On Friday 7 September, La Cumbre, The Americas´ Travel Industry Summit, concluded its 23rd edition with a high approval rating on the part of participants, proclamations of success and signed contracts. The event, organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, lived up to the opinion of being the best edition in many years.
The first day of the event, last September 5, a new edition of the Tourism Branding Forum conference programme took place, during which updates and training were provided on several topics of fundamental interest to industry decisionmakers. Amongst the presenting organisations, the conferences hosted by PhoCusWright, Medill IMC/Northwestern University and CNN T.A.S.K. Group, amongst others, stood out.
Also on that day, the Inaugural Press Conference was held, at which Gaston Isoldi (La Cumbre-Reed Travel Exhibitions), Danielle Courtenay (Visit Orlando), Peter Kacheris (Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek | Waldorf Astoria Orlando), and Denise Arencibia (Visit Florida), all agreed on the relevance, for pleasure and business travelers alike, of Orlando and Florida as destinations marked by constant growth and renewal. That first day concluded with a spectacular welcome party at Animal Kingdom, a theme park located within Walt Disney World Resort.
Thereafter, during Thursday 6 September and Friday 7 September, the 234 exhibitors from throughout the Americas and 210 international buyers who participated at the event met in a total of 10,986 appointments, marking an increase in the numbers for all these items compared to the 2011 edition. The participants in the different categories stated to have met their attendance objectives satisfactorily, even closing deals in many cases during the event itself. Thursday evening, the day was topped off with a magnificent reception hosted by Universal Parks & Resorts.
The closing celebration took place on Friday the 7th, during a reception offered by The Mall at Millenia, which featured an exclusive fashion show for the delegates attending La Cumbre. In addition, the Club Elite prize drawing was held, awarding three prizes worth a total of USD 5,000 to buyers who met the requirements of said programme. The prizes were sponsored by Las Vegas CVA, Travel Ace Assistance and Reed Travel Exhibitions.
