Gallery: Global Travel Week
The inaugural Global Travel Week has brought hundreds of travel buyers, suppliers and destinations together to support the industry’s recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
The event, held at London’s Kia Oval, is organised by Travel Weekly’s parent company Jacobs Media Group and features targeted business meetings, insight sessions and a range of events and hosted dinners at The Ned, The Aviary and The Prince London.
It showcases a model pioneered by Jacobs Media Group’s international events brand and business network Connections, which specialises in facilitating lasting business relationship through shared memorable experiences.
The event was officially opened on Monday by Jacobs Media Group chairman Clive Jacobs alongside Connections managing director Micaela Giacobbe and country partner, the Italian National Tourist Board.
Jacobs (pictured) said: “I am elated to see so many of you here today after everything we have been through and especially taking into account the ongoing uncertainty around testing and entry requirements that still continues to plague our industry.”
He added: “None of us here today could have possibly envisaged the looming crisis – and the terrible toll it would take on our industry. We have all been challenged to our absolute limit in an industry that has always been more susceptible than most to external threats, but no one could foresee what was ahead of us back at the start of 2020.
“That is why I am proud to launch the inaugural Global Travel Week – powered by Connections, a brand-new annual travel trade event. Now is the time to start the rebuilding process within our industry, therefore I believe the bold timing of this launch is absolutely pivotal.”
In addition to the meetings and events programme, Global Travel Week features a series of panel discussions and presentations from other Jacobs Media Group brands, including Travel Weekly, Aspire, Atas and the Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council.
Other insight sessions are being presented by Unity Through Tourism, the programme for countries united through the Commonwealth, and digital travel brand Travolution, which will host its European Summit on Thursday.
The event welcomed delegates from more than 40 countries, and will feature more than 20 special experiences and more than 4,000 scheduled appointments.
Addressing delegates, Giacobbe said: “We’re thrilled to see so many decision-makers coming together from all over the world, over three days of one-to-one meetings. Thanks to the ‘Connections Way’ of doing business, delegates are building trust with one another through memorable experiences that lead to long-lasting business relationships.
“We are privileged to work with an incredible network of people, and so everything we do is with reason, with purpose and with the industry in mind. The event format ensures that it is all about you, and the business relationships you are about to build with one another.”
Gallery: Global Travel Week