Greece Supports International Luxury Travel Market Concept
Greece was a strong player in last month’s Luxury Travel Market fair held at Cannes. More than 20 Greek companies paid the steep fees required to participate. In all, some 450 exhibitors from around the world worked out of 167 stands.
David Hammond, exhibition director for Europe’s newest travel trade exhibition, International Luxury Travel Market, says the fair’s basic aim was to create an event for the celebration of luxury travel and at the same time to create a truly business to business event. That aim was accomplished, he says.
He adds that the venue, Cannes, besides being one of the top three congress cities in the world, is 100% synonymous with the market the fair tries to encompass. “Also, interestingly enough,” he says, “Nice is the second largest airport in volume terms within France, and Cannes is the largest private jet airport in Europe.”
He says that although this is a new exhibition, his company’s experience is second to none in the industry.Mr.Hammond has been actively involved with 16 events within the industry and his company is in partnership with the largest exhibition organizer in the world, Reed Exhibitions Companies Ltd.
“We have prepared to focus on the real issues of an exhibition; providing serious business opportunities and the highest level of customer service,” he says. And adds “what other show in the world has paid fully for 450 buyers to be at an event to service the exhibitors?”
The price is necessarily a high one as we guarantee a very specialized buyer audience that we have to pay for their attendance. Therefore, any exhibitor who is not appropriate would be wasting a lot of money. Secondly, remember that within the computerized appointment system the buyer leads. If your product is not suitable no one will agree to see you in spite of your requests.
However, finally remember that the definition of luxury is a tenuous one. Luxury is not necessarily about the ultimate comfort it can also encompass the unusual and the different. It can mean the ultimate pamper in the finest hotel with the finest cuisine, but it can also mean sharing a tent with 10 others whilst one explores the North Pole.
We have a relatively high cost but we provide a real return on investment. Remember we are paying for the flights, transfers, and hotel accommodation of 450 buyers from around the world. I think in many ways people do have a choice; they can eat at a burger bar or take part in a “a la carte” feast.
Greek companies at the fair included: Aldemar Hotels, Mamidakis Hotels, Elounda Golf Villas, Elounda, Grecotel, Hellenic Tours, Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort, Minos Palace, St. George Lycabettus Hotel, Costacruising, Astir Palace Vouliagmeni, Neptune Hotels Resorts, Rodos Park Suites Hotel, Villas Amrit Myconos, Amphitrion Holidays, Poseidon Loutraki Resort, Agora Travel, the Αthinais center, Harmony Cruises.