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World Travel Market Celebrates 21st Birthday

World Travel Market, November 13-16, celebrates its 21st birthday this year with a spectacular, world-class social extravaganza that organizers promise will surpass last year’s highly popular Millennium Party.

The ‘ Coming of Age’ party for a thousand guests includes a range of theatrical effects and techniques will be used with a cast of 40 dancers, singers and speciality performers and two dance bands that will play on immaculately reproduced 1920’s bandstands.

“If you thought last year’s party was something special, then just wait until you see what we are planning for this year,” says. Fiona Jeffery, the exhibition’s director.

The party will be held on Wednesday 15 November. Individual places can be reserved (£150) or tables of 10 (£1,500). Reservations can be made by faxing Catherine Edwards or by mail to World Travel Market Party, 10-12 Russell Square, London WC1B 5ED or by email: bookings@wtmparty.com

Meanwhile, in line with the overall theme of this year’s WTM, the focus of this year’s Discovery seminar program addresses one of the most difficult issues ever to face agents: e-Travel.

“No agent should miss the debate or the practical advice, specially designed and run by industry experts at the free Discovery seminars”, said Ms. Bertram.”This will help to equip them with the skills and knowledge which are vital to survive in this global technological revolution.”

The debate, ‘ Death of a Salesman?’ chaired by senior industry journalist and broadcaster, Jeremy Skidmore will address the issues surrounding the intense competition to high street retailers from the Internet.

Speakers include Colin Heal, chairman ARTAC, Gary Wardrope, commercial director, The Travel Channel and Steve Endacott, managing director of Holidays by Phone.

As well, three free 45-minute seminars will be held on both Discovery days to help agents to improve their knowledge on e-Travel. Genesys – The Travel Technology Consultancy, Holiday Autos and uTravel.co.uk will supply the expertise.

The program begins on Wednesday 15 November and Thursday 16 November with Paul Richer, senior Partner at Genesys, who will advise about ‘Getting Ahead on the Net’. He will review some of the techniques that can be employed to get the edge on the competition.

Tony Seaman, managing director, UK & Ireland, Holiday Autos will give agents tips on ‘E-asy money.com’, by looking at the company’s online philosophy, views on design and presentation, aimed at encouraging agents to book via the net.

John Whitaker, project director, uTravel.co.uk, will offer ‘A Cost Effective Marketing Solution for the Travel Industry’ in a dramatically changing world.

Places are limited on these highly popular seminars. Bookings can be made on the web site: http://travel.reedexpo.com. There will be two seminar booking desks at Earls Court, one in the link way between halls one and two and one on the first floor, Earls Court One.

In the meantime, the “Discovery” days at this year’s World Travel Market, Earls Court, London on Wednesday and Thursday, November 15 and 16, also are taking shape.

The main feature of the Discovery program is the “round-the-world” product trail, with 28 FAM trips to be won; six free seminars on e-Travel; two hosted lunch hours with lively entertainment and a hard-hitting debate on the future of the high street travel agent.
“There’s something for everyone, what ever their age or expertise”, said marketing manager, Sue Bertram. ” We have created a program which lives up to its name: educational, thought provoking, interactive and fun.”

Discovery chequebooks full of product trail quiz questions will again be distributed at Earls Court by nine distinctively dressed members of the Discovery crew. They will host the two Discovery days by welcoming the agents as they arrive and by answering their questions throughout the day.

Organizer Reed Travel Exhibitions is part of The Reed Exhibition Companies Ltd that manages over 440 events in 29 countries, serving 45 different industries in 11 key sectors with some 100,000 exhibiting companies and over 5.5 million visitors. Reed Travel Exhibitions organizes nine events worldwide.

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