World Travel Market (WTM) celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a show made up of casts from London’s top West End musicals.
Stars from Chicago, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia! will perform a 45-minute show to mark 30 years since the exhibition first opened its doors in 1980 at London’s Olympia. The show is on Wednesday in the Central Boulevard immediately after WTM closes for the day.
WTM chairwoman Fiona Jeffery said: “There’s no better way for everyone involved in WTM to celebrate this major milestone.”
For Jeffery the event remains not only the place for billions of pounds worth of business to be conducted every year but also a central hub to address topical issues.
She added: “WTM was one of the first events to focus on gay and lesbian tourism, and we were way ahead on responsible tourism – the first Environmental Awareness Day was in 1994. A focus this year is on making the disability market more mainstream. How do people with disabilities enjoy a holiday?”
The very first WTM in 1980 drew 350 exhibitors and 7,753 trade visitors, a figure that has grown to last year’s record of almost 50,000 people.
By 1990, the show’s popularity was such that a move to a larger venue was considered, resulting with its move to Earl’s Court two years later. A further relocation took place in 2002, when the show moved to its current venue ExCeL.
Over the years, WTM has attracted its fair share of famous faces and royalty, not to mention controversy. In 1985 it was opened by Princess Diana shortly after the birth of her son Prince Harry, while in 1989 anti-Apartheid leaflets were dropped on Princess Anne’s head as she opened the show after protesters evaded security and daubed the doors of Olympia red.
■ For the 30th anniversary show places are available on a first-come first-served basis at the Meridian Club Welcome desk in the Central Boulevard from 10am tomorrow.
Read the full interview with WTM chairman Fiona Jeffery,