WORLD Travel Market has launched Industry Insights, a new market intelligence service to help exhibitors and visitors keep up with the latest expert information.
China, technology and airlines are among the first subjects to come under World Travel Market’s spotlight as well as a new high-level report on global trends and developments, supplied by worldwide research specialists Euromonitor International.
World Travel Market managing director Fiona Jeffery said the WTM Industry Insight service formed a major strategic pillar for the future of the event.
“This is a service not just for the four days of World Travel Market, but throughout the year,” she said. “It will build into something more analytical that will help businesses and destinations to specifically plan for the future.
“Specialist partners will offer a world class picture of the latest developments on three of the most important challenges currently facing the industry.”
The ChinaContact Conference ‘China – the Future of Travel’ will take place on Monday 6 November, the opening day of WTM at the conference centre ExCeL in London.
It is the first pan-industry conference on bilateral tourism relations between China and Europe, and will bring together government and industry players from the outbound and inbound sectors in Europe and China.
“Despite the fact that China is forecast to become the world’s top tourist destination by 2020, much around China’s tourism industry remains shrouded in mystery,” said Jeffery.
“That is why this conference is crucial to professionals wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and how to go about conducting business with the Chinese.”
During 2006 the travel and tourism industries have met challenges including heightened security resulting from terrorism threats, continued rise of low cost carriers, emerging markets, expanding airports, and the prospect of new super aircraft.
These are some of the subject the conference WTM/IATA ‘Synergies for Future Growth – Aviation and Travel and Tourism: Partners in the Same Industry’ will address.
Taking place on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 November at ExCeL London, the conference will explore the benefits of developing valuable relationships between aviation and travel and tourism to achieve sustainable growth.
Meanwhile another WTM conference, Travolution@WTM – Covering Travel in the Digital World, will include speakers from Google, Guardian Newspapers, mobile operator O2 and Ba.com talking about online business.
The event will include a series of seminars on the Tuesday 7 November that will have a focus on travel in the digital world, while the one-day conference, with keynote speakers and panel discussions on Wednesday 8 November, will debate these themes.
On Monday 6 November, Euromonitor International will team up with World Travel Market to present a new report on global trends and developments researched specifically for the event.
“The event can help professionals make more informed choices about business retention and expansion,” said Jeffery.