Asia Luxury Travel Market 2009 (ALTM) Opens in Shanghai (China)
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Asia Luxury Travel Market 2009 (ALTM) Opens in Shanghai (China)
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Category: Asia Pacific - China
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-06-17
The region’s leading luxury travel show starts successful third year
Asia Luxury Travel Market, the region’s leading event exclusively for the luxury travel industry, got underway yesterday at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.
The three day event brings together the world’s most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious hotels, resorts and spas, elite transportation and unique travel experiences showcased for the most discerning Asian luxury travel buyers, including over 300 buyers from 19 countries and close to 280 exhibitors from 36 countries.
“This is my first year at ALTM and the quality of the exhibitors has been excellent. Everyone I have met so far as been extremely professional and understands the needs of the luxury travel buyer. All my expectations have been fulfilled” said Shekhar Niyogi, Executive Director, Travelcorp.
The invitation only event takes place in a highly exclusive environment in which buyers and sellers meet on a unique pre-arranged appointment system.
“I have been very impressed with the caliber of buyer I have met today at ALTM and the matching has been excellent. I am looking forward to the next couple of days” said first time exhibitor Stephanie Abril, Marketing and Communications Director, Chateau De La Chevre D’Or, a member of Relais & Chateaux.
To launch ALTM 2009, all delegates were invited to a high-level conference on Monday 15th June in which expert speakers addressed how luxury travel can adapt to the challenging economic times, brand strategy and changing customer expectations.
Keynote speaker Larry Hochman, former European Business Speaker of the Year, reinforced the message that now is the time for “Courageous Leadership” to get through these difficult times and plan for the post recession era through “Focus, Transparency, Customer Loyalty and Value for Money”.
In the panel discussion on ‘The Traditional Model of Branding Versus the New Wave’ Karthik Siva, Chairman, Global Brand Forum emphasized the need for luxury brands to focus on authenticity in their products and services in order to stand out in an overcrowded market place.
The conference closed with a lively and lighthearted debate chaired by well known travel media specialist Yeoh Siew Hoon titled “Luxury is dead. Long Live Price” pitting a champion for luxury, John Northern, Marriott International's Vice President for South-East Asia, against an advocate for price, Martin Symes, CEO of Asia’s leading travel search engine, Wego. All conference attendees were invited to vote following the debate with a marginal win for price following an amusing and entertaining argument from Martin Symes.
The official ALTM opening party took place at chic Shanghai nightspot M1NT last night with other private networking parties scheduled for the remaining nights of the event.
“We wish to extend a warm welcome to all the attending exhibitors, buyers and media. We are delighted with the support ALTM has received this year and look forward to a successful event. ALTM recognises the ever increasing importance of the Asia-Pacific luxury travel industry and is perfectly positioned to support this,” said Christina Wood, Exhibition Director, ALTM
Feedback at the end of the first day has been exceptional from both exhibitors and buyers.
“I have met exceptional contacts in just a few minutes at ALTM that normally it would have taken months to establish contact and trust with” said Eli Fava, Sales and Marketing Director, Miskawaan Luxury Beachfront Villas, Koh Samui, Thailand.
“This is our third year exhibiting at ALTM and it’s the event where most of the strategy development with our key partners is consolidated. Year on year we find ALTM a great opportunity in meeting new partners and will definitely be looking to return next year” said TJ Grundl-Hong, Chief Sales Officer & Managing Director of Business Development, Six Senses Resorts & Spas.
Organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, ALTM is like no other trade event in the Asia Pacific region and is a platform for all that is pure, refined and bespoke in the luxury travel industry.
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