It is now 23 years since World Travel Market tentatively opened its doors in the Victorian splendor of Olympia, somewhat cut off on the busy highway that links superior Kensington to distinctly down market Hammersmith. What those early years proved was that the UK needed an annual international travel exhibition and that London was the right location. After all the British capital is arguably the most popular tourist attraction anywhere in the globe. The figures speak for themselves. Heathrow is the world”s busiest international airport by far.
The expanding show moved to Earls Court, a concrete memorial to the 1930s, where it prospered. The hall had its limitations but it could be easily reached by public transport, and there was plenty of local lodging available for those who could not afford, or did not require, five star flagship accommodation.
WTM has outgrown Earls Court and next Monday it travels to ExCel, to a 100 acre site on the north side of the Royal Victoria basin in the heart of the Docklands, very much east London. Each of the two halls, connected by a central spine, cover 45,000 sq ft. Around 5,000 companies are expected to participate in one way or the other representing 180 countries. It has been a massive investment for Reed Exhibitions which as been well supported by the travel trade. Over the four days of the show 40,000 visitors are likely to find their way to ExCel.
Thirty years ago the British International Motor Show moved from Earls Court to a not dissimilar green field site at NEC. Despite initial scepticism it has succeeded beyond expectations. There are comparisons. Just like NEC nearby hotel accommodation is limited and equally, again like NEC three decades back, the nearby airport, this time London City as against Birmingham, is not quite connected to the site. But both problems will be resolved over the coming years as they were at Birmingham.
Customs House station on the Dockland Light Railway (DLR) may be unknown to many but it is only 15 minutes from Bank. Change at Canning Town if you are coming by the Jubilee Line. Enjoy the firework display just as the show closes on the first evening and take pleasure in the show in its entirety. It deserves to succeed.
http://www.worldtravelmart.co.uk