Travel businesses and tourism destinations are being encouraged to showcase their sustainable credentials by entering the WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards 2022.   Launched in 2004, the awards recognise and reward businesses which are contributing to a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry. Winners are chosen by a group of industry experts, who meet online to enable the judging panel to be internationally diverse.   The judging panels are led by Harold Goodwin, WTM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor.   The 2022 awards are split into four regions, with the winner of each region going forward to compete in the Global Awards – and those global winners will be announced at WTM London 7-9 November 2022.   Entries are now closed for Africa and Latin America, as those regions are being judged first, and the winners will be announced at regional WTM shows in Latin America (5-7 April) and Africa (11-13 April).   However, entries can still be made for India until 30 June 2022 and Rest of the World until 31 August 2022.   The same assessment process is followed across all regions and categories to ensure that each entry is judged on the same basis. The 10 categories for 2022 reflect the relationship between tourism, responsibility and Covid-19:  

1. Decarbonising Travel & Tourism
2. Sustaining Employees and Communities through the Pandemic
3. Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid
4. Increasing Diversity in Tourism: How inclusive is our industry?
5. Reducing Plastic Waste in the Environment
6. Growing the Local Economic Benefit
7. Access for the Differently-Abled: as Travellers, Employees and Holidaymakers
8. Increasing Tourism’s Contribution to Natural Heritage and Biodiversity
9. Conserving Water and Improving Water Security and Supply for Neighbours
10. Contributing to Cultural Heritage

  Businesses can enter on their own behalf or be nominated by partners, peers or customers. Gold and Silver Awards are given to the first and second placed entries in each category in each region.   The judging panel will also name one business in each category and region as “one to watch”.   Each region also has a discretionary “Judges’ Award” available for businesses whose area of expertise falls between the categories or who have been previous winners.   Harold Goodwin – WTM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor said:   “Since their launch at WTM London, the World Responsible Tourism Awards have grown in stature and prestige.   “Each year, we uncover remarkable case studies of responsible businesses and destinations and the awards mean their efforts are recognised globally – and they inspire others too.   “I would urge all who have been working to improve sustainable and responsible tourism to enter and spread the word about the great efforts that are being made around the world.”   Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director of WTM London, said:   “We know that thousands of businesses and organisations around the world are forging ahead with important responsible initiatives and it’s vital for WTM as a global brand to showcase these programmes, large or small.   “At COP26 in Glasgow during November 2021, the scale of the problem that we face was made clear – and many pledges were made within the travel and tourism sector to build back better after the pandemic.   “We’re determined to build on that momentum – and the legacy of the past 18 years of the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards – to recognise the great strides forward that are being made and encourage others to follow suit.”

  WTM London – the leading global event for the travel industry – has redesigned and renamed its co-located travel & hospitality technology show.   Previously called Travel Forward, it will become WTM Travel Tech and offer more features for exhibitors and visitors at WTM London 2022 (7-9 November 2022).   Show organisers are planning two theatres in the WTM Travel Tech zone – one to showcase new products and the other to host seminars, debates and presentations.   The product showcase theatre will offer exhibitors more options to present their new services and innovations to visitors.   WTM Travel Tech will also have an updated brand positioning to reflect the way it has evolved from Travel Forward, as well as a dedicated section within the WTM London website.   The changes have been made as a result of findings from in-depth research conducted among buyers, exhibitors and visitors.   The survey was conducted shortly after the respondents had attended WTM London 2021 and Travel Forward, which took place in a hybrid format for the first time, featuring a live show on 1-3 November 2021 and an online event on 8-9 November 2021.   The poll found a strong preference for Travel Forward to be closely integrated with WTM London.   Vasyl Zhygalo, WTM Portfolio Director, said: “We received very positive feedback from delegates who attended both events last year and there was great support for our new hybrid format.   “Our post-show research also indicated to us that our travel tech offering will benefit from close integration with the main WTM Lonon event, along with more content to show how travel & hospitality technology is a core element of the wider travel industry.   “The world of travel is constantly evolving, and WTM evolves too – meaning the enhanced WTM Travel Tech will offer a unique opportunity for professionals in the fast-moving technology market to come together, face-to-face, to showcase their innovations and services to a global audience.   “Exhibitors from more than 100 countries attended WTM London in person last year, and this year’s event will be even bigger and better as the sector’s recovery gathers pace – meaning WTM Travel Tech will present unrivalled opportunities for exhibitors, sponsors, buyers and visitors to meet, do business and network.   “Over the past few years, our travel tech partners have been recognised brands such as Amadeus, Sabre, Mastercard and Oracle. Technology will be fundamental to the short-term recovery and long-term future of the travel industry, and the WTM Travel Tech is 100% committed to helping all stakeholders connect the dots.”   Access WTM Travel Tech pages:  

• Travel Tech Homepage: https://www.wtm.com/travel-tech/en-gb.html
• WTM London Travel Tech: https://www.wtm.com/london/en-gb/travel-tech.html

  #TravelTech

  WTM London has unveiled a redesigned and travel technology show, formerly called Travel Forward. It will become WTM Travel Tech and offer more features for exhibitors and visitors at WTM London 2022 on 7-9 November 2022. Show organisers are planning two theatres in the WTM Travel Tech zone - one to showcase new products and the other to host seminars, debates and presentations. The product showcase theatre will offer exhibitors more options to present their new services to visitors. WTM Travel Tech will also have updated brand positioning, as well as a dedicated section within the WTM London website. The changes have been made as a result of in-depth research conducted among buyers, exhibitors and visitors. The survey was conducted shortly after the respondents had attended WTM London 2021 and Travel Forward, which took place in a hybrid format for the first time. The poll found a strong preference for Travel Forward to be closely integrated with WTM London. Vasyl Zhygalo, WTM Portfolio Director, said: "We received very positive feedback from delegates who attended both events last year and there was great support for our new hybrid format." "Our post-show research also indicated to us that our travel tech offering will benefit from close integration with the main WTM London event, along with more content to show how travel and hospitality technology is a core element of the wider travel industry." Exhibitors from more than 100 countries attended WTM London in person last year.

