Discover Luxury in the Americas

PHOTO: ILTM Americas brochure cover. Courtesy ILTM Americas.

In just seven months we’ll be holding the fourth annual ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) Americas at the Fairmont Mayakoba on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Sept. 28-Oct. 1. We expect to welcome up to 285 buyers at this year’s event, slightly more than last year.

We invite only the most reputable luxury travel agents, who are both recommended and then vetted by our hosted buyer team. Our mission is to seek both the new and the established agents from our North American target market.

Top suppliers participating in ILTM Americas reflect luxury across the board. Since ILTM matches the number of buyers to suppliers at all our events, we will also invite only 285 exhibitors this year. These will represent a healthy mix of luxury travel brands, hotels, resorts, tour operators, destinations and other travel experiences that we hope will inspire our accredited buyers.

ILTM participating suppliers reflect luxury throughout. Each new edition of any ILTM Americas brings new high-end suppliers, some participating in the event for the first time, such as Belmond’s Hotel das Cataratas and Copacabana Palace Brazil and Commune Hotels from the U.S., as well as the U.K.’s newest country house, Heckfield Place. The event also welcomes back Aman Resorts and many other great brands.

We have just released a survey on “The Power of the LATAM Luxury Traveler” and I hope we will be able to build on this and profile the power of the North American luxury travelers at ILTM Americas. As always, we will kick off the event with a topical Opening Forum on Monday, Sept. 28, featuring top speakers with inspiring new ideas.

ILTM Americas also is a place where real business gets done. That has ranged from a 900-room group booking at a Mexican luxury resort to a full charter of a Galapagos luxury adventure ship. During the three days of ILTM Americas, pre-scheduled one-to-one business appointments will take place throughout each day on the show floor, and there will be a variety of different networking experiences each evening set in the stunning location on the Riviera Maya.

We understand that buyers and suppliers come to ILTM Americas to build business contacts and relationships in a relaxed environment. Our host venue, the Fairmont Mayakoba, is investing in all its food and beverage spaces, so there will be some nice surprises for guests when they arrive. Although the Fairmont Mayakoba will host the event itself, suppliers and buyers will be housed at nearby resorts in Mayakoba, such as the Banyan Tree and Rosewood properties.

Buyers receive roundtrip flights, up to four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodations at one of the Mayakoba resorts, and roundtrip transfers to and from Cancun airport. Throughout the event, there are parties and social networking events where buyers and suppliers can expect to continue their business discussions while being wined, dined and fully entertained.

Selected travel agents who register their interest for ILTM Americas must be based in North America (the U.S., Canada or Mexico) and must operate on an outbound basis to multiple destinations. They also must be established players in the market, though ILTM Americas focuses on a new generation of top-producing agents, which is different from those attending ILTM Cannes, our largest show, which is staged in December.

For suppliers, the cost is $7,950 for a full diary of appointments, including an entry badge, table top, branding and entry into all ILTM Americas social networking events, plus the Opening Forum and seminars.

ILTM’s core proposition is about introducing invited buyers and travel agents to selected suppliers in specific meetings, which are mutually requested by the suppliers. It is a win-win situation for all involved, with face-to-face business opportunities for suppliers with buyers from high-spending North and Central American markets and with the opportunity for buyers to explore the world in four days. ILTM Americas promises to deliver up to 15,000 15-minute appointments for participating luxury travel suppliers to meet with a new generation of luxury travel agents, more than 50 percent of whom are new to ILTM events.

For 2015, the full portfolio of ILTM events includes ILTM Japan, Kyoto, March 16-18; ILTM Africa, Cape Town, April 13-15; Travelweek by ITLM, Sao Paulo, May 5-8; ILTM Asia, Shanghai, June 1-4; ILTM Americas, Riviera Maya, Mexico, Sept. 28-Oct. 1; and ILTM Cannes, Nov. 30-Dec. 3.

For more information on ILTM Americas, please email me at simon.mayle@reedexpo.co.uk or visit www.iltm.com/americas.