For the 8th consecutive year, I have very much enjoyed the World Travel Market in London.
I have been able to meet different people from the hotel industry and also pay a bit of attention to new entrants in the hospitality world as well as in the online travel industry. Most of the international hotel chains were represented from Starwood, Best Western, Choice Hotels, Rezidor, Utell and more. Also a lot of presence with online hotel specialists such as Booking.com, HRS, Venere (but no sign of Expedia or Hotels.com though, I guess Venere paid for the stand before they got acquired by Expedia Inc.) or LateRooms. The technology section was also interesting with companies like Pegasus, Fastbooking or Travelclick and start up companies like Zoover (a holiday review specialist from Netherlands) or Hostelmania.
Tuesday evening, I attended the first Travel Blog Camp organized by one of the best influential travel blogger Darren from Travel Rants. The debate was moderated with 4 speakers who gave a 15 min presentation followed by questions and answers. Alex from TourCMS, Karen from Europe a la carte, a representative from STA Travel and Kevin May from Travolution did give their input about how they started their blog, what are the challenges and how we can progress further. To my big astonishment, questions were coming in from all over the place with an audience of about 80 people. A mix of bloggers, journalists, PR companies and travel companies. There was even a time where the debate was quite electric to understand what is the difference between a journalist and blogger (the ongoing question which I am quite bored to hear now...). I wish i could have more time to network with more people. Guido, Marco and I close the pub after everybody was gone. it was good to meet all those bloggers that I have only known virtually for most of them. James from Worldreviewer.com was also present with a representative from LonelyPlanet. I think we have all agreed that we should organize a next similar event very soon.
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Great reading, I must try and make it over next event. I'm not aware of any similar events in Paris, other than RESA and the upcoming Equip. Thanks
Posted by: Alison Wallace | Friday, November 14, 2008 at 04:04 PM
i would love to read this .
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aryan
Posted by: amit | Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 06:49 AM
The World Travel Market, more commonly known as the WTM, takes place annually in London.International Tourism is changing rapidly globally. A number of key challenges and opportunities are emerging for both tourism destinations and suppliers around the world.
Flights,Cars rental,Hotels,travels
Posted by: Cjitravels | Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Lateroom were actually at the WTM, I had a meeting with them ;) Their stand was however not in the Global Village, it was in the UK-area of the trade fair.
Posted by: Nick | Monday, November 17, 2008 at 05:42 AM
Next time we close the pub again. I wondered why everybody left, but all pubs in the UK close at 11 I learned just yesterday :)
It was great meeting you. And Cheers!
Posted by: Marco | Monday, November 17, 2008 at 10:59 PM