RX, the parent company behind World Travel Market London, has named Juliette Losardo as new Exhibition Director of WTM London. The annual WTM London event takes place at ExCeL London on 7-9 November, 2022. Losardo is an experienced business leader with a track record of more than 18 years at leading companies in the international media and events sectors. She joins WTM London from Clarion Events, where she was Group Commercial Director, and has also held senior roles at Centaur Media and Getty Images. Losardo replaces Simon Press, who has left the company to pursue new opportunities. Vasyl Zhygalo, Managing Director, RXME and Portfolio Director for WTM and IBTM events, said: "We are delighted to announce Juliette's appointment as we work to support the resurgence of the global travel trade. "I am thrilled to be joining Vasyl and the WTM London team at such an important time of change and recovery" Losardo said. "The travel industry has proved to be incredibly resilient despite the extraordinary challenges of the pandemic and there are very positive prospects and opportunities ahead."

  Thousands of travel industry professionals from more than 140 countries are attending WTM London from for what is expected to be the largest in-person industry gathering since the pandemic began. The relaxation of travel rules in the UK and overseas has prompted a surge in exhibitor bookings and buyer registrations. More than 30 tourism ministers are expected including those from Greece, Italy, Portugal, Egypt, the Philippines and Sierra Leone. WTM London will feature key sessions with insights and research about how the sector can recover from the pandemic and begins with the presentation of the annual WTM Industry Report, which sets out the key trends that exhibitors and buyers need to know. WTM London will also host the Travel Forward conference which focuses on the technology driving the industry's recovery, and International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC) which will hold the 'Invest Finance Restart' investment summit. UK Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "It's been a challenging period for the travel and tourism sectors, but the huge international attendance at the World Travel Market is testament to the resilience and hard work of those in the industry." WTM's annual responsible tourism programme will debate travel and tourism's role in the climate crisis featuring discussions about conservation, nature, sustainability and 'building back better'. Exhibitors and buyers will participate in the Speed Networking sessions - five-minute mini-meetings to help forge new commercial relationships. New for 2021 to help networking is the Smart Event tool, a contactless lead capture app that enables exhibitors to scan delegates' badges to gather contact information and acts as a digital business card. WTM London takes place from November 1-3 2021, at ExCeL, London, and will be followed by WTM Virtual on November 8-9.

WTM London and Travel Forward 2021 will install a Covid testing facility inside ExCeL It provides convenience for visitors needing a test before flying home who can do so without having to leave the venue. The service is being offered by ExpressTest by Cignpost, Both PCR and lateral flow tests are available, with PCR results delivered by 10pm the following day and lateral flow results within 40 minutes. Cignpost ExpressTest has 36 testing sites around the UK and is sole provider at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham and Edinburgh Airports. Simon Press, WTM London Exhibition Director, said: "Having an onsite test facility takes the hassle out of Covid testing and means it is one less thing our delegates and exhibitors from overseas need to worry about." More than 100 exhibitors from the UK and Ireland have signed up for WTM London. They include tourist boards, operators, hotels, destination management companies, rail companies, coach firms and attractions. They join hundreds of exhibitors from Europe and countries as far afield as Mauritius, India, Thailand, Peru and the US. WTM London takes place from November 1-3 2021, at ExCeL, London, and will be followed by WTM & TF Virtual on November 8-9.

  WTM London has unveiled of its live events schedule taking place on the WTM Global Stage at ExCeL London in November 2021. Aviation sessions on the Global Stage,, organised by WTM's aviation expert, John Strickland focuses on the state of play, the challenges and the outlook for the sector. The airline CEO interview takes place straight after, with leading industry executives discussing how they are managing the crisis.. Two key destinations will take centre stage at WTM with the WTM China Forum organised by China Travel Online, looking at China's recovery and reopening, market trends and key factors to attract Chinese visitors. It is followed by two sessions on up and coming destination Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia's Tourism Vision and Saudi Giga Projects Put Sustainability First. The Responsible Tourism session and Awards return this year, as well as the UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers' Summit, entitled - Investing in Tourism's Sustainable Future. The Summit plans to unite tourism ministers, sector leaders and top thinkers and examine tourism's sustainable future. An afternoon dedicated 'winning customers and making money' in travel in 2022, is on the schedule and will consist of separate sessions organised by Travel Perspective, looking at how broken business models can be fixed. Charlotte Alderslade, Conference and Seminar Manager, WTM Portfolio said: "With pent-up demand for 2022, it's crucial to ensure travel providers and destinations are one step ahead when it comes to planning for the future, so this year we have a real an emphasis on research, trends and the future of travel." Other key topics concern travel agents, Brexit and the future of the travel industry workforce round-off the three days. WTM London takes place from 1 - 3 November 2021.