WORLD Travel Market is facing a boycott by key
exhibitors after accusations that the cost of stands has been hiked up.
The Association of National Tourist Office
Representatives has demanded an urgent meeting with WTM group exhibition
director Fiona Jeffery to push for a 30% price cut.
ANTOR chairman John Montague said: “We are determined
to change the cost.”
He said although the price per sq metre had gone down
– from £286 to £268 – following WTM’s move from London’s Earl’s Court to
Docklands’ ExCel, the actual costs to his members will go up.
Montague explained that stands at Earl’s Court were
often two-tier due to lack of space and exhibitors paid a nominal fee, around
£100, on top of the sq metre rate for a second floor.
However, he said stands at ExCel will not be two-tier
and will take up more floor space, meaning costs will rise despite the reduced
price per square metre.
Montague said: “There is a different formula than at
Earl’s Court and, with the state of the market, this could be the straw that
breaks the camel’s back. We are unanimous over this.”
Jeffery confirmed she would be meeting ANTOR to
discuss the issue, but added loyalty discounts had been built into the new
pricing structure to ensure exhibitors paid less than at Earl’s Court.
She said: “It is entirely up to exhibitors whether
they want to use the double-decker stands or have increased space.
“We are taking this very seriously, but have not made
the move to hike prices. ANTOR is important, but we also have many global
companies that have a vested interest in WTM,” she said.