Plans for the first hotel in space will be unveiled at World Travel Market, in keeping with the futuristic theme of the last major travel show of the century.
US design firm WAT&G will talking about the feasibility of sub-orbital travel at a Forecast Forum on the Monday.
This is one of the more ambitious launches but there will be no shortage of millennium news from exhibitors as they gear up to welcome in the millennium from the traditional Times Square celebrations in New York to a giant street party on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Israel will have over 55 representatives on its stand, including the newly appointed minister of tourism Amnon Lipkin-Shahak. They will show how the destination has expanded its infrastructure in anticipation of a record-breaking 3m tourists in 2000. After the opening ceremony, Jordan’s minister of tourism, HE Akel Biltaji, will announce a global peace summit, to be held in Amman in November 2000.
WTM director Fiona Jeffery said: “World Travel Market has particular significance for the travel industry as it comes just before the start of the third millennium. We will be encouraging exhibitors and visitors to extend the role of the industry to break down cultural and geographical barriers.”
To ensure the last WTM of the century goes with a bang, event organiser The Full Effect is staging a massive party in a marquee at London’s Battersea Park, sponsored by the Hilton Group.
And, for the first time at WTM, the organisers will stage a closing ceremony where 2,000 balloons will be released, along with confetti and streamers. Jeffery said: “A ceremony is appropriate to give exhibitors and visitors the chance to say farewell to 1999 and to welcome 2000.”