Greece was one of many European nations relying heavily on robust tourist sector who came to WTM ready to conduct business.
Thai Airways reminded us all that they are "smooth as silk to the world."
Fiji brought local islanders with flair. A nation well known as a beach holiday destination. Tourism and the importance of WTM generates many new visitors and new business for all nations in attendance.
Staged annually at Excel – London, WTM is a vibrant must-attend business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to 47,776 global travel professionals.
Costa Rica – brought the rainforest to London.
The sheer size of Excel might seem overwhelming, but WTM at Excel is the travel industries primary meeting place to conduct business. Worldwide buyers and sellers from every sector of the travel industry come together at WTM. More than two million pounds or over three million dollars of travel industry deals will be generated as a result of WTM 2013 WTM is the business to business travel event of the year. Simply stated, WTM is a once a year must visit travel conference.
Emirates and many airlines from around the world were well represented at WTM.
Close to 5,000 exhibitors representing 184 countries and regions exhibit at WTM each November.
Falkland Islands - Penguins included. Only at WTM could you meet face to face with such tourist boards and operators from many faraway travel destinations.
To put it mildly, the event is large. If you are related to the vibrant travel industry, and if you attend only one travel show a year, chances are, WTM is the travel event that you must attend.
Italy and regions such as Tuscany bring local tourist boards and tour operators to showcase the nations beauty.
Where else can you make contacts from the likes of: Yemen, Madagascar, Gibraltar, The Falkland Islands, Andorra, even Iraq, Sorry, North Korea does not attend, yet. Once again in 2013, WTM at Excel in London was the place to meet old contacts and to make new deals. To keep a pulse on the travel industry, thousands flocked to London for this year's WTM.
Kazakhstan – For emerging travel destinations - WTM is a chance to show off tourism options. Four days of exposure and high visibility.
Vietnam – a nation with a strong tourism sector brought Halong Bay to WTM.
Colombia – Colorful and open for tourism or “magical realism,” as they call it.
Over 90% of visitors view World Travel Market a travel event that you must attend if you are in the travel business.
Walonia - was a region in Belgium, but now a new independent nation. Many deals were conducted over a cold triple beer from an actual bar.
Spain and all its regions were well represented at WTM.
Mediterranean nations such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Portugal brought with them 50-100 exhibitors each. Countries such as Malta, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia also came ready to conduct business. Travel is most important to all economies.
Latvia is best enjoyed slowly.
Encore Tickets - Of course, what would a visit to London be without attending the theater. I personally quite enjoyed – Hitchcock’s – ‘Strangers on a Train.’
Peru – brought local beauties. Somehow I found myself right in the middle of three gorgeous Peruvian models.
Iraq - Most likely - only at WTM could one obtain tourist information on Iraq. Once again -WTM was all business. WTM is the place to learn about new destinations.
Kenya - had Masai tribesman as part of its delegation. African Safari Nations like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and more, as usual were well represented at WTM.
Brazil – brought representatives from all regions of the country, and reminded us that the World Cup is coming next year to Brazil.
Bolivia - The South American land-locked nation was ready for meetings, and invited visitors to tour the Salt Flats.
No matter where you were at the show, attendees came ready to conduct business with exhibitors visiting London from all over the world. Many meetings were held at WTM.
Where else but at WTM could a start-up, on-line, travel company have the opportunity to pitch there idea for the chance to win 5,000 pounds. There were many seminars from tourist boards to industry leaders. One had the opportunity to Facebook executives, and seminars covered a wide range of travel subjects.
If you wanted to keep a pulse on internet travel, and meet the executives from industry leaders, airlines and more, over 350 speakers and over 8,000 attendees came to listen and learn.
Ethiad Airlines - brought an actual First Class - seat for visitors to try out.
A fitting way to end this piece that I leave WTM on a first class seat.
And to my WTM friends who I left out of this piece, out of the 180 nations and regions that I visited at WTM, I somehow had the daunting task of choosing only a few photos for this piece. So, if I left out your wonderful destination, you can find me in London at WTM in 2014.
After WTM I left for Tuscany and Venice. I figured that after 4 days of conducting business in London, it's time for a holiday. No, wait, this is also a press trip.
Learn more about the travel industries once a year, must visit travel event.
See you in 2014 at WTM London.
About the Author: Nick Kontis - Travel Expert and Founder of World Travel List
Born on the one of the most beautiful Islands in the world, Santorini, Greece and raised in America’s culture capital of San Francisco. Nick Kontis started out as a world traveler at an early age traveling back and forth between California and Greece every summer. But it was a backpacking trip around the world at age 24 that proved to be a life changing experience. After traveling by car, train, plane, bike and, boat around the world, it would be this trip of a lifetime that would lead to a life as a travel entrepreneur and world traveler. Nick has been on both radio and television. Featured on Arthur Frommer’s television show, and referred by Lonely Planet writers as a leader in discount airfares. Frequently mentioned as the “father of around the world airfares.” Arthur Frommer once said, “If Jules Verne were alive today he would use Nick to go around the world in 80 days.” Nick and his various travel companies and agents have sent over 10,000 people around the world. Now, Nick promotes travel through his World Travel List and ‘Trip Rambler’ by World Travel List. Having traveled to over 80 countries Nick hopes to inspire others to travel the world. Follow Nick's "passion for travel" on the World Travel List.
http://trip.worldtravellist.com
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