World Travel Market 2010: News and pictures from ExCeL

World Travel Market has returned to London’s ExCeL centre with a 50% larger venue thanks to a £165 million expansion.

The host venue ExCeL is now 97,500 square metres. The additional space has allowed the organisers to revamp the exhibition floor plan and add a new Sports Pavilion and technology theatre.

The UK & Ireland, Europe and Mediterranean and Africa regions are in the North Halls, while The Americas, Asia and Australasia, Middle East, Global Village and Technology and Online Travel will be in the South Halls.

Sports tourism will be a key focus of the show, with the introduction of a dedicated Sports Pavilion in the UK and Ireland region.

Technology and online travel will play a larger part, with a new 80-seat theatre and expanded programme. The increased floor space has also enabled WTM to extend the Meridien Club speed networking sessions.

News from World Travel Market

 

 

Tourism

 

 

Global

• Global tourism up 7%, says UNWTO

 

 

India and Indian Ocean

• Maldives looks to boost share of mid-market business
• Sri Lanka aims for 400% hike in UK visitors by 2016
• India buoyed by Commonwealth Games
• Mauritius partners with neighbours to promote island-hopping

 

 

South and Central America

• Chilean miners ‘put country on the tourism map’
• Ecuador in $40m rebranding

 

 

North America

• New ‘US tourist board’ plans overseas budgets
• Tourism returns to Alabama after oil crisis
• Amtrak reports 60% rise in UK passengers
• Canadian Tourism Commission to triple spend in UK

 

 

Africa

• Move over, gorillas – Uganda pushes ‘water’ tourism
• Tunisia on course for record 2011
• APD blocks Egypt from hitting UK visitor targets

 

 

Caribbean

• Barbados to launch ITV ad campaign in January
• Jamaica to name new airport after Ian Fleming
• Bahamas to push US twin-centres

 

 

Middle East

• Dubai promises cultural visits for agent fams
• Abu Dhabi focuses on leisure in bid for 15% growth  
• Lebanon courts no-frills carriers

 

 

Europe

• ‘Olympics may lead to 30% fall in London visitors’
• UK visitors to Turkey up 12%
• Croatia looks for new operator and airline partnerships
• Tenerife to promote adventure, culture and gastronomy 

 

 

Asia

• Hong Kong to offer twin centres with Guangxi  

 

 

Operators and agents

• EasyJet Holidays ‘could spell the end for protection’
• ‘Echo boomers’ boost US travel agents
• Financial protection is ‘biggest threat facing industry’
• SMEs are ‘afraid to invest’, says Digby Jones
• ‘Legacy systems’ are a barrier to growth, says Carrick
• Flight plus could meet ‘open revolt’ from agents – Freudmann
• BA service leads Puerto Rico to UK operators
• Thomas Cook hotel rate row ‘will be over next week’
• EasyJet-Lowcost deal ‘is no threat to Tui’ – Lundgren
• Government ‘hindering’ industry, says Tui boss
• Lastminute to replicate Holiday Autos’ agent programme
• Universal Orlando extends Potter partnerships
• Dubai wines and dines 600 agents

 

 

Marketing and tech

• Vertical unveils direct marketing tool for hoteliers
• Traveltek develops multi-lingual tech and transactional app
• Multicom launches ‘end-to-end’ trade product
• TripAdvisor urges hoteliers to challenge user reviews
• Comtec previews iPad and iPhone apps
• ‘Only a third of Brits use social media to research holidays’
• Firms falling short on gay-friendly welcome

 

 

Aviation

• Aviation policies will ‘come back to bite’ UK – Emirates boss
• Aviation bosses slam ash cloud ‘over-reaction’
• UK tourism minister ‘trying to reduce APD’s impact’
• Ryanair mulls new routes in Europe and North Africa
• WTTC head condemns APD and Heathrow block
• BA promises ‘no stealth extras’ on new Marrakech flights
• APD rated a major concern by travel bosses
• Airlines to increase US capacity for 2011

 

 

Environment

• Sustainable tourism ‘must become mainstream’
• New ‘green guides’ for hoteliers and travellers

 

 

WTM dailies

 

 

Monday 9	Tuesday 10	Wednesday 11	Thursday 12

 

 

Photos

   

   

    

• More WTM images on travelhub