Technology the theme of new format UNWTO & WTM Ministers Summit
Cutting-edge innovations will be shared during the twelfth UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit at WTM London 2018, with ‘Investment in tourism technology’ the theme.
The UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit, the largest annual gathering of tourism ministers, will take place on Tuesday 6 November at the leading global event for the travel industry.
A new improved structure will help spark the debate ensuring the opinions and ideas are flowing ensuring delegates can fully benefit from listening to leading private sector leaders and tourism ministers.
The UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit will start with a private sector discussion and debate before prior the minister panel and other public sector stakeholders join the discussion.
This will also be the first summit for the UNWTO’s new secretary general, Georgia’s Zurab Pololikashvili, who took up the position in January.
The summit will address investment opportunities in tourism technology and the need for stronger public-private partnerships in the field, also how technology can boost competitiveness and sustainability.
Likely uses to come under discussion will be online booking systems, social media, mobile apps, chatbots, and smart hotel rooms.
Stakeholders will also consider the implementation of data-driven decision-making strategies in tourism, specifically in analytics and smart destination management.
The role of technology in helping the tourism sector to meet the aims of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will also be covered.
WTM London Senior Director Simon Press, who will also address the summit, said: “The UNWTO & WTM Minsters’ Summit is always a highlight of WTM London and I am delighted that the event will once again host the largest annual gathering of tourism ministers in the world.”
“This year’s topic is a particularly important one as technology can help tourism remain a force for good in terms of global connectivity and sustainability.
“We’re also excited to introduce a new format for this year, which should bring greater focus to the debate.”
About World Travel Market
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises six leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. The events are:
WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.1 billion of travel industry contracts.http://london.wtm.com/. Next event: 5-7 November 2018 – London.
Travel Forward is a new travel technology event co-located with WTM London 2018 and part of the WTM portfolio of events. The inaugural Travel Forward conference, exhibition and buyer programme will take place on 5–7 November 2018 at ExCeL London, showcasing next-generation technology for travel and hospitality.http://travelforward.wtm.com/.
WTM Latin America attracts about 9,000 senior executives and generates about US$374 million of new business. Taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this show attracts a global audience to meet and shape the direction of the travel industry. More than 8,000 unique visitors attend the event to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry news. http://latinamerica.wtm.com/. Next event: 2-4 April 2019 – Sao Paulo.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. Nearly 5,000 travel industry professionals attend Africa’s leading inbound and outbound travel and tourism market. WTM Africa delivers a proven mix of hosted buyers, media, pre-scheduled appointments, on-site networking, evening functions and invited travel trade visitors.http://africa.wtm.com/.
Next event: 10-12 April 2019 – Cape Town.
Arabian Travel Market is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre. To find out more, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarketwtm.com.
Next event: 28th April-1st May 2019 – Dubai.
International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) is the meeting place for the global B2B golf travel community. Taking place annually since 1998, IGTM brings together more than 500 golf tourism suppliers and 400 pre-qualified buyers for four days of unmissable pre-scheduled appointments and exclusive networking opportunities. Showcasing a different golf destination every year, IGTM brings together 1,400 golf tourism professionals from more than 65 countries. http://igtm.wtm.com/. Next event: 15-18 October 2018 – Slovenia.
About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.
About Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism events organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether they are global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have more than 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.
