Aviation event makes American debut

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA – The world’s most important commercial aviation event of its kind will take place on October 5-8, 2013, co-hosted by Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport – the first time the event will be held in America. World Routes is a significant part of the city’s strategy to increase air service and attract more visitors.

Around 300 airlines, 750 airports and over 100 destinations are currently heading to Las Vegas for World Routes, the 19th World Route Development Forum, to discuss the future of air services across the globe in more than 8,000 pre-arranged face-to-face meetings and three high-profile conferences.

Speaking at the opening media briefing in Terminal 3 of Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Nigel Mayes, VP Commercial – Routes, UBM Live said: “This year World Routes is heading to the United States for the first time. It is fitting to bring the world’s largest commercial aviation event to the one of the largest conference cities in the world. Las Vegas attracts nearly 40 million visitors a year and I’m pleased we are able to bring some more high profile visitors to the city. We have over 2,700 aviation decision-makers attending this year, including almost 150 C-level delegates, which is the largest core World Routes delegation we have ever had.”

“Las Vegas has evolved to host people, and we are ready to showcase the energy and excitement of the destination to the world’s aviation leaders,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Las Vegas is the perfect setting to discuss the future of the industry and delegates attending World Routes will see first-hand the investment and business activity taking place in the destination.”

“There is no way to replicate the experience that comes with seeing Las Vegas first-hand, and we cannot wait to share those experiences with World Routes attendees, beginning from the moment they step off of their flights here at McCarran International Airport,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Director of Aviation for Clark County, Nev. “Over the years we have worked hard to develop one of the world’s most-modern and efficient airports, and we hope this conference becomes the first of many future visits to Las Vegas for World Routes attendees and the airlines and organizations they represent.”

Core to the event are the face-to-face meetings which take place between attending airlines, airports and tourism authorities providing airports and destinations with the opportunity to discuss their route with the carrier. In addition, World Routes 2013 will see a number of content streams running throughout the event which will bring together leaders from across the industry to participate in discussions that will set the commercial and political agenda for the industry.

This Conference Programme includes the World Routes Strategy Summit, sponsored by Oman Airports Management Company and held in partnership with ICAO and the World Bank; the World Tourism Summit, sponsored by Brand USA and held in partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) and TTG; Invest and Manage and a programme of Routes Talks.

High level speakers who have confirmed their participation include Stephen Attenborough, Commercial Director, Virgin Galactic; Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Southwest Airlines & President, AirTran Airways; Estuardo Ortiz, Chief Operating Officer & Executive VP, AviancaTaca; Lee McCabe, Head of Travel, Facebook; Christopher L Thompson, President & CEO, Brand USA; Stephanie Villedrouin, Minister of Tourism, Haiti; Prof. Jack Kasarda, Director – Centre for Air Commerce, University of North Carolina and Jaime Daly, CEO, Latin American Airport Holding (LAAH).

Also taking place during this year’s World Routes will be the first meeting of Caribbean & Indian Ocean Vanilla islands. Chaired by Minister Alain St. Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture and the sitting President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands some 40 Tourism Ministers and CEOs of Island Tourism Destinations from the Caribbean and from the Indian Ocean Vanilla islands have been invited for a historic meeting of these two groups known as the Small Island States who are dependent on tourism for their economy.

ETN is a media partner with Routes. Routes is a member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .