Asia Luxury Travel Market 2009 (ALTM) Hailed as “The Best Yet” (China)
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Asia Luxury Travel Market 2009 (ALTM) Hailed as “The Best Yet” (China)
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Category: Asia Pacific - China -
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-06-29
The region’s leading luxury travel event celebrates a successful third year in Shanghai, despite economic downturn
Asia Luxury Travel Market, the region’s leading event exclusively for the luxury travel industry, took place in Shanghai from 15th – 18th June for the third consecutive year, with exhibitors describing it as “the best yet”.
The three day event brought together the top 300 Asian luxury travel buyers from 19 countries, close to 280 exhibitors from 36 countries and over 100 media from 11 countries.
The world’s most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious accommodation, resorts and spas, elite transportation and unique travel experiences were represented at the exhibition where buyers and sellers meet on a unique pre-arranged appointment system. Throughout the three day event over 12,000 private, face to face appointments took place.
“ALTM 09 has been a great success and we have received very positive feedback from the attending exhibitors and buyers,” said Debbie Joslin, Group Exhibition Director, ALTM. “It is now clearly established as a “must” for key players in the luxury travel industry who are targeting the important and still growing Asian markets.”
Despite the challenging times, 30% of the show’s exhibitors were participating for the first time this year, a testament to the growing significance of the Asia-Pacific region as a source for outbound luxury travellers.
New destinations participating for the first time included Oman Ministry of Tourism & Industry and Switzerland Tourism, joining returning delegations from the Government of Dubai, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Maison de la France and Tourism Ireland and Spain.
Exhibitor feedback focused on the importance of higher visibility during the current challenging times and how ALTM helped achieve that.
“As we participate in ALTM for the third year in a row we have extended our booth space because our affiliate hotels are finding the Asia Pacific markets and ALTM more relevant in the current economic climate. It is more important than ever to be highly visible," said Roland Jegge, Vice President Asia Pacific, WORLDHOTELS.
“This is the third year Silversea has exhibited at ALTM and there has never been a more important time for face to face business opportunity meetings. The high quality of buyers we have been able to secure appointments with has led to meaningful and useful conversations with the key decision makers. We will definitely come back for ALTM 2010” said Steve Odell, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Silversea Cruises
Many exhibitors were very impressed with the calibre of buyers ALTM had invited and found ALTM an invaluable opportunity for face to face meetings.
“I met exceptional contacts in just a few minutes at ALTM that normally it would have taken months to establish contact and trust with” said Eli Fava, Sales and Marketing Director, Miskawaan Luxury Beachfront Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand.
Key to the success of the show is the pre-scheduled appointment system, which means no time is wasted as VIP Buyers and exhibitors are matched with the people they most want to meet with. “This system proved to be very productive and a good platform to get to know quality buyers from across the region” said Sam Chia, Sales Manager, Capella Singapore.
Many exhibitors were impressed that they were able to meet buyers who were key decision makers “which results in almost immediate business” according to Liz Espana, Head of Marketing, Vista Jet. “We have been very impressed by the calibre of our fellow exhibitors too and I believe ALTM has the region very well covered in terms of serious buyers,” she continued.
Buyer feedback for ALTM 2009 was equally as positive as recorded by Shekar Niyogi, Executive Director, Travelcorp “This is my first year at ALTM and the quality of exhibitors has been excellent. Everyone I have met has been extremely professional and really understands the needs of the luxury travel buyer”.
Organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, ALTM is like no other trade event in the Asia Pacific region and is a platform for all that is pure, refined and bespoke in the luxury travel industry.
ALTM is the sister event of the highly successful International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) held annually in Cannes, France, now entering its eighth year.
ALTM will be held in Shanghai again in 2010 from 14 – 17 June.
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