The economic downturn boosts the number of last minute bookings and shorter stays. If you haven’t secured your hotel for the days of WTM, there is still a chance to find reasonable accommodation in London. With only 10 days to the show, your travel agent will be the one, who can suggest best available hotel options.  Hotels near ExCel Exhibition Center offer rooms at GBP 200.00 and above, but if you do not mind travelling – westend and centrally located hotel rooms can be booked at lower rates. In order to save money, look for medium range hotels where you will get good service and a better range of facilities than you can expect in the budget range.

WTM 2010 will be the biggest-ever World Travel Market. ExCeL – London, increased the venue to 97,500 square meters and is now giving WTM greater flexibility than in previous years.  The WTM exhibition floor plan for 2010 positions UK & Ireland, Europe & Mediterranean and Africa regions next to each other in the North Halls. The Americas, Asia & Australasia, Middle East, Global Village and Technology & Online Travel regions will be situated in the South Halls. 

WTM is running many new initiatives for 2010 – this is a must attend travel event where you can meet more than 5,000 exhibitors from across the globe.

Useful tips:

- WTM delegates can benefit from a discounted 7-day Travelcard – available for travel at any time, including peak periods, and valid for travel in zone 1-6.  If you are in London for less than 7 days and will only be travelling in and out of central London to Excel each day and around the west end in the evening, the Oyster card is better value. Such option will allow you to book a hotel in the city – which will be cheaper than those walking distance to Excel, plus you will have the opportunity to explore the city.

- Make the most out of your time at WTM by planning your travel, accommodation, and spare time in advance

“World Travel Market” is a business travel event that takes place on an annual basis in London, UK. The history of WTM stretches back to 1980 when it first opened its doors to the global travel and tourism industry. Since then it has been creating positive partnerships and bridging the gap between international companies across the world. According to official statistics from the “Travel Weekly” magazine, this year’s show is expected to exceed the number of visitors that it gathered last year accumulating 45,000 company representatives and travel professionals from 202 countries.

This year’s show is in fact its 30th anniversary. Throughout the past 29 years a total number of approximately one million participants have passed through the “World Travel Market” doors. The number of visitors is growing constantly, which is evident by the records indicating 50,000 people attendance last year (2008), which represents a 4% growth over the previous year.

Apart from the traditional presentations that occur at the “WTM”, this year’s program will also feature seminars and debates regarding the worlds’ economic downturn and its impact on the travel and hospitality industry addressing questions as for how to cope with the emerging problems surrounding the tourism sector.

In addition, the “WTM” prompts companies taking part in the event to monitor, analyze and improve the methods by which they control the tourism in order to maintain and maximize its positive projections on the business environment. In this respect, the “World Travel Market” provides contribution to the emerging issue of sustaining growth and to a (certain extent) limiting growth to optimize tourism projections.

Finally, the “World Travel Market 2009” trade show reveals the innovations of the evolving tourism business models. It exposes the international dimensions of tourism specialization as related to economic growth. In this respect, such a massive event incorporates creation of positive business relationships that can lead to considerable improvement of travel services that can diminish the emerging downturn of the tourism sector.

If you like to secure accommodation for WTM 2009, you can give us a call at +44 207 659 9191, or book a room online.

WTM 2009 starts 2 years, 2 months, 26 days ago