Let's start with some pertinent figures. Asia as a region accounts for half of the 80 billion USD luxury industry and today is home to over 2.3 million individuals with a net worth of over 1 million USD. These figures alone might make it pretty clear why Shanghai has become the location for the Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM).

The ALTM claims the leading role in attracting top international luxury travel suppliers, and the most notable Asian luxury travel buyers. Based on seven years of success of the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes, Reed Travel Exhibitions moved on to create a luxury market focusing solely on the expansive Pan-Pacific/Asian region.

As at ILTM, all buyers are carefully selected to represent only the leading luxury travel businesses in the region, and will be interested in only the highest end travel offers.

Among the 500 visitors expected for this year's event are Virtuoso Australia/New Zealand, American Express Asia Pacific, the high-class cultural club Quintessentially, Ten Lifestyle Management, as well as many other independent and personal luxury travel organizers.

Buyers are offered select choices in exclusive destinations, lavish accommodation, more than comfortable transportation, and unparalleled travel experiences. Exhibitors include airlines, private jets, 6-star hotels, private villas, limousine services, health spas, tourist boards, and even space travel.

Following an afternoon conference, ALTM starts with the three-day exhibition. Based on visitor and exhibitor preferences, ALTM pre-organizes up to 36 20-minute appointments and also leaves room for self-made appointments. ALTM prides itself in its efficiency and skill in creating the optimal matches between buyers and sellers.

In order to ensure that their market goes smoothly, organizers adopt a strict "No Time Waster" policy in which any buyer missing more than 5 of their meetings will be black-listed from future ALTM events. While most markets emphasize the number of buyers, ALTM stresses the quality of their buyers and efficiency of the event that sees buyers, as their website proclaims, "performing serious business".

In only its second year, the unique choice of finely selecting buyers and guaranteeing pre-arranged preference-based meetings has clearly paid off. ALTM expects to add 1,000 sq m of exhibition space to fulfill demand and plans on doubling the number of buyers from last year's event. Luxury travel seems to exude any dangers that the world market may be facing.

ASIA LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET
Dates: June 16-19, 2008
Venue: Shanghai Exhibition Centre
City, Country: Shanghai, China
Telephone: [61] 29.42.22.828
Website