The 22nd edition of ILTM Cannes, the world’s leading luxury travel event, took place December 4-7 2023, marking the largest edition of the event to date.
Luxury travel brands, experiences, destinations, and suppliers enjoyed a week of building and strengthening connections with international travel planners, curators and agencies marking the fact that the luxury travel idustry is truly thriving. Over 2,100 buyers from 83 countries met with 2,100 exhibitors representing 330 brands in over 82,000 one-to-one meetings, alongside an extensive program of networking events.
The global flagship event for the ILTM Portfolio started with an opening forum featuring three inspirational presentations for the global luxury travel community. Global Strategist Tina Fordham spoke on the topic of The New Geopolitical Risk Supercycle: 2024 Outlook, addressing key global risk drivers and disruptions relevant to the international luxury travel landscape. Gusto Collective Founder and CEO, Aaron Lau presented on Glocalization and Virtualization: a blueprint to building engagement with NexGen customers and World Experience Organisation Founder and CEO, Jason Wallman spoke to the rise of experientialism as of luxury travel in his presentation titled Moonshot: How luxury travel will transform the word.ILTM Cannes also hosted over 90 of the world’s most influential travel editors from publications and platforms that are the voice of luxury travel to their high-net-worth readers and communities around the world. Exhibitors had the opportunity to meet them through speed networking, press conferences and one-to-one meetings organized over the course of the week.Luxury travel advisors and exhibitors alike were enthusiastic in their praise of the role of ILTM Cannes in supporting their business goals. Catherine Gallagher of Travel Matters UK said: “This is my first ILTM and what I have found here is the “ungooglable” – special experiences and products I didn’t know existed. Meetings are set up so well, I have been able to meet people I know, people I knew of, and more. I would love to return next year.”
Cordula Junius, representing Oxidant Orient Collection in Germany said: “For me ILTM is the best global show for deepening existing luxury travel contacts, meeting new ones, and ultimately developing new business. It’s the most instructive and productive event to attend.”Vanessa McGovern of Gifted Travel Network in the US added: “As a young agency, our clients are among those defining the future of our industry. The ultimate decision makers of every luxury travel brand and destination are here at ILTM and I am meeting with high-level destination partners from all over the world – at what other event could I possibly find that?”
Joint Managing Director of Goldman Travel Group in Australia, Anthony Goldman commented: “ILTM Cannes is a powerful show with powerful connections. We’re doing business… serious business here. I’ve achieved 150 simply great meetings over 3 days.”Nicola Thomas, Owner of New Zealand’s Accent on Travel commented: “ILTM Cannes is a well-organized, high-quality event. The scale and diversity provide the opportunity to connect with extraordinary, out-of-the-box experiences we can then offer to our clientele.”
Jaimy Steenmeijer of Netherlands’ Ask James, said: “It’s great to be back to reconnect with our existing partners as well as the owners of so many other boutique hotels, not to mention discover little known destinations and so many new editions of brands. I can’t wait to share our new knowledge with our clients.”The exhibitors too were enthusiastic in their praise. Anna Nash, Chief Commercial Officer at AMAN said: “ILTM Cannes is an extraordinary platform, bringing together key figures from the luxury travel industry to connect, exchange ideas, and meetings with key partners. We seized this opportunity to introduce details of Janu Tokyo, the first of our new brand, Janu, amidst a gathering of hand-picked global editors, taking advantage of the one-on-one meetings in the media centre and delivering updates through their meticulously organized press round tables.”
Sven-Olof Lindblad, CEO, Founder, and Board Director of Lindblad Expeditions remarked: “Expedition cruising is having its moment and ILTM provided Lindblad Expeditions unparalleled access to the luxury travel industry’s most influential writers, editors, and trade partners. Joining in this legendary conference provided an audience of the world’s most influential travel experts as we revealed our new Antarctica Direct fly/sail expeditions, a new and exciting option for our more time-crunched guests.”Marta and Claudia Madera, co-founders of Vestige Collection, commented: “ILTM has been a pivotal milestone for us as an incredible platform to launch our new brand, Vestige Collection. We may be very new to the industry however our family has been restoring these properties and envisioning Vestige for 15+ years now, so it’s hugely exciting to have received such an overwhelmingly positive response from the creme de la creme of luxury travel buyers and media. Thank you ILTM!”
Marett Taylor, Chief Sales Officer at Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group said: “We chose ILTM to showcase Crystal Cruises, now part of the A&K Travel Group, because of its unparalleled ability to connect us with the most influential luxury travel curators globally. The event enabled successful meetings with new contacts, existing agency partners, and most importantly, agency owners who drive this market. We are thrilled with the connections made and opportunities gained through participation.”Chrisophe Berger of Visit Malta described his experience, saying: “ILTM has brought us so many top buyers from great source markets. The new lifestyle area added so much and the media meetings were the absolute cherry on the cake! Not to mention the fantastic parties around Cannes! We’ll definitely be back!”
