This week marks the anniversary of one of my most memorable days in the travel trade: when Trump won! It was eight years ago at World Travel Market, which kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday) in London, with expectations of close to 50,000 people from across the global travel industry in attendance.
But it was 2016 at WTM and the night before the US election. Delegates were attending industry events or, um, “networking,” in pubs and restaurants in the city, certainly wary of the pivotal event taking place stateside; yet it’s fair to say that not a one was expecting Trump to win – even a rare travel industry guy I met that night who admitted to having voted for him.
Because of the time difference, most went to bed before the voting had even ended, thus the results unknown.
In the morning: shock!
Utter shock!
But being Canadian, with less skin in the game, I kept calm and carried on to WTM, where another shock was evidence: where was everybody?
With tens of thousands of attendees, the show certainly wasn’t empty (the world was continuing to turn), but the usual morning rush into the ExCel centre was noticeably diminished, and inside there was a pall over the hall – in particular in the massive US pavilion, which was almost empty, only lacking for tumbleweeds blowing through.
Shockingly, just a few exhibitors were at their booths, and it wasn’t until early afternoon that a majority had finally filtered in. But instead of business as usual – the business of promoting and selling their destinations – they huddled amongst themselves. Delegates who did stop by were greeted with apologies: personally and profoundly, for their country, and for what the world would likely have to endure.
Unlike the election result, that collective reaction by US travel industry representatives was not surprising – after all, travel by nature is outward-looking, based on curiosity, discovery, hospitality, friendship, compromise, and the sharing and appreciation of ideas and cultures. And it attracts like-minded people to work in it.
Moreover, to be anything less than open-minded, accepting, and welcoming of others is just bad business.
Nevertheless, that experience was a first. And hopefully a last.
On Wednesday I will wake up in London and check my phone, then make my way to the show. And pray that our American colleagues will be able to skip the apologies this time.
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