This second annual luxury travel market will debut this fall in Mayakoba

International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) events have created a unique format for the global luxury travel market. Each ILTM event introduces like-minded, senior luxury travel decision-makers to each other in one place for a tailor-made, highly efficient meeting where they can maximize business opportunities.

“By Invitation Only”

ILTM Americas, a “by invitation only” event set for Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2013 in Mayakoba, Mexico, will bring together the world’s most sought-after collection of international luxury suppliers with the most discerning luxury travel buyers from North, South and Central America. Three days of pre-scheduled appointments are based on the preferences of each party, whether it is to meet established partners; discover new products in Asia, Europe or the Americas; or create new opportunities to catch up with colleagues and build relationships.

ILTM in Cannes, now in its 12th year, is the all-encompassing “umbrella” event in the ILTM portfolio. In December 2012 we hosted exhibitors from 88 countries and buyers from 65 countries. All in all, there were a total of 1,350 suppliers and 1,350 buyers engaging in a series of pre-planned one-to-one meetings. At ILTM, however, there is a capacity limit per source market (for example, 250 travel agents from North America and 150 agents from Latin America). Every year, there is increasing demand from discerning agents from these countries to attend, as well as more demand from our exhibitors to see more buyers from all these key outbound markets.

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To increase the numbers of attendees from the Americas in Cannes would mean a reduction in numbers from other markets, which is not an option. To meet this demand, ILTM launched ILTM Americas in 2012, which was a huge success with a long waitlist. Seventy-four percent of those attending ILTM America in 2012 had never been to an ILTM before and 90 percent of those did not go to another ILTM event that year.

We now also offer ILTM Asia as the third of the three anchor events in our portfolio — regional in the case of ILTM Americas and ILTM Asia and global in the case of ILTM in Cannes. A similar niche event, ILTM Japan, is being launched March 11-13, inviting both Japanese and international buyers to Kyoto. Meanwhile, the ILTM Africa also will launch this year on April 8-9 in Cape Town, South Africa, showcasing African products and invited international buyers.

The first edition of ILTM Americas welcomed 150 exhibitors from 40 countries and 150 luxury travel buyers from the Americas, with the top-three key markets being the U.S., Brazil and Mexico. Following the success of last year’s launch event, an extra day has been added to the ILTM Americas program at the Fairmount Mayakoba Resort in the Riviera Maya.

We are also doubling the size of the event by featuring 300 suppliers and 300 invited buyers. In addition, we will introduce pre- and post-fam trips with Catherwood Travels, which will take guests into the heart of the Yucatan, known for its tropical rainforests and jungles, as well as for being the home of the ancient Mayan people.

Seminars and Forums

ILTM Americas will open with a series of topical seminars that focus on the regional travel industry. The Opening Forum will follow, also tailored to the region, but introducing international and inspirational speakers who will speak about a variety of topics linked to, but not necessarily directly focusing on, luxury travel.

Some of the luxury suppliers attending this year’s ILTM Americas include Hyatt Hotels, which will be opening the new Andaz hotel in the exclusive community of Península Papagayo, Costa Rica’s acclaimed, premier five-star residential resort destination. Also attending will be Aman Resorts, Ritz-Carlton, Meliá Hotels, Orient Express, Wilderness Safaris and Star Travel, the leading inbound tour operator in Russia.

Qualifications for Buyers

Like all ILTM events, every attending buyer (or travel agent) at ILTM Americas must be qualified by demonstrating proven experience in selling luxury outbound travel. Each buyer must have eight references for luxury business, including evidence of business booked in the 60 days prior to registration. Registration for ILTM Americas goes live on May 1. It costs nothing for a buyer to attend ILTM Americas. We fully host flights and accommodations, including transfers. In return, we expect our invited buyers to fully commit to attending all pre-scheduled appointments, which can number up to 69 across the four days of the show.

For more information on ILTM Americas, please email me at simon.mayle@reedexpo.co.uk or visit www.iltm.net/americas.