Dot coms take WTM by storm

Technology expansion

Dot coms take WTM by storm

OF the 66 new standholders at World Travel Market, more than 10% will be dot-com companies, leading to a marked expansion of the technology section at the exhibition.

There will be seven new Internet companies at the show, pushing the number of dot-com exhibitors to 10. New companies include on-line adventure travel tour operator realworld.com and hotel reservation company bedhunter.com. Realworld-travel said it was hoping to meet new ground handlers and other suppliers, plus companies that would like to advertise on its Web site. Bedhunter.com, which takes bookings either over the Internet or via WAP phones, will be looking for new properties to add to its portfolio.

Marketing manager Monika Siegenthaler said: “We can take reservations for hotels in 22 German cities, but we want to extend this to the rest of Europe.”

The new dot-com companies will be exhibiting alongside established Internet businesses, such as lastminute.com.