Well-heeled travelers are looking for extraordinary getaways tailored to suit their individual tastes. From a beachfront mansion on the Maldives, to a suite in Shanghai or an adventure safari in Botswana: high-end vacationers are seeking out exciting getaways that fit their taste for luxury life.

For the sixth year, the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) rolls out the red carpet for exclusive buyers and sellers of deluxe travel packages in the stunning setting of Cannes, the star jewel of the French Riviera.

The leading trade show in niche tourism sector of luxury travel market, ILTM sets a platform on which key industry players like national tourist offices, commercial airlines, tour agencies and hospitality sector specialists can develop partnerships, share industry practice and create an exclusive industry network.

Exceeding the success of previous years, the 2006 the four-day event saw 3.300 attendees, witnessing a wide spectrum of luxury travel suppliers and buyers from lavish tented camps in Africa to space voyages. The show drew representatives from over 80 countries, with one hundred first-time exhibitors attending the event. Research conducted on the effectiveness of the event with over 700 attendees showed that 99 per cent of buyers see ILTM as the industry leader in its field, with 98% of exhibitors vowing to return to the event this year.

"Evolution and Revolution" is the title of the one-day International Luxury Travel Market Conference hosted in cooperation with Departures Magazine. The main topic of the conference is the issue of climate change and its impact on the luxury travel industry. Speakers and participants will look at ways in which companies and organizations in the high-end travel sector can minimize carbon emissions and the carbon footprint of their eco-conscious clients.

Surveys conducted by ILTM on luxury travel trends for the coming year reveal Italy to be amongst the most sought-after destination for top-end travel. The country landed the spot as a result of its high-quality offerings in the cultural and gastronomic fields as well as its iconic tourism offerings.

"Italy offers the perfect combination for many travelers, especially those wishing to experience true luxury, which comes not from the price of the trip, but rather from the quality of the travel experience," says Flavia St. Clair, President of Exclusive Travels International. Other destinations in strong demand include Thailand, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and China.

Japanese companies make a first-time appearance at the trade show this year, reflecting the growing demand of luxury travel to the Asian island and other countries across The Indian Ocean and the Caribbean. Amongst the thirty companies already registered for the event are Japan National Tourism Organisation, Trails of IndoChina and Greave Tours, The Ryokan Collection, and The Japan Luxury Consortium. "Japan's rich history and cultural heritage, range of stylish hotels, exclusive guest houses and high-end traditional restaurants combine to produce an ideal product offering to meet and exceed the needs of luxury travellers worldwide," says Hiroki Fukunaga, Director of The Japan Luxury Travel Consortium and President of The Ryokan Collection.

Another novel exhibitor this year will be New Zealand Luxury (www.newzealandluxury.com), a in-depth source of exclusive accommodation, properties, transport services, aviation companies and tours in the land Tolkien-land. The site offers a wide range of leisure activities including golf, spas and fishing in addition to person, one-of-a-kind travel itineraries.

International Luxury Travel Market
Dates: December 8-11
Venue: Palais des Festivals et des Congres
Address: Boulevard La Croisette 1
City, Country: Cannes, France
Telephone: [44] 0.207.902.2990
Travel Market Website