Accor sponsors WTM Latin America 2014

The Accor Group is the world’s leading hotel operator with a presence in the luxury and super-economic segments

The French company Accor, the world’s leading hotel operator, will once again be the headline sponsor of World Travel Market Latin America.

Accor was the headline sponsor of last year’s inaugural WTM Latin America and will sponsor this year’s event, which takes place at the Transamerica Expo Center, in the city of São Paulo, between the 23rd and the 25th of April, as alongside the 41st Braztoa Business Meeting (the Brazilian Association of Tour Operators).

Accor Latin America’s Sales Marketing and Distribution Director, Emanuel Baudart said the hotel chain is continuing its headline sponsorship of WTM Latin America as it is the best event for it to grow its business in the region.

“With a diversified business model that is pioneering for the region, WTM Latin America facilitates professional contact with a variety of players and offers the opportunity of meetings organized in advance with qualified international buyers, which is definitely an attraction for our company,” he said.

“At the event, we have the chance to present our launches and tools to the market, as well as to close some good deals”, he added.

Accor is aiming to grow its business in the region and take advantage of the increased profile and interest this year’s football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics will bring.

The travel industry has been a key driver of economic growth in the region. The number of people arriving rose almost 50% in the past 10 years, increasing from 54 million in 2003 to 80 million forecast for this year. Brazil is the main driver of this growth.

“The economic growth that has been registered in a number of markets such as Chile, Colombia, Mexico and in particular Brazil, has led a lot of multinationals to invest in Latin America, thus increasing the corporate flow,” Baudart added.

“This together with the decision to hold major events such as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games has caused the travel flow to our region to increase significantly.”

WTM Latin America, Director, Lawrence Reinisch said: “In total, there were exhibitors from 60 countries at WTM Latin America 2013 – all of whom had their eyes firmly fixed on the potential of Brazilian tourists, who in 2012 alone spent more than US$ 22 billion overseas.

“This year, the expectation is that the trade fair will be an even bigger success, bearing in mind that with three months still to go before the event actually takes place, the level of interest from the market is already exceeding expectations. And the partnership with our sponsor Accor, is crucial for us to achieve this objective.”

Further information can be obtained at www.wtmlatinamerica.com.

Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry, with a wide-ranging portfolio of 21 international events in 14 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. Its market-leading, business-to-business events cover all elements of travel and tourism, including leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, events, incentives and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel.

RTE is part of Reed Exhibitions.
www.reedtravelexhibitions.com

About Accor

The world’s leading hotel operator as well as the number one in the European market, Accor hasa presence in 92 countries with roughly 3,600 hotels and 460 thousand rooms. In Latin America it has 230 hotels in 11 countries. The ample portfolio in terms of Accor’s hotel brands in Latin America – Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, Ibis, Ibis Styles andIbis Budget – offers a wide range of alternatives, from luxury hotels to economic ones. With more than 160 thousand employees around the world, the Group offers its clients 45 years of experience in the hotel business. For more information access: www.accor.com.