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ILTM Americas 2017 continues its growth and rebrands to become ILTM North America

ILTM Americas

“The US luxury travel market is growing almost a third faster than the overall travel industry”

Over 600 luxury travel professionals gathered in Riviera Maya, Mexico from 25 – 28 September for the 6th edition of ILTM Americas. The invitation-only event brought together selected travel buyers from 150 cities across Mexico, Canada and the US (70% new to the event) with luxury travel experiences from across the world. Almost 17,000 x 15 minute appointments took place throughout – an increase of 14.5% year on year.

Simon Mayle

Simon Mayle, Americas Exhibition Director for ILTM comments: “With more Americans in the VIP category now than at any point in US history – the luxury travel market is growing almost a third faster than the overall travel industry. And our evidence shows that new segments of the market are appearing including those seeking transformational travel. Helping these new travellers – as well as those with more experience – discover new destinations and travel sustainably is a great responsibility.”

Destinations from across the world attended the event to meet with the luxury travel agents from these key source markets. Bob Parra of North America Tourism for Fiji commented that their presence at ILTM Americas “has really put us in front of some of the best buyers in North America and Mexico,” and Sobhana Sucharitaku of the Tourism Authority of Thailand observed that their experience was so good that they “have already been receiving requests from others luxury brands in Thailand who want to take part next year.”

ILTM Americas

Sebastien Styger, Sales & Marketing Director at Six Senses added: “We have met with exactly the quality and quantity of Mexican travel agents with the potential to sell our brand in Mexico that we wanted, especially those we have not had the opportunity to meet with from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. ILTM Americas is intimate, effective and dynamic with excellent networking and great opportunities to meet the best North American media too.”

And Annette Pines, Regional Director of Sales for the Americas, Belmond said: “We have been coming to ILTM Americas since the first event 6 years ago – it’s an incredible opportunity to solidify relationships, meet new friends and build business. This is one show that we find you actually can do business.”

Luxury Travel buyers and agents too were full of praise for the event. Tania L Swasbrook of Travelworld of Coronado said: “ILTM Americas has been one of the best luxury travel events I have attended in a while. So refreshing to meet not only so many varied suppliers I did not know but other influencers in the industry from different sectors. I loved it!”

Commenting on ILTM Americas:

Her comments were echoed by Vita Vega, Director General of Felgueres Viallo who commented on the many new suppliers, experiences and hotels she had met with throughout the show, commenting “Such an intimate event — its been so efficient and great for networking. My clients are looking for me to really know who and what is new from a personal experience and I have so much more to share with them now.”

Leah F Winck of Journey on Travel in the US said: “ILTM Americas really is one of the best shows to meet the quality of vendors we search for our clients. Most importantly, the appointments give us the time to really understand each product as well as establish their relevance to our clients – properties I never even knew existed before I came here. So much information and such a cohesive, productive and positive format.”

And Amy Furie of New Act Travel added: “This is my first ILTM Americas for a few years. The event has become so much more sophisticated, with not only great suppliers but a much higher level of buyers – indicative of how the event has matured. I’ve met amazing new boutique products in regions that I had thought I knew well! It’s spectacular – an amazing show.”

Next year’s event will be rebranded to become ILTM North America – there will be no change to its successful format, composition or reach. Mr Mayle concluded: “As travellers and travel professionals, we know that more travel – not less – is vital to transforming the world we live in. Following the success of this year’s event, we are looking forward to ILTM Latin America in Sao Paulo in May 2018 and ILTM North America in September 2018 to continue to help travel strategists inspire those creating itineraries for high net worth travellers from these key markets and keep the world moving.”

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