This year’s World Travel Market London will be the largest to date, with an expected 7% growth. The event will expand into new halls at ExCeL London from 5 – 7 November and expects to showcase around 4,000 exhibitors. These range from tourism boards, hoteliers, travel and transport brands, technology services and experiences. So far, more than 80 new exhibitors are lined up for this year’s World Travel Market. There is a 9% increase in destination participation. Over 135 National Tourism Organisations will be in attendance, with a huge number of regions and cities joining them. Africa is the fastest growing region of the event. There has also been an increase in non-destination travel brands exhibiting at WTM London. This represents a 71% increase in exhibitor participation from companies aligning themselves to the new ‘Experiences’ zone. Additionally, WTM London has seen a 22% growth in accommodation brands and 16% growth from tech sector exhibitors. Exhibitors attending for the first time include KOS Island, VIET EXPERIENCES TRAVEL, China Nimbus Travel, Corendon Airlines and Regnum Hotels. Juliette Losardo, Exhibitor Director, WTM London said: “2024 will be the best year yet for World Travel Market, with the largest cohort of exhibitors on record.” “We’re proud to have representation from destinations across the world and continue to grow participation from non-destination and private sector organisations.” 

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The World Travel Market London Technology Track sessions this year will focus on frictionless tech. Discussions will revolve around how suppliers can address the challenges of seamless booking and payments. Technology sessions are timetabled across the three days of this year’s event, with the Technology Summit taking place from 10:00am to 1:15pm on the opening day on the Purple Stage. The programme has been organised by WTM’s recently appointed technology advisor Timothy O’Neil-Dunne, currently principal at T2Impact, a travel industry analysis and consulting firm. The session includes a fireside chat with Alfonso Paredes, president of Expedia Group’s Private Label Solutions business. He is responsible for the B2B side of the business which gives companies the ability to sell travel via access to Expedia Group’s technology and supply. Paredes will lead a session centred on the importance of the customer’s digital experience and the future intersection between AI and loyalty schemes. There will also be a panel discussion around how effectively, or not, the industry engages with the traveller. The Tech Track also features a start-up competition, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. O’Neil-Dunne said: “I’m delighted that WTM London has given me the opportunity to try something different.” “I will be addressing the ‘apocalyptic inefficiency’, as I see it, across the industry and explore the tech we need to tackle this.” WTM London 2024 takes place from 5 – 7 November at ExCeL London 

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More than 60 conference sessions have been confirmed for this year's World Travel Market London. It brings together leading experts, ministers, major travel brands and industry innovators in early November. The sessions are split into six Conference Tracks, curated by a panel of conference advisors, to guide visitors to the topics of most benefit to them. These are: Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI) Geo-Economics Marketing Sustainability Travel Trends Technology   Following a 29% increase in attendance in 2023, this year the stages have increased in size. To ease navigation, this year's conference theatres will be named in line with the colour scheme in corresponding regions. The Yellow Theatre will sit within the Africa region, Orange Theatre within Asia and Purple Theatre in Tech. In addition, different days will be dedicated to specific topics, with sessions gathered into summits. Highlights include: Tuesday 5 November The opening day kicks off with the unveiling of the WTM Global Travel Report, curated by WTM and supported by researchers Oxford Economics. This draws on extensive data from more than 185 countries. The Technology Summit follows, with the theme of Frictionless Journeys. Visitors can discover how to implement user cases for new technologies and find out more about the intersection between AI and loyalty schemes. The DEAI Summit, From Commitment to Action, will also take place on the first day, providing a platform to showcase the future of diversity, accessibility, equality, inclusion and intersectionality (DEAI) in tourism. Wednesday 6 November On the second day of the show, more than 50 of travel's most influential political figures will gather at the 18^th Ministers Summit at World Travel Market. Emerging Technology's Potential for Good in Tourism is this year's theme. During this largest annual gathering of ministers, these policymakers will debate the transformative potential of AI and other emerging technologies in shaping the future of travel and hospitality. This year's Sustainability Summit, The Rise of Regenerative Tourism - a Paradigm Shift, will explore the core principles of regenerative tourism, highlight successful case studies, and provide actionable strategies.   Thursday 7 November Thursday's Marketing Summit will pull apart the evolution of travel marketing in the digital age, with sessions covering how digital tools are driving changes in marketing techniques and the importance of storytelling. The Marketing track will be followed with the return of the Influencers' Lunch, offering content creators the chance to connect with peers and exhibitors. The hotly anticipated Keynote Speech closes this year's event. The speaker is yet to be announced. Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director, World Travel Market London, said: “Every year WTM strives to make the conference programme indispensable. We hope to see attendees benefiting from the topics raised.” Confirmed speakers and partners include Bloomberg Travel, UN Tourism, Trip.com, WTTC, Expedia and the BBC. To view the full programme visit: World Travel Market London - Session Directory - 5th Nov   WTM London 2024 takes place from 5^th – 7^th November at ExCeL London. For more information visit: https://www.wtm.com/london/en-gb.html 

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WTM London's Travel Technology Conference Track will run across all three days of WTM London exploring the most important issues in travel – the ethics of AI, smart tourism, and virtual reality. On the Elevate Stage will be the first Technology Summit, where keynote speaker Bon Sian Chai, MD and Vice President, International Markets, Trip.com Group will discuss Reimagining the Future of Travel & Hospitality with Technology (Tuesday 7 November, 14:30). As artificial intelligence increases its impact, Pieter Jordaan, Group Chief Information Officer, TUI; Andrew Owen Jones, MD, SMARTSEER; and Frank Trampert, SVP, Global Managing Director, Community Sales, Sabre Hospitality discuss where AI already has influence and the potential for future applications. The AI - Boundless Opportunities for Change in Travel session (Tuesday 7 November, 15:05) is moderated by Kate Harden-England, editor, Travolution. The afternoon sees a deep dive into the theory and practice of virtual reality – Tradition meets Technology: Elevating the Travel Experience with Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality (Tuesday, 7 November, 15:55). This is followed by Solving the Unsolvable (Tuesday, 7 November, 16:25), which explores the touchpoints in travel that are next in line for tech-driven reinvention. Elsewhere, on Monday 6 November, 14:40, attendees can look forward to hearing about Guardrails for AI and Unintended Consequences on the Discover Stage, in partnership with the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council. Sam Altman, Co-Producer, Innovations of the World and Innovation Officer – US Army Reserve, will discuss the responsibility for the use of AI within travel and tourism. Another session, Harnessing Technology: Building Cities for SMART Tourism, presented in association with the World Tourism Cities Foundation, will look at tech's role in allowing cities to develop a tourism industry without impacting their inhabitants' quality (Monday, 6 November, 15:30). On Wednesday, November 8 there are two sessions on the Innovate stage in partnership with Genesys Digital Transformation.  Building a Seamless Traveller Journey with Technology (13:40) will feature Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Saudi Arabia's largest travel company, Almosafer; Digital Strategist Danny Cohanpour, CEO at Trove Tourism Development Advisors; and Stephanie Waismann, Chief Product Officer, Hotelbeds. This is followed by a look at how apps and websites evolve to remain relevant in a multi-channel landscape with Technologies Redefining Engagement: The Purchasing Power is in the Palm of Your Customers' Hands (14:10). WTM Start-Up Pitch Battle As part of its ongoing commitment to the travel start-up community, WTM will host its second WTM Start-Up Pitch Battle on Monday, 6 November, at 13:20, also on the Discover stage, supported by Amadeus. The prize is a free exhibition stand at WTM London 2024 and exposure to WTM's expansive network. This includes all PR opportunities at the show and an interview with the winner. Amadeus will also provide six hours of personalised mentorship with their executives. To pitch, apply here: Application for WTM's Start-up Pitch Battle (smartsheet.com). The deadline for submission is Wednesday, 25 October. Brooke Gilbertson, International Conference Manager of WTM London, said: “Today, technology is a key pillar for the travel sector.” “This year, we reflect the prevalence of tech by launching the Technology Summit on our main stage for the first time."

  The organisers of WTM London 2023 – the world’s most influential travel & tourism event – are celebrating World Tourism Day by shining a spotlight on sustainability in the sector.   World Tourism Day is an annual UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) initiative to highlight ways the sector can help countries make progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals – the UN roadmap for a better world by 2030.   This year, World Tourism Day (September 27) has the theme of “Tourism and green investment”, with an emphasis on investing in three key areas: education, sustainable infrastructure and technology.   To highlight the importance of sustainability in tourism, WTM London has announced details of its sustainability sessions across all three days, which will include the Sustainability Summit on Day Three.   The first Summit session is entitled ‘Where Next? Reimagining Tourism in a Constantly Changing Climate’. The debate will ask questions such as “What should good tourism look like as the climate and biodiversity crises keep getting worse?”; “How can we keep selling holidays and avoid greenwash?” and “Do we need to tell a new story?”   The discussion will be moderated by Jeremy Smith, who co-founded Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency in 2020 – the first grassroots global initiative that brings together tourism destinations and businesses to work together on climate action.   Other sessions during the Summit will ask how the tourism sector can provide more sustainable holidays and explore greener transport options in Europe, such as rail travel.   Experts leading these debates will include Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor; Ruth Wright, Euronews Travel Managing Editor; Carlos Abade, Chairman, VisitPortugal; Martin Brackenbury, Advisor to UNWTO; Sacha Dench, CEO & Ambassador for the UN’s Convention on Migratory Species; and Vincent Nijs, Chief Strategist, Visit Flanders.   Speakers at the green transport session will be Paloma Zapata, CEO at Sustainable Travel International, Björn Bender, CEO at Rail Europe and José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, Committee of Transport and Tourism, European Parliament.   Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director at World Travel Market London, said:   “Sustainability is the cornerstone of tourism development. Investing in sustainable infrastructure and green policies across our sector is now more critical than ever.   “Some of the extreme weather events we’ve seen this year, such as wildfires and destructive storms, highlight the urgency for action to limit emissions and to integrate sustainable and responsible measures at every stage of tourism development projects.   “Sustainability is one of the key tracks for our agenda at WTM London 2023, which means there will be several sessions throughout each day, culminating in the Summit on Day Three.   “Travel has the power to change the world and through our influential debates with leading experts, our delegates will understand how they have the power to change travel.”   This year’s conversation at the Sustainability Summit will align with the overall World Travel Market campaign around the Power to Change, with a big focus on sustainability, diversity, and inclusion.   The sustainability discussions begin on Day One of WTM London on the Discover Stage, with sessions that will highlight success stories from around the world and explore how tourist boards and tour operators are adapting to new green regulations and consumer trends.   On Day Two, Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor and Managing Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership, will lead the debate across six sessions on the Innovate Stage. The discussions will ask why responsible tourism makes business sense and examine the issues of “greenwashing” – then delve deeper into areas such as aviation, technology and overtourism.   Losardo added:   “The sustainability sessions and the Sustainability Summit will offer a unique platform for stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas and forge innovative solutions that will contribute to shaping the drive to greater sustainability in the tourism sector, fostering prosperity and responsible growth for all.   “With investment in sustainable infrastructure being a key pillar of World Tourism Day, I’m delighted to take this opportunity to announce details of our sustainability sessions and the Sustainability Summit.   “WTM London is where tourism professionals come together to play their part in the global conversation to create new futures.”  

• The Sustainability Summit at World Travel Market will take place from 10:30 - 13:00 on the Elevate Stage, on Day Three of WTM London (November 8).

 

• World Travel Market will be 20% larger in 2023 – versus 2022 show;
• 14% of exhibitor bookings are new;
• Compared to pre-pandemic figures (2019), private sector exhibitor numbers are up 23%,
• African exhibitor numbers are up 27%, Caribbean exhibitor numbers are up 10% and representation from the Middle East region will be up a whopping 60%;

  World Travel Market London 2023, the world’s most influential travel & tourism event, has signed up more than 14% new exhibitors, ranging from household names to specialist firms and niche brands.   They will make up around 4,000 exhibitors at ExCeL London (6-8^th November) to exchange ideas, drive innovation and accelerate their businesses.   High-profile names debuting this year include Eurostar – the high-speed international rail service connecting the UK with mainland Europe – and ABBA Voyage, a live concert staged in London with virtual ‘Abbatars’.   Also exhibiting for the first time is the Bermuda Tourism Authority, which is heading to WTM London to highlight its culture, heritage, cuisine, wellness and sustainability offerings.   Other tourism boards making their first appearance at WTM London come from destinations as diverse as Sabah – promoting travel to northern Borneo, in Malaysia – and Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan.   Other new exhibitors from Asia are Ayana Hospitality, which offers luxury resorts and hotels in Indonesia, and Vietnam’s Thien Minh Group, showcasing its wide range of services, such as destination management, hospitality, online solutions and aviation.   Rapidly growing global online travel agency Trip.com Group will be attending to target growth within the European market, while UK-based package holiday specialist HolidayBest will promote its worldwide range of destinations and vacation styles.   Other new exhibitors will be travelling from Turkey, such as the Turkish travel agency association TURSAB, and Salkantay Trekking will be visiting from Peru, where it is a leading tour operator offering treks and adventure tours to Machu Picchu.   Delegates in the technology zone will be able to meet new tech exhibitors such as search marketing agency Vertical Leap, and payments specialist flywire – which exhibited with WTM for the first time this year at WTM Africa and is now coming to WTM London.   Jamari Douglas, VP Marketing & Communications at Bermuda Tourism Authority, Bermuda Tourism Authority said:   “We are beyond excited to be returning to WTM London 2023, bigger and better than ever before. As the market-leading international travel event, there is no better opportunity for us to showcase our special island and we look forward to sharing our latest news and offerings with the trade, alongside fresh perspectives from the organisation’s first ever female CEO, Tracy Berkeley.   “Our presence at WTM reaffirms our commitment to strengthening Bermuda’s presence in the UK market, demonstrated by our ongoing investments, such as our recent House of Bermuda event and brand new Lost Yet Found Campaign.   “The UK is our third largest market after the US and Canada and we’re extremely confident that Bermuda will take its place on the global stage as a leading tourism destination.”   Eurostar Group – formed by the merger of Eurostar and European operator Thalys last year – will be at WTM to showcase its services as well as new branding and livery.   Paul Brindley, Eurostar B2B & Indirect Sales Director, said:   “We are excited to be at WTM in 2023 with our new brand for Eurostar, a vision for growth and providing high-speed rail connectivity throughout Northern Europe to 30 million passengers by 2030!   “It’s an exciting time for sustainable rail travel and, with our new distribution tools, we are looking forward to meeting existing and new partners from around the world and continuing to build strong ethical partnerships.”   Launched in May 2022, ABBA Voyage is now booking until May 26^th, 2024.   Bernie Patry-Makin, Travel Trade Manager at ABBAVoyage.com, commented:   “We are excited to be exhibiting at WTM London 2023.   “It presents us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase the spectacular ABBA Voyage in front of a large community of international travel and tourism industry buyers. We look forward to meeting with clients old and new over the course of the three days.”   Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director at World Travel Market London, said:   “We are delighted to welcome new exhibitors to this year’s event, ranging from major destinations and well-established international brands to niche operators and hi-tech firms.   “They’ve all seen how they can play their part at the world’s most influential travel and tourism event.   “The list of new exhibitors – as well as the thousands that we’re welcoming back to our stands – shows how we help the global travel community to come together to shape the future of the industry.   “Buyers attending WTM London can meet new and established clients, seal business deals and be inspired with fresh ideas for 2024 onwards.”

For the first time, World Travel Market London attendees will have access to a bespoke app to help plan their event experience. The app, now available in the App Store and Google Play, has been designed with familiar features and some new additions. The conference programme can be filtered by date, stage, and topic, with the ability to favourite and save 'must-attend' sessions. The app includes the biographies of some 250 speakers who will be taking to the four stages – Technology, Future, Insights and Sustainability. Similarly, exhibitors can be searched and filtered by product category and geographical region – to enable visitors to find the exhibitors which best match their needs. All exhibitors, buyers, and media, can access their WTM ConnectMe Schedule via the app. There is an interactive floorplan feature using wayfinding which will go live on the WTM London app a few days before the event opens on 7 November. There will be live links to social media channels so users can post about what they see and do at the show.    

After two years of sluggish pandemic-hit passenger numbers, London City today announced that it has surpassed the one million milestone. It is confident of finishing the year close to three million. This follows a strong May where the airport welcomed 290,000 travellers, representing 65% of 2019 numbers for the same period. There were also very few cancellations in the month with airlines operating 98% of their schedules and delivering the best on time performance of any London airport. Amsterdam remained the most popular route but  ahead of the Platinum Jubilee weekend  a number of leisure routes proved popular, including Florence, Ibiza, Nice and Malaga. For the Jubilee weekend itself, the airport saw a spike of inbound bookings from Edinburgh, Luxembourg, Zurich, as well as from Amsterdam. The number of summer leisure routes from London City is set to swell in June with nine new destinations being added over the next three weeks. This includes a brand-new route to Thessaloniki in northern Greece and the return of direct services to Barcelona and Guernsey. In addition, LCY summer routes to Mahon, Santorini, Split, Quimper and Skiathos will also commence from mid-June Flights to Jersey will also restart. The Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Sinclair, said: “We are not only pleased to see the continued strength of the recovery, but also by the way in which our operation has performed over this period.“ Despite a big increase in flights and passengers along with our airline partners, we have continued to deliver speed, convenience and on time performance.”

  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."