Like the swallows returning to Capistrano and the Leafs failing to win the Stanley Cup every Spring, travel and tourism shows tend to follow an inexorable, ever-unchanging rhythm. But with COVID-19 still wreaking havoc globally and the planning of future events up in the air, the only certain thing about this year’s annual trade show calendar is that it is uncertain.
Indeed, while some events have been cancelled, or reprised from last year, others are struggling with hosting events that are live, virtual, or, in some cases both.
Last year’s World Travel Market in London proved a cautionary tale, taking a long journey from an expected live show in November 2020 to live/virtual hybrid to entirely virtual as the coronavirus pandemic entered a second wave.
Now in 2021, with a third wave at hand, several top shows have already pushed back dates in the hopes of being able to host what now seems to be a post-pandemic Holy Grail – a live event. FITUR, for example, the first big boy on the block in January each year, has moved to May. And IPW, the annual US Spring travel trade showcase – already postponed an entire year from May 2020 in Las Vegas – was moved again to September in the same city, hopefully as a live event (it was recently announced that registration would open in March).
Here then is what we know about this year’s unconventional global show schedule, seemingly as out of sync as the world continues to be during COVID:
March 1-5, Britain – ExploreGB, VisitBritain’s flagship annual travel trade event ExploreGB will run as a virtual event from March 1-5 with international buyers invited to connect online with travel trade suppliers from across the UK to do business and boost bookings.
March 9-12, ITB Berlin – The world’s largest travel trade show, which attracts over 100,000 trade visitors annually, will be entirely virtual this year, and only for the trade (the consumer portion cancelled). As such, an extra day has been added to the trade portion. Among the features will be numerous live-streamed high-level panel discussions and lectures as well as digital networking opportunities, an intelligent matchmaking event and, a virtual exhibition area. Organizers say the event builds on its recent experience with virtual formats including the launch of the itb.com global platform last March.
April 7-9, WTM Africa – Postponed in 2020, this year’s event has officially adopted its “Plan B” – an entirely virtual affair – that features 1-to-1 meetings, content sessions and speed networking. But there will also be additional virtual opportunities later in the year designed to create “ROI across 365 days instead of three.” Events will include educational webinars from May to October and masterclasses from September to November.
April 15-16, FoodTrex Global – One of the newer shows, the World Food Travel Association’s 6th annual global summit will be 100 percent online this year with 16 speakers contributing to 12 sessions based on the theme, “sustainability in food and beverage tourism” meant for destinations, organizations, business strategists and managers, entrepreneurs, and other key stakeholders in the extended food and beverage tourism industry.
April 27-29, Germany – In partnership with the tourism association of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (TMV), the German National Tourist Board has decided to organize the Germany Travel Mart (GTM) 2021 as a digital event for the second consecutive year. The largest incoming workshop for Destination Germany is planned for April 27-29. At vGTM 2020, 450 key accounts of the international tourism industry from 49 countries connected with 250 companies representing Germany’s travel industry.
April 27-29, PATA – Another show that is already looking forward going again in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022, this year’s Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) global summit will be entirely virtual in 2021 and dedicated to bringing together international thought leaders, industry shapers, and senior decision-makers who are professionally engaged with the Asia Pacific region over three days at the end of April. Highlights include the annual PATA Leaders Debate, which brings together senior executives from both the public and private sector to address thought-provoking issues currently affecting the industry. Registration for Virtual PAS 2021 is complimentary.
May 9-11, BIT – Postponed from February, Italy’s annual BIT International Tourism Exchange will be held at fieramiloncity, Milan, with organizers stating that the new dates allow the show to better prepare for and reflect the current post-pandemic landscape.
May 11-14, CTM – Typically held early in the year, the annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which was one of the last unaffected trade shows of 2020 (in Nassau, Bahamas in January) will take place virtually in 2021 for first time in its nearly 40 years. Details for the 39th annual show are being developed but the traditional two-day live format will be doubled online.
