World Travel Market 2014, the leading global event for the travel industry, has been voted UKinbound’s Travel Trade Event of the Year at the association’s Gala Dinner for a remarkable fifth year in succession.
The awards, which took place at the association’s Annual Convention, hosted at Leicester’s award winning event venue, the Athena, were voted for by its UKinbound board members.
World Travel Market triumphed in the Travel Trade Event of the Year category.
World Travel Market 2014 had a bumper year experiencing an impressive 4% increase in attendees with the event opening its doors to almost 51,500 delegates over the four days (Monday 3 – Thursday 6 November), as well as celebrating 35 years of doing business.
The delegate increase makes it the largest trade-only WTM event and is the fifth consecutive year of growth.
All visitor groups experienced growth, according to unaudited figures, WTM Buyers’ Club delegates are up 7% to 9,116. This increase in senior buyers at WTM 2014 will see the event facilitate around £2.5 billion in industry deals.
Other visitor group increases include trade visitors (6%), international media (2%) and exhibitor personnel (2%) compared to WTM 2013.
Furthermore, overall visits to World Travel Market are fast-approaching the 100,000 mark, with WTM 2014 having 98,426 visits. Unique delegate numbers for WTM 2014 are 51,492.
Many other winners on the night comprised of well-known WTM Exhibitors such as City Cruises for Attraction of the Year, inbound DMC specialist AC Tours for Tour Operator of the Year and The London Helicopters, the only company to operate helicopter tours from central London, awarded for New Member of the Year.
VisitBritain, the national tourist board for Great Britain¸also walked away with Service Provider of the Year.
World Travel Market Senior Exhibition Director Simon Press said: “I am delighted WTM was voted UKinbound’s Travel Trade Event of the Year for the fifth year running.
“WTM 2014 was a great success with many new exhibitors, a 4% increase in the number of visitors, almost 51,500 people over the four days as well as the many festivities celebrating 35 years of doing business.
“It is also fantastic to see WTM Exhibitors such as City Cruises, AC Tours, The London Helicopters and VisitBritain being recognised for their excellence and contribution to the Industry.
“Recognition from the UKinbound’s members – who are some of the event’s key exhibitors and visitors – demonstrates the power and importance of WTM to the UK travel industry and the role it plays in facilitating business for the sector.
Mark McVay, Chairman of UKinbound, Lucie Winter, Sales Manager WTM Portfolio, Robert Bracken, CEO at Leicester Racecourse and Sam Fullalove, Sales Executive WTM Portfolio
