World Travel Market 2010, the leading global event for the travel industry, generated a massive £1,425 million in travel and tourism industry deals – an impressive 25% increase on WTM 2009.
Independent research of World Travel Market’s exhibitors and Meridian Club members shows WTM will generate £1,424,844 million of deals, either through contracts signed at the event or from negotiations at WTM 2010 which will lead to deals before WTM 2011.
WTM 2009 generated £1,139 million in business deals, either on the exhibition floor or in the following 12 months.
The increase in business can, in part, be attributed to the expanded Speed Networking session on the first day of WTM, giving exhibitors and Meridian Club members the remaining three days of the event to continue negotiations and agree deals.
The impressive scale of business conducted at WTM led to 96% of exhibitors stating WTM is important to their business.
Exhibitor satisfaction rose to 94% with 66% either completely or very satisfied, compared to 59% in 2009. Visitor satisfaction of WTM stood at an impressive 93%.
More than seven out of ten exhibitors (71%) said WTM is the best or better than most events compared to 67% in 2009 and 65% in 2008.
Furthermore, an impressive 96% of exhibitors are extremely or very likely to exhibit at WTM 2011 with a massive 98% of visitors extremely or very likely to attend this year’s event, which takes between 7 -10 November.
World Travel Market Exhibition Director Simon Press said: “World Travel Market 2010 has seen, and will lead to, a phenomenal amount of travel and tourism industry business being agreed.
“The expanded Speed Networking programme played an important role in the success of WTM for both exhibitors and Meridian Club members, offering both stakeholders increased opportunities to meet new contacts and sign contracts.”
“The amount of business conducted and the findings from the exhibitor and visitor research shows WTM is delivering on its commitment to facilitate business in the travel and tourism industry.”
Fusion Communications interviewed 449 exhibitors and 1,356 visitors.