May 16-19, ATM – Now in its 27th year, Arabian Travel Market is anticipated to run as a hybrid event this year with the live event taking place in the Dubai World Trade Centre May 16-19 and a virtual event including webinars and one-on-one video meetings taking place a week later from May 24 to 26. The theme will be ‘A New Dawn for Travel and Tourism.’ Attendance will be restricted for the live event as organizers follow new density rules and regulations laid out by government authorities, prompting a call for early registrations to secure a place. ATM is part of Arabian Travel Week, which will also feature International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) 2021, and Travel Forward, the travel technology vertical.
May 17-20, RVC – After a year’s absence, Rendez-vous Canada will return as a fully virtual event this year. Organizers suggest that the online limitations for RVC+ are in fact a chance to embrace “a more expansive and inclusive mindset that allows us to take the event to new platforms and new audiences” and “no matter the changes… still an invitation to share our love for Canada and foster a strong and vibrant visitor economy in Canada.”
May 19-23, FITUR – Traditionally the first major trade show of the year in mid January, the annual Spanish event has delayed this year’s show until May. Dedicated to inbound and outbound Latin America, the FITUR at this point intends to operate live under the theme “Tourism Recovery Special.” Exhibitors are clearly excited, some already posting photos of the stands they plan to man at the Feria de Madrid.
June 6-9, ATE – Tourism Australia is planning a hybrid Australian Tourism Exchange this summer that includes in-person and virtual event components. ATE Live will be held at ICC Sydney and is open to international buyers who are based in Australia or located in countries permitted to travel to Australia; new pandemic protocols will see traditional seller booths replaced with networking areas and buyers will remain stationary to be visited by sellers. Meanwhile, ATE Online will immediately follow, from June 10 to 17 for international buyers who are unable to travel due to border restrictions. Registration is open until March 19.
Aug. 3-5 & 10-11, WTM Latin America – A rolling calendar of dates has seen World Travel Market’s Latin regional change from April to June to the latest in August. The five-day hybrid event will include three live days at the Expo Center Norte, in São Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 3-5, followed by two digital days a week later. Organizers are hopeful and confident that global vaccination plans will enable international delegates to attend, but expect a greater number of domestic and Latin America visitors this year.
July 27-Aug. 1, Cruise360 – The 2020 version scheduled for Vancouver last May was cancelled, but the event is ready to set sail again in 2021 in South Florida (the host destinations alternate). CLIA’s annual extravaganza – “the largest and only official conference of the cruise industry” – will be confined this year to the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood (room bookings are open) while the usual location, the Broward County Convention Centre, undergoes renovations.
Sept 20-23, ATTA – Hokkaido, Japan, will be host destination for the 2021 Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS), the first time the event will be held in Asia with a full live program, and delegates can take advantage of reduced registration fees and early booking discounts before the end of March.
Sept 18-22, IPW – US Travel is promising that it is hard at work “preparing to safely reunite the world” at IPW 2021 in Las Vegas, taking place 16 months after the annual event was originally scheduled (and postponed for a second time from May 2021). Organizers say the Fall show will be redesigned and reimagined with fully integrated health and safety measures, a revamped show floor to ensure adequate spacing, updates to show technology, and more. Registration opens in late March.
Sept. 26-29, Tianguis – Another major Spring show pushed to the Fall, Tianguis Turistico Mexico is billed to take place in Merida, Yucatan, with the exhibition’s web site advising potential attendees to save the date.
Nov. 1-3, WTM London – Beyond the date, details about the travel industry’s largest English-language show, and a fixture on the calendar for many in the trade, are scarce. At this point, organizers Reed Exhibitions says, “We can’t wait to see you in November!”
TBA, Japex – Held virtually in Fall, 2020, details of the annual Jamaica Product Exchange have not been announced.
Completed events: Virtual Florida Huddle, Feb. 8-12.