Preparing for WTM 2024

With World Travel Market London right around the corner we thought it’d be the perfect time create a useful post with details of how you can get the most out of WTM this year, as well as key events and opportunities.

Don’t forget to bookmark, share and come back to this page as we’ll be updating it with key information in the run up to WTM 2024.

Held every year in ExCel in London, this huge exhibition welcomes thousands of travel industry attendees through the door. This year is shaping up to be one of the best years yet with the travelling industry bouncing back with style.

 


 

Traverse WhatsApp Community

Don’t forget to join the Traverse WhatApp Community. We have a dedicated World Travel Market London 2024 group for creators.

Here you’ll find information about spontaneous events, networking, lunches, social events and insider tip off.

So stay tuned to our community there for updates.

You can’t afford not to join if you’re attending the show this year!

 


Traverse Creator Awards

Traverse Creator Awards 2024

The Sunday before WTM 2024 (3rd November) we’ll have hosting the Traverse Creator Awards 2024! The Traverse Creator Awards (TCAs) celebrate, showcase and reward talented digital content creators that have been producing outstanding content and shaping our industry over the previous 12 months.

We currently have a waiting list for the event but are hoping to be able to free some tickets up soon.

 


 

Influencers Lunch at WTM The Media Centre.

Creators’ Lunch at WTM London

We’re hosting a networking lunch at World Travel Market London specifically for content creators.

Traverse is teaming up with WTM to invite the world’s top content creators and influencers to the Media Centre at The ExCel. Mark your calendars for Thursday, 7 November 2024 at 1:45m.

To get early access to this and other WTM events, join the Traverse Connect and create your creator profile.

 


 

WTM Events & Opportunities

Traverse WTM Events

To attend events organised by Traverse at WTM you can sign up to Traverse Connect and create a profile for your creator brand. Once you have a profile that is at least 80% complete (and live) you can view events and apply for them.

We may also contact you about creator opportunities too via Traverse Connect.

traverse connect events page


Other WTM Events

Please note: These will be updated as new events and opportunities arise.

 


 

We’ll be posting other events here that are suitable for content creators but not hosted or organised by Traverse. Events organised and hosted by Traverse are available on Traverse Connect.

 


 

Influencers Lunch at The Media Centre.

World Travel Market Tips

Many moons ago we asked our community on Twitter and our Facebook group for your top tips on how to have the most successful WTM possible.

We’d love to hear any of your other suggestions on our WTM WhatsApp group.

Thank you to everyone who put forward their top tips, here are just a few of them:

Following up after WTM is crucial for turning initial connections into lasting partnerships. Take notes during or after your meetings to ensure your follow-up is well-tailored. And remember that opportunities don’t always materialise after just one meeting – meaningful collaborations can often take time to develop.

Paul Johnson,  www.aluxurytravelblog.com

When I have a meeting with a company rep or tourism board or whoever, I have both my websites and my media kit available on my little laptop. That way, if I want to point out an example of a particular kind of post I can get there quickly without having to make them wait while I search.

Rachel Heller,  rachelsruminations.com

Book your appointments strategically. WTM is huge and going from one section to another can take time, especially if they are located at opposite sides of the Excel.

When you are scheduling appointments try to think which areas they are in. For example, keep the morning for meetings in Europe and the afternoon for the ones in Asia. Also, don’t schedule more than two appointments per hour and try to give yourself time to breath in between.

Joanna Davis, www.theworldinmypocket.co.uk

 Tell the world you have arrived, tweet and use Instagram through out the day. Use and Check the #WTMLondon from now and throughout the event as it’s a great way to connect with other content creators and may just get you that extra meeting or connection with an exhibitor.

Lisa Picies,  https://oneepicroadtrip.com

Take a packed lunch and snacks. The queues for the food places are enormous and you pay London prices for everything. Or eat early/late for lunch!

Nikki Turner-Chaplin, www.yorkshirewonders.co.uk

 Join the WTM Content Creator group on Facebook! It includes lots of info about on stand events, and advice for newbies.

Roshni Patel,  https://www.thewanderlustwithin.com

Use it as an opportunity to catch up with connections you’ve already made. It’s one place where you can pretty much guarantee you’ll be able to meet up with PRs and brands rather than spending days arranging meetings at their offices. Oh and wear comfy shoes!

Chloe Gunning, https://www.wanderlustchloe.com/ 

Don’t forget to have fun! WTM is a travel show. As much as is about business, it is about travel and having fun. Keep in mind that more than 180 countries are in one place, they are next to each other without any borders, you can travel from country to another, or even from a continent to another continent without taking flight in 3 days. All of these countries try to present their culture. There are various fun activities, new technologies, and great food and drinks. So this is a great opportunity to learn about different countries and having fun.

Mansoureh Farahani

Follow the event hashtag on twitter to find out about special events. At the end of the last day there are the festivals where some countries showcase their culture, food, and drinks. It’s a fun way to end the event.

Anisa Alhilali, www.twotravelingtexans.com

If it is your first WTM and you don’t have much practice pitching brands , don’t feel the need to dive into it straightaway. Have a conversation, be yourself, be nice , be patient, share your passions and also learn, listen what plans the destination or brand has for next year- it has to be a two way conversation and not just about you.

WTM is a great place to get a feeling of what direction the travel industry is heading in- accordingly you can develop products or storytelling ideas that might become campaigns in the future. Build those relationships & sooner or later your efforts will bear fruit! Plus as everyone has mentioned here- have fun!

Kashyap Bhattacharya, https://budgettraveller.org

Always strategic about which evening events you attend. They’re often spread out across London so you could end up spending most of your night traveling across the city to get between them if you’re not careful. Choosing one or two at the most will allow you to spend quality time at each one.

Julie Falconer, https://www.aladyinlondon.com 

WTM can zap the energy out of you after just one day or all three. Create follow up draft emails with your media kits ready to send out to contacts.
Remember that many exhibitors might be staying on in London for several days post WTM for meetings with partners and clients, so don’t rush to send out emails on a Thursday or Friday.
Briefly customise your email, and send out at the start of the next week (Tuesday). We’ve found contacts to be more responsive when we do so.

Eulanda Osagiede, Heydipyourtoesin.com

Do your research and know your audience. Before arranging a meeting or even attending one, make sure you’re familiar with the destination, NTO or brand’s objectives and future plans.

Julia Newbound, https://wtm.london.com

 Press conferences are great places for networking both with PRs and local companies. They also give you a great overview of what the destination’s priorities are for the coming year(s), making it easier to customise your pitch.

Monika, https://familyflightadvisor.com

If you are there a few days, treat WTM as a whole travel experience. Be curious and open minded and independent. If you were unable to set up many appointments, wander the stalls and start up conversations as you would when travelling. Mix your journey up by using cable car, boat, tube and DLR to get to Excel. Accept initiations to the kind of parties and gatherings in the evenings that you might not normally attend. WTM is as much about the chance encounter as it is catching up with contacts. On my first WTM I randomly struck up a conversation with a travel editor sitting next to me and ended up working with him for six years.

Kirstie Pelling, https://www.familyadventureproject.org/

Have a look through the website first and note down the stands of what brands/tourism boards you’re most eager to work with. It’s a big place so you can make sure you see them first!

Jessica Esa, booksandbao.com

Know what you want and what your value is. Organise meetings with warm and highly relevant contacts then communicate your offering. Quality over quantity, don’t burn out from too many meetings make time to enjoy soaking up the event.

Paul Dow, indepartures.com/

My 33rd show. Don’t wear new shoes, carry a spare pair to change into – your feet will welcome the change, up your vitamin C intake a few weeks before and pace yourself.

Nim Singh, explore-canada.co.uk 

Don’t feel despondent when every other blogger you know seems to be scurrying from pre-arranged meeting to pre-arranged meeting! Opportunities can arise simply from spontaneously approaching representatives on their stands too.

Steve Biggs, https://biggsytravels.com   

 Bring a back up charger pack because we all know the battery life of an iPhone is utterly awful! Business cards, always take more than you think you’ll need, I can guarantee you’ll run out in a flash!

Kylie Bawden, http://www.delphineblu.com

If you’re pitching to a brand that has diving, make sure to show up in a full wetsuit, mask and snorkel. They’ll appreciate the effort.
Preparation is key! If you don’t prepare it can be very overwhelming as there are thousands of people there and conference sessions happening in various different areas of the show. Before you come, have an idea of the sessions you want to attend, the people you want to meet and factor in time from getting from A to B (It takes me around 15 mins to get from one end of the hall to the other!). This year we have an amazing new appointment scheduling tool called Connect Me. This allows you to message and arrange meetings with exhibitors before you get there. If you’re approaching an exhibitor’s stand on the day, ask for the PR person as often the sales team will be manning the stand and they may not be the right person to speak to.

Emily Edwards, https://wtm.london.com

Feel the fear and attend anyway – as a newbie to all things Traverse and WTM London last year, I had no idea what I was walking into. But off the back of a recommendation of a fellow content creator, I bought a ticket for Mingle and discovered an incredible new community and made some fantastic connections. Which has worked out very nicely a year later.

Han Talbot, https://traverse-events.com



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