World Travel Market London 2023

20th November 2023

Northern Ireland representatives on the Tourism Ireland stand.

World Travel Market (WTM) London, 6-8 November, ExCel London, is home to the world’s travel trade - the most influential travel and tourism event globally. Bringing together the international leisure travel community; providing inspiration, education, sourcing, and benchmarking to travel professionals while providing exhibitors a place to do business and showcase their services to the international press.​

Ards and North Down Borough Council joined Tourism Ireland as they mounted a significant presence at WTM, with around 75 tourism companies from the island of Ireland, including premium hotels, whiskey distilleries and jaunting car tours to visitor activities and hidden gems of heritage.

Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive Designate of Tourism Ireland, Alex Irvine Ards and North Down Borough Council's Tourism Manager, and Clare Foreman, Ards and North Down Borough Council's Tourism Development Officer.

Around 2,800 meetings were conducted on the Ireland stand, which will deliver overseas tourism business for the island of Ireland next year worth millions. Tourism Ireland will be bringing together those Irish tourism providers who have more capacity to welcome visitors with international tour operators with the skills and scale to bring valuable tourists to the island. 

Over three days at London’s ExCel, World Travel Market London welcomed 1,976 representatives of the world’s media – up by 31% on 2022. The number of exhibitors rose by 23% year on year, up to 3,875 – and the event was 5.3% larger than the pre-pandemic show in 2019. 43,727 people attended an increase of 22% on the 35,826 who attended in 2022. It hosted 4,560 qualified buyers, and facilitated 29,077 pre-booked meetings, enabling the industry to plan, network and do deals for 2024 and beyond.

WTM marks the beginning of the promotional drive overseas for 2024. It’s the largest B2B event in the global travel and tourism calendar.

The Tourism Team have attended other B2B events to develop leads and network with the industry to strengthen the tourism offering in the borough.

Alex Irvine, Tourism Manager recently attended GEM (Global European Marketplace) on the 2 November at the Intercontinental, London.  This event allows Tourism suppliers to meet new leads and check in with existing business contacts. Buyers and suppliers meet in a series of preset appointments based on preferences and business profiles.  Open appointments are also available to delegates interested in maximising their time at this workshop and allowing them to meet companies not included in their set agenda. 

Clare Foreman, Tourism Development Officer attended the Incoming Tour Operators Association (ITOA) workshop in Armagh City Hotel on Wednesday 15 November. The annual ITOA Workshop is amongst the most important fixtures in Irish Tourism’s Travel Trade events calendar. This event provides a unique opportunity to meet and contract with Ireland’s largest and leading Tour Operators/Handling Agents and DMCs. ITOA member businesses package leisure and business tourism, promoting every element of Ireland’s tourism Industry globally.

Find out how the Visit Ards and North Down Tourism Team can help your business.