INAUGURAL WTM AFRICA DRAWS BIG NAMES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
(Posted 22nd February 2014)
International travel and hospitality heavyweight brands such as TripAdvisor, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood and the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group are among the many exhibitors signed up already for the inaugural WTM Africa.
TripAdvisor, one of the world’s largest travel sites, which boasts more than 125 million reviews, is excited about participating in the show. ‘WTM Africa’s inaugural event this year in Cape Town gives us a great opportunity to connect with a growing market. We hope to explain the value that TripAdvisor can bring to hospitality businesses in Africa that want to connect with our 260 million unique users globally, and how they can benefit from using TripAdvisor’s online marketing services’ said Doros Theodorou, Commercial Director, EMEA, TripAdvisor for Business.
Also amongst the confirmed exhibitors are Hilton Worldwide, featuring ten brands and 4,000 hotels across 90 countries and The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group – one of the fastest growing chains in the world which offers brands such as Radisson Blu, Park Inn by Radisson and Hotel Missoni.
WTM Africa, which takes place on 02nd and 03rd of May in Cape Town, will also feature tourist office exhibitors from across the world, including Turkey, Dubai and France.
Exhibitors will hold business discussions with leading pan African travel industry buyers, and will include a 300 strong hosted buyer programme. WTM Africa, Event Manager, Polly Magraw, said ‘Africa is the next key region for international travel brands, meaning that global hotel groups, airlines, operators, agents and global technology firms are all keen to make their mark on the continent by participating at WTM Africa. Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors on the African continent and it is set to continue to grow significantly over the next five years. The time is right for Africa to take a greater presence on the global stage and WTM Africa offers the perfect platform for this. Many international travel brands recognise the potential the region has and are keen to show their support for the event from the beginning. WTM Africa also offers an event programme designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of travel professionals, offering best insight into the industry and the exciting future prospects for this emerging region’.
World Travel Market Africa is part of South African based Thebe Reed Exhibition’s Africa Travel Week, which also includes IBTM Africa and ILTM Africa at The Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28th April – 3rd May 2014. Africa Travel Week encompasses Africa’s inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector. Three travel industry events in one week, under one roof.
· ILTM Africa 28 – 30 April 2014
· IBTM Africa 28 – 30 April 2014
· WTM Africa 2 – 3 May 2014
It is expected that a major contingent of hospitality and tourism businesses as well as tourism boards from Eastern Africa will be present at these events in order to not only tap into the market opportunities such a bundle of tourism trade fairs offer but also to make sure that the East African region is seen to be actively promoting their rich attractions, from beaches over game parks to the mountains, and from culture over art and fashion to cuisine.
Watch this space for more upcoming updates on these three events.
