(ASIA TODAY) - Taking place with the support of the City of Kyoto and The Japan Tourism Agency, the launch edition of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Japan – the first country specific event in the ILTM global portfolio - facilitated over 2,500 business meetings when it took place over the last three days in Kyoto.
ILTM Japan 2013 welcomed over 100 buyers and exhibitors in an agenda of one to one appointments - pre‐selected by both exhibitor and buyer to maximise business - during this dedicated Japan event. Following the traditional ILTM format, both buyers and exhibitors were required to follow a strict accreditation process in order to participate.
Alison Gilmore, Exhibition Director, ILTM Portfolio commented: “ILTM Japan is the first of our market specific events and was launched with two clear objectives: to introduce the international luxury travel agent to the modern Japan of today - still considered an untapped luxury tourism destination – and to nurture an understanding of the culture of Japanese high end travellers.”
According to a recent study by the Development Bank of Japan, the number of tourists visiting Japan from other Asian countries by 2017 is forecast to be 41 percent higher than last year’s total. The Japanese government is targeting an annual total of 25 millions foreign visitors by 2020.
“ILTM Japan has given us a wonderful opportunity to grow our network: we have met with a significant number of decision makers representing our target audience - high-end VIP visitors to Japan,” commented Hideharu Ohta, President of the Daishichi Sake Brewery in Japan.
Head of New Product Development of the China International Travel Service at American Express, Benny Wang commented: “Being in Japan is an incredible experience and being here with ILTM is an extra bonus. I hadn’t realised the passion Japanese suppliers have for their product – it’s a great opportunity to be here.”
Roger Kershaw of Custom Travel Design, Canada added: “No matter how much I thought I knew the country, it’s only at this first edition of ILTM Japan that I have truly understood how to sell Japan to my clients. I have learnt about the culture, the finesse and the nuance of the culture and I will keep coming to the event in future years as each person I meet has something different to share.”
Veronica Rodriguez, Director of Marketing at Turisme Barcelona observed: “Japan is a steady and important market in Barcelona's luxury sector. ILTM is a very committed and loyal partner in promoting Barcelona as a luxury destination and we were very keen for the exclusive opportunity to be part of the first edition of ILTM Japan. We have had a great event, full of quality meetings with active and engaging buyers.”
And Japanese buyer Tatsuya Masubuchi of Roots & Partners concluded: “ILTM Japan is fantastic for both buyers and exhibitors as it matches us according to our needs - it fits my business and our high-end clients who are travelling globally. It is great to have an ILTM event exclusively focussed on Japan.”
ENDS
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About ILTM
www.iltm.net
International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) and ILTM Asia are the leading annual business to business events for the global luxury travel community, bringing together the world’s most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious accommodation, elite transportation and unique travel experiences showcased for the most discerning luxury travel buyer via an unrivalled pre-scheduled appointment system and effective networking and information opportunities. ILTM – which invites only the most discerning buyers from across the world – takes place in Cannes, 2 - 5 December 2013; ILTM Asia – which selects buyers from across the Asia Pacific – takes place in Shanghai, 3 - 6 June 2013 and ILTM Americas – a one-to-one summit for travel agents from North, Central and South America – takes place at Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico, 30 September - 3 October 2013. ILTM Japan – inviting both Japanese and international buyers – took place 11 – 13 March 2013 in Kyoto; ILTM Africa will launch 8 - 9 April 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa profiling African product and inviting international buyers and ILTM Spa will take place in London from 30 September – 2 October 2013.
Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel, business travel and the meetings and incentives industry. The events are; World Travel Market (WTM), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market (IFTM), International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Americas (ILTM Americas), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTM Asia), Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau), Global Exhibition for Incentive, Business Travel, and Meetings (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM), Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM), China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (CIBTM) and Business Travel Market. Furthermore, April 2013 will see RTE launch World Travel Market Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil (23-25 April). In 2011 RTE’s 13 events were the catalyst for £2,807 million worth of travel and tourism business deals. RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions.
About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 39 countries. In 2011 Reed brought together six million active event participants from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 33 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 44 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider and a FTSE 100 company. www.reedexpo.com