Article from BTNews 10 AUGUST 2020
Business Travel Show cancelled
Now owned by the American group NorthStar, the Business Travel Show has dropped its traditional February date.
This is the second show cancelled at ExCeL London bringing together aspects of the air travel industry following the announcement that World Aviation Festival has been abandoned for this year (See BTN 6 July). World Travel Market, also at ExCeL stays at its original dates 2-4 November.
British-Irish Airport Expo goes ahead , supported by the Government in the form of attendance by Aviation Minster Kelly Tolhurst, Monday 5 October. BTN is the media sponsor.
With the Business Travel Show the plan is for it to emerge as what it calls a “hybrid show”, at ExCeL London 22-23 June 2021. This decision has not gone down well with some in the industry. "By not asking people to travel it is setting a bad example," said a leading light in the industry.
“The Business Travel Show will bring the industry together to realign the future of corporate travel and meetings,” said Louis Magliaro, Executive Vice President.
“Our mission has always been for Business Travel Show to be a truly international event, and that can be realised more easily through a hybrid offering. So, for 2021, engaging virtual content will be fully integrated across the entire event experience to benefit buyers attending the show and those unable to physically attend. This will allow more international travel buyers to attend and participate in the event’s extensive education programme than ever before, and for our exhibitors, sponsors and speakers to reach a wider geographical spread of potential business partners,” the organisers said in statement.”
A leading TMC (Travel Management Company) director said he was surprised with the new format. “It seems to me to be an admittance that the business travel weakening will continue well into next year. We want managers to move and meet, and gather. ExCeL needs to be the place, not video. How are we going to sell the concept of travel to our clients if we ourselves meet on video!”
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