ILTM Cannes, the world’s luxury travel event portfolio, celebrated its 21^st edition last week, 5-8 December 2022. The global flagship event for the ILTM Portfolio brought together over 3,600 luxury travel professionals from 77 countries for a week of dedicated one-to-one meetings as well as an extensive programme of networking events.  This year’s event was met with new levels of passion and enthusiasm with the luxury travel industry fully renewed and a spirit of true optimism emanating throughout the week. The event was a successful live reunion for industry professionals from around the world as participants were united over a positive outlook toward the future of luxury travel.

ILTM portfolio director Alison Gilmore commented on the success of the week’s events: “With ILTM, we bring together an international community, filling Cannes with a celebration of the luxury travel industry. Business went on day and night throughout the week as travel suppliers and buyers connected and forged new relationships, both inside and outside of the Palais des Festivals.”

In collaboration with American Express and luxury research experts Altiant, ILTM released a global industry report entitled ‘BUZZ vs. REALITY – Decoding the luxury travel consumer mindset’.  In highlighting this research, Alison Gilmore commented, “We launched the first part of this research at ILTM Asia Pacific earlier this year and this in this global edition, it was interesting to see that not only are traveller demands higher than ever, but that Travel Advisors are now often expected to deal with various new responsibilities which they may not have had before. Their expertise is being recognised and advisors are becoming even more integral for the global affluent, with 59% planning to use Travel Advisors for half or more of their holiday bookings over the next year.”

Meryam Schneider, Senior VP at Altiant, luxury research specialist says of the research: “For this unique piece of research focused solely on affluent and HNW individuals’ views on luxury travel, we gathered quantifiable data across 14 countries, from affluent and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) across the second half of 2022. As a result, the data became extremely relevant to any organisations targeting luxury travellers. The sample was balanced in age and gender and participating members were exclusively extracted from the top 5% of their country’s income earners or wealth holders, and each of them has been manually validated.’

Alison Gilmore Portfolio Director ILTM additionally commented on the industry trends and insights highlighted in the report, “At ILTM, we have certainly seen the transformation of the wellness travel industry, however it was comforting to learn that wellness continues to move up the list of priorities that wealthy travellers factor into their holiday bookings, with mental wellbeing an area of particular interest for many.”

Luxury travel brands, experiences, destinations, and suppliers enjoyed a week of building and renewing connections with international travel planners, curators and agencies once again. Throughout the week over 70,000 pre-scheduled, one-to-one meetings took place in addition to countless meetings at off-site networking events as ILTM took over the city of Cannes for the week. Once again, ILTM brought together every variety of luxury travel experience from the industry’s most celebrated and established brands to new trailblazers in the luxury travel space. ILTM provides opportunities for professionals and brands to form and renew rewarding relationships and discover new business.

ILTM Cannes also hosted over 60 of the world’s most influential travel editors from publications that are the voice of luxury travel to their high-net-worth readers around the world.  Exhibitors are given the opportunity to meet them through speed networking and press conferences in addition to one-to-one meetings organised over the course of the week.

Anne DiGregory, vice president of sales for Auberge Resorts Collection spoke to her experience at the event: “This is my first ILTM Cannes show, and Wow! What an amazing environment to connect with old friends and make new ones. It’s all about relationships in our business and ILTM Cannes is the place you have to be, to connect in December. Our booth was so busy with appointments and connecting with those just walking by. I loved being here and am already looking forward to the 2023 show.”

Jean-Luc Naret, executive director of The Set Collection said: “ILTM provides us with the ideal opportunity to showcase our brands. Since launching as “The Set Collection”, we’ve had the opportunity to participate in ILTM Asia Pacific and now at ILTM Cannes for the first time this year. We’re particularly impressed with the responsiveness of the ILTM team and the quality of buyers. We’ll be at ILTM Latin America next and looking forward to doing it all again!”

Juana Ortiz Basso tour & travel manager with Los Cabos Tourism Board was delighted to attend: This was my first time at ILTM with Los Cabos, although they are a regular exhibitor.  “This was simply amazing! I met with new buyers and all of them were really interested in our destination.  We have had many unexpected meetings in addition to our already full diary of appointments.  We also participated in the Press Roundtables and had the opportunity to give a Destination Presentation.  Next year for sure we will be back looking for more business.  This event has really helped Los Cabos diversify its business in luxury travel.”

Kyle Antoni Pace Cumbo, director sales & marketing iniala group said, “For us, the purpose of this ILTM Cannes was to talk about the most luxurious new hotel on Phuket – the Iniala Beach House.  We focused on seeing buyers from the US and Canada and had some 20 meetings in total.  This really is the event of the year where the whole industry meets and we are already looking forward to the next one!  ILTM Cannes is the only event that truly brings in business!”

Adam Morriss, divisional director of Sales for Belmond described his experience saying: “ILTM went brilliantly well this year, as everyone brought their A-game, whether buyers or suppliers and we, as Belmond, brought our legendary train to the show, a piece of travel history, which definitely has sparked people to dream of luxury travel again.”

Chris Austin, chief sales officer for Explora Journeys commented: “As a new luxury lifestyle brand, for Explora Journeys, ILTM Cannes has again provided the perfect platform to increase awareness and engage with high profile luxury travel advisors. We will be back.”

Speaking for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Dominik Trimborn, Director – Global Sales Partners said: “It is by far the most important show in the luxury space. We’re so happy to be back this year and we look forward to many more years of collaboration with ILTM Cannes and RX globally.”