Reed
Travel Exhibitions will co-locate its Business Travel Market (BTM)
trade event alongside World Travel Market (WTM) from 2013.
Reed acquired Business Travel Market 12
months ago. The annual corporate travel conference and exhibition was
launched in 2009 to sit within the organiser’s global portfolio of
meetings industry shows, led by Group Exhibition Director Craig Moyes.
In
a statement, Reed Travel Exhibitions MD Richard Mortimore said the
organiser had always planned to run BTM alongside its flagship travel
brand. WTM will run from 4 to 7 November, with BTM taking place from 6
to 7 November. BTM was previously held in June.
“Our demographic
data clearly shows over 17,000 visitors to WTM reflect companies that
have an involvement in business travel, so it is pleasing we can now
offer this specialist event at Excel for the last two days of WTM,” he
said.
As well as moving the show, BTM Exhibition Director Paul
Robin said it is investing in the show’s hosted buyer programme. Reed is
also launching a new BTM knowledge Conference in June in London, plus a
series of invitation-only industry dinners throughout the year.
“This
creates many more touch points for our clients with the market
throughout the year, all leading to the main event in November,” Robin
said. Further details will follow in coming months.
“BTM
co-locating with WTM in 2013 cements WTM’s position as the travel
industry’s leading industry event by improving the offering for both the
exhibitors and visitors for both events,” WTM Chairman Fiona Jeffery
OBE added.
“There is already a significant synergy between BTM,
Travel Technology and Global Village at WTM. WTM will benefit from the
high quality airline, hotel and business travel providers BTM attracts.”
Last
year’s WTM had a total unique attendance of 47,776 including 32,096
visitors, and covered just over 42,000sqm (ABC audited). WTM returns to
Excel London for its 2012 edition from 5 to 8 November.
Got a story for Conference News? Email us: conferencenews@mashmedia.net
