The 25th MTM and LLTM (MICE Travel Mart and Luxury, Leisure Travel Mart) Exhibition marks a record-breaking year, bringing together prominent Corporate MICE buyers and trusted sellers. This milestone event promises unparalleled opportunities for business networking and collaboration.
This collaborative gathering united respected Corporate MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) travel purchasers and reliable vendors. It featured a series of engaging activities designed to nurture valuable relationships and enable profitable partnerships.
The highly anticipated 25th MTM and LLTM Travel Exhibition took place on January 12, 2024, at the prestigious Le-Meridