World Travel Market 2011 will increase its focus on technology and online travel with two new pavilions for mobile technology and start-up technology companies.
The pavilions, in the Technology and Online Travel (TOT) region of the annual trade show at London’s ExCeL exhibition centre, will support the TOT Theatre, which launched last year.
New technology exhibitors include global payment service Ixaris, online hotel reservations company Venere.com and global mobile roaming business TravelSIM. RateGain and EZYield have both doubled their space for 2011.
WTM TOT sales manager Jo Marshall said: “The interest in exhibiting at WTM’s TOT section is phenomenal. I’m delighted with the new exhibitors we have on board so far, as well as the number of exhibitors which are expanding their stand space following a successful WTM 2010.”
She added that further partnerships with key technology brands were being finalised to bring “extra kudos” to the technology section of the show.
A technology-focused event is running on Monday, November 7 for the first time.
WTM is working with the International Federation for Information Technology in Travel and Tourism (IFITT), Travel Technology Initiative, OpenTravel Alliance to help shape the TOT programme.
The events are being hosted in ExCeL’s larger Platinum Suite to cater for the increased interest from technology buyers and visitors. Genesys senior partner Paul Richer wil be chairing the TOT programme.
WTM 2011 takes place from November 7-10. To pre-register, visit wtmlondon.com/register.