WTM London is supporting an exciting initiative to enable travel professionals to keep up to date on developments, carry on networking and boost their skills during the Covid-19 pandemic – in preparation for when the world is ready to travel again.
The week-long TTG Digital Destinations Festival 2020 is organised by the UK’s major travel industry publication, TTG Media, in association with WTM. It will take place online between 11-15 May.
The festival will provide travel professionals with the tools and insight to sell a wider range of destinations to their customers through live destination masterclasses, group speed networking sessions, a virtual quiz and cultural workshops.
Attendees can discover the USPs of different destinations to enable them to sell regions better when the time comes; learn more about different cultures and experience the tours themselves; connect and interact with tourist boards and other travel agents as well as win prizes in a passport-style competition.
Among destinations taking part are Tourism Queensland, Brand USA, Gran Canaria, Fiji, Florida Keys & Key West, Vienna, Abu Dhabi, Costa Rica, Adelaide South Australia, Malta, Nova Scotia, Riviera Nayarit and Thailand. The virtual audience will be made up of tour operators, tech companies, PR agencies, tourist boards and travel agents from around the world.
Sessions will include a presentation of exclusive outbound market insight by travel analytics specialist, ForwardKeys, analysing the freshest available data on emerging trends, such as the current level of flight bookings, key routes, the most popular flight searches and the split between business and economy.
A panel discussion with representatives of ANTOR (the Association of National Tourist Offices & Representatives) and AITO (the Association of Independent Tour Operators) will consider when and where British travellers might begin travelling first, and how destinations are preparing to welcome tourists back as the world adjusts to the realities of living with coronavirus.
A final panel debate will see key players Der Touristik UK, dnata Travel Europe and Advantage Travel Partnership share where they are seeing green shoots within new bookings, including popular destinations and which client demographics are coming back strongest.
TTG Media CEO Daniel Pearce said: “TTG Media is doing all it can to support the travel industry through the current crisis. During extensive audience research, our subscribers told us that it’s still important to gain new product knowledge and to be inspired during this difficult time, ready for the upturn.”
TTG Media group editor Pippa Jacks added: “We know many travel professionals are looking to maximise their time at home or on furlough to further their destination expertise. Our new, week-long virtual programme will inspire and inform travel professionals on the best ways to sell and up-sell a wide range of destinations, so they can be in the best possible position for business success as we emerge from the current crisis.”
WTM London Senior Exhibition Director, Simon Press said: “We at WTM London are very excited to be associating with the TTG Digital Destinations Festival 2020.
“This is a massive opportunity for travel professionals to pull together by learning from travel experts the best ways to emerge from the current crisis.
“We know the coming months won’t be easy for the sector. However, this free five-day programme of events and training sessions is designed to inspire, inform and leverage the travel industry.
“The year 2020 has proved to be a year of learning and collaboration, and we are proud of being involved in such a great project. Determination and passion will play a part in helping to shape the future and restoring consumer confidence.
“At WTM London, we aim always to be supporting the industry by sharing and collaborating with useful and constructive programmes such as the TTG Digital Destinations Festival 2020.”
Source: WTM