, Simon Press, said: “WTM London 2018 was a fantastic event and the most successful ever. WTM London is the event where ideas arrive and this was proved with a record number of exhibitor invitees in attendance making it among the highest attended events.”

Press continued: “WTM London 2018 was overhauled to have a greater regional focus with the introduction of regional Inspiration Zones. The increase in participants shows this strategy was a great success with the increase in content available at the event, further improving ideas creation at the event and around the travel and tourism industry.”

Audited figures from WTM London 2018 will be available in the New Year.

WTM London 2019 — the 40th event — will take place at ExCeL London on from Nov. 4 to Nov. 6.