World Travel Leaders at WTM to toast the industry past and predict the future

World Travel Market (WTM), the leading global event for the travel industry, is marking its 35th event by celebrating the industry’s achievements since 1980 and looking forward to future success with new sessions and awards ceremony.

World Travel Leaders at WTM will take place on the WTM Global Stage on Wednesday, November 5, from 4 pm and will celebrate the industry’s achievements during the event’s lifetime and predict how holidaymakers will travel in the future.

World Travel Market launched in 1980 and has grown to be THE event where the industry conducts its business deals. WTM 2013 saw more than 50,000 senior industry executives attend signing business deals worth more than £2.2 billion.

A high-level panel of industry leading executives including:

– British Airways, Chief Commercial Officer, Drew Crawley

– TUI, Deputy Chief Executive, Johan Lundgren

– Hilton Worldwide, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Digital, Geraldine Calpin

– Carlson Wagonlit, Senior Director, Solutions Group EMEA, Travel, Geraldine Valenti

They will debate how the industry will evolve and improve over the next 35 years, with a particular focus on the European inbound and outbound markets.

The panel will then be followed by the World Travel Leaders Awards (formerly the WTM Global Awards) to recognize those individuals and organizations that have contributed the most to the global travel and tourism industry over the lifetime of WTM. The 12 awards are shortlisted by WTM’s leading media partners, with the winners chosen by an elite judging panel comprised of senior industry leaders.

To continue with the celebrations of WTM’s 35th event, WTM 2014 will stay open for an extra 2 hours to 8 pm on Wednesday evening, giving exhibitors the opportunity to showcase the culture and vibrancy of their destinations at the WTM Festivals.

Exhibitors already signed up to showcase their destinations on Wednesday evening include VISITFLANDERS – WTM’s Premier Partner – as they will be commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Great War and the Caribbean Tourism Organization with their Caribbean-themed street party.

World Travel Market Senior Director Simon Press said: “The industry has evolved and changed almost beyond recognition over the past three and half decades, with the advent of the Internet, self-packaging and no-frills carriers among the many changes taking place.

“The next 35 years I’m sure will see an even greater pace of change. The World Travel Leaders at WTM will showcase the successes of the past 35 years through the awards, while also predicting the next three and half decades with a lively, high-level and thought-provoking panel session.”

World Travel Leaders at WTM is organized by Gisby East.