WTM London 2021: Travel Professionals Prepare for Largest Industry Gathering Since Pandemic Began

Photo source: WTM London

Thousands of travel industry professionals from more than 140 countries are preparing to visit WTM London next week for the largest industry gathering since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

WTM London 2021 takes place between November 1-3, at ExCeL, London, and will be followed by WTM Virtual during November 8-9.

“WTM London will be the largest gathering of travel industry professionals in the world since the pandemic began so it will be the perfect platform for recovery in 2022,” Simon Press, WTM London Exhibition Director, said.

Reed Exhibitions, the event organiser, have now confirmed exhibitors from more than 100 countries signed in, while representatives from more than 141 countries and regions have signed up to WTM London’s Buyers’ Club.

Photo source: WTM London

According to the organiser, these stand bookings demonstrate how many countries see the UK as an important source market in their recovery roadmap – and that WTM London is perfectly timed for 2022 inventory.

“There is substantial pent-up demand for travel in 2022, so it’s crucial to gain a competitive advantage by doing business, networking and learning about key trends and best practice,” Press added.

The event will also host tourism ministers from across the globe, industry experts, keynote speakers and members of the press.

Photo source: WTM London

Alongside the valuable face-to-face networking opportunities, WTM London will feature important sessions with insights and research about how the sector can recover from the pandemic and reflect the event’s theme: Reconnect. Rebuild. Innovate.

The show will start with the presentation of the annual WTM Industry Report, which sets out the key trends that exhibitors and buyers need to know.

Investment will also be the theme of the annual UNWTO, WTTC and WTM Ministers’ Summit (November 2) which provides a practical platform for tourism leaders of the public and private sectors to share best practices and explore investment opportunities.

Furthermore, WTM’s responsible tourism programme – a firm fixture for many years – will debate travel and tourism’s role in the climate crisis.

Exhibitors and buyers can get their face-to-face deal-making off to a great start with the Speed Networking sessions – five-minute mini-meetings that help forge new business relationships. They will take place between 8.30am-10.00am at N1 entrance from the boulevard (West Entrance) on Monday and Tuesday of the show.

Health and safety protocols at ExCeL

Photo source: WTM London

New for 2021 to help networking is the Smart Event tool, a contactless lead capture app that enables exhibitors to scan delegates’ badges to gather contact information and acts as a digital business card. Developed by WTM parent RX, the app is available free for registered exhibitors and can be accessed via the Google Play store for Android devices and AppStore for iPhone users.

The contactless app is just one way that the event organisers are prioritising health and safety protocols at the venue.

Only pre-registered WTM London visitors who are badge holders and exhibitor badge holders will be able to attend.

Attendees will need to demonstrate their COVID-19 status by one of the following: proof of vaccination; proof of a negative test result; or proof of natural immunity.

WTM London will have a COVID testing facility inside ExCeL so visitors who need to take a test before flying home can do so without having to leave the venue.

WTM London will also host the Travel Forward conference (1-3 November), which focuses on the technology driving the industry’s recovery, and International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC) which will hold the ‘Invest Finance Restart’ investment summit (1-2 November), bringing together investors, thought leaders, destinations and entrepreneurs.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is an official media partner of WTM London.