ILTM AFRICA 2016 - Business is booming
“We have done all the other Africa events, but this is by far the best” |
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ILTM AFRICA 2016 - Business is booming
“We have done all the other Africa events, but this is by far the best” |
Category: Africa Indian Ocean - Events -
Communication/Marketing
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2016-04-08
From Botswana to Mauritius, Senegal to Zambia, Seychelles to Ehiopia and Zimbabwe to Namibia, the continent of Africa was represented through its luxury travel products at ILTM Africa 2016 (www.iltm.com/africa), taking place this week in Cape Town.
Hosted Buyers from 28 countries - of which 93% were first time participants - took part in over 4,500 one-to-one appointments with elite sub Saharan African products during the 2.5 days of the event, with networking and business generation taking place across the city. Now in its 4th year, ILTM Africa also hosted international media represented by many of the world’s most influential editors, bloggers and writers representing 8 African source markets.
Virtuoso member Crisney Lane of Mosaic Safaris Austin Texas summed up her first time attendance: “Every meeting has fitted with my portfolio of clients. I am very, very impressed with the show. 100% I will be doing business with these suppliers – I sent off the first proposal last night!”
Managing Director, Prudence Sibuyi of AM lodge Zambia shared her enthusiasm for ILTM Africa as “the best event I have ever attended”. Commenting further she added, “This is our first time. We have done all the other Africa events but this is by far the best, with the majority of new buyers it means they are really interested. It has been money well spent and we will definitely be back in 2017.”
And Veronique Rossouw, Sales & Marketing Manager The Collection by Liz McGrath concluded: “It’s been fantastic. The number of new buyers you have bought to ILTM Africa is amazing. I have had some big appointments from main markets including the UK which is very strong – in fact, every meeting has been very good indeed”.
Several exhibitors took part in presentations to the world’s travel editors with Ethiopia making their first appearance at ILTM Africa and explaining how they are moving into the luxury travel arena. The Silo Cape Town presented its new property as part of The Royal Portfolio and Botswana, celebrating 50 years of independence talked to the media about their commitment to conservation and the launch of it’s new Clarins Spa at Mowana Safari Lodge in Kasane. Senegal highlighted its French influence and how as a democracy they are seen as a stable national territory driven by arts, culture and “legendary hospitality”.
Political Commentator Justice Malala opened Africa Travel Week and ILTM Africa with an overview of today’s Africa. He highlighted Africa’s “unstoppable growth created not only by technology, but also by international peer pressure” adding “you can’t stop the force of Facebook”. He talked too of Africa’s middle classes growing to 1.5bn by 2060 and a strong female power that has an impact on everything that happens on the continent. “At the end of 2014 there were 169,000 millionaires in sub Sahara Africa which will grow by 53% by 2026. Other African nations are also leading the way with “Ethiopia having a GDP of 8.5% and Nigeria on track to be the nation’s powerhouse”. He acknowledged that Africa is a “complicated place to do business and it has its ups and downs”, but he ended by suggesting “keep calm and carry on!”
Minette Scheffers, Personal Travel Designer & Owner of Chic Voyage Netherlands has returned to Africa after an 8 year absence. “I like ILTM Africa, its very personal and intimate, a perfect atmosphere and very inspiring. I am here to get updates and for sure I will be placing business.”
International luxury travel blogger Sonia Graupura talked of the value of ILTM events to her business as a journalist. ‘ILTM Africa has given me imperative information and news that allows me to get the latest updates which I can then share with my followers. One of the highlights for me was the news about The Silo opening in Cape Town, but also I have learned of this country’s culture, and the diversity of their luxury tourism offering from the Winelands to safaris and of course the beaches.”
ILTM Africa will return to the city April 21-23, 2017.
For further information regarding ILTM Africa and other events in the ILTM Portfolio, please visit www.iltm.com.
ILTM International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) is a portfolio of the world’s leading invitation-only events created for the business of luxury travel. ILTM brings together the world’s most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious accommodation, elite transportation and unique travel experiences showcased for the most discerning hosted luxury travel buyers via an unrivalled pre-scheduled appointment system and effective networking and information opportunities.
Alongside the global flagship event in Cannes, ILTM has core international events in the Asia Pacific and Americas and 3 specialist events: ILTM Japan, ILTM Africa and Travelweek Sao Paulo by ILTM in Brazil.
Travelweek Sao Paulo by ILTM: 3 - 6 May 2016
ILTM Asia: Shanghai, 30 May - 2 June 2016
ILTM Americas: Mexico, 26 September – 29 September 2016
ILTM: Cannes, 5 December - 8 December 2016
LTM Japan: Tokyo, 27 February – 1 March 2017
ILTM Africa: Cape Town, 20 – 23 April 2017
www.iltm.com
Reed Travel Exhibitions Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 43 countries. In 2014 Reed brought together over seven million active event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of Reed Elsevier Group, a world leading provider of professional information solutions.
www.reedtravelexhibitions.com
oneworld Partnership Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) has signed a global agreement designating oneworld as its exclusive airline partner for 2016, in a partnership covering RTE events worldwide including the entire ILTM portfolio. Attendees will be able to make flight reservations via www.oneworld.com/events for travel to these shows - and receive discounted fares for themselves and a companion. Participants can fly on any oneworld member airline, which include 15 of the world’s leading carriers, serving between them more than 1,000 destinations in 150 plus countries.
Its members include airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, TAM Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and SriLankan Airlines, and around 30 affiliates.
www.oneworld.com/events
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