Orkney will rub shoulders with its tropical counterparts – The Bahamas, Hawaii and Jamaica when it attends the World Travel Market for the first time next week.
The Orkney Tourism Group will join the national tourism organisation, VisitScotland, to exhibit at the leading global event for the travel industry, held in London from November 2-5, 2015.
In addition to Orkney Tourism Group, VisitScotland will also exhibit with Abbey Tours Scotland, Bespoke Hotels, Blair Castle and Gardens, Halo Hotels, Highland Explorer Tours, Historic Scotland, Spirit of Scotland Shows, Strathmore Hotels and The Royal Highland Hotel.
The prestigious World Travel Market brings together senior travel professionals from 186 countries and is attended by more than 50,000 industry professionals, government ministers and international press every year.
Now in its 36th year, the business-to-business event provides a unique opportunity for the whole of the global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business – which in turn generates more than £2.5billion of new travel industry contracts.
Last year 51,492 visitors attended the World Travel Market, split between UK (26,313) and non-UK (25,179) participants.
VisitScotland is appearing at the World Travel Market for the 35th year in succession.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland said:
“We welcome Orkney Tourism Group’s presence for the first time at the World Travel Market. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of our partners to showcase themselves on the global stage, in front of key industry professionals in the international market.
“The World Travel Market is a staple in the industry calendar and the perfect time to promote the success of our Year of Food and Drink, and the exciting plans ahead for the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design in 2016, to influential travel professionals. We will also be encouraging attendees to come to VisitScotland’s Expo – Scotland’s premier business to business travel trade event – which will be held in Edinburgh on April 20 and 21 next year.”
Set up in 2005, Orkney Tourism Group is a not-for-profit company which represents and supports around 450 members in the tourism sector in Orkney.
Kirsty Mainland, Chair of Orkney Tourism Group, said:
“Although Orkney attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year, we never rest on our laurels and are continually looking for new ways to spread the word about our wonderful landscape, archaeology, wildlife, culture, food, drink and crafts.
“All of our local tourism businesses work very hard to ensure the Orkney visitor experience is unrivalled in terms of quality and we look forward to representing them, and the islands, at this important international event.”
The World Travel Market will be held in the international exhibition centre, ExCeL London, from November 2-5, 2015. For more information go to http://www.wtmlondon.com/