WTM London abandons plans for live 2020 event
World Travel Market has been forced to scrap plans to hold its 2020 London event at ExCeL, citing travel restrictions and uncertainty around Covid-19.
The event had been scheduled to take place from 2-4 November in Docklands. It will now be replaced by a three-day virtual event the following week.
WTM London Senior Director Simon Press said: "Sadly, this year will be the first time since we launched WTM London in 1980 that there will be no live event.
"We have worked tirelessly to organise a physical show, but the increasing number of travel restrictions and the uncertainty around the world means it will be impractical for many overseas visitors to attend in person.
"Additionally, there remains uncertainty around business events and conferences being allowed to take place in the UK – the official deadline for this decision is 1 October.
"However, thousands of travel trade professionals from around the globe will still be able to meet and do business in an extensive range of virtual sessions, to help the industry recover, rebuild and innovate."
The virtual event will take place across three days, 9-11 November, from 7am-10pm, to allow access from different time zones across the globe.
Live conference sessions and forums will tackle some of the issues the industry is facing today, as well as speed networking sessions, one-to-one meetings, and virtual networking opportunities.
A statement on WTM London’s website said: "We want to keep the global travel conversation alive and help deliver new connections as well as offering a wide range of online business opportunities.
We will address the impact the global health pandemic has had on the travel and tourism industry and discuss a road map to recovery, identifying the trends and innovation shaping the future of the industry and show you path that lies ahead."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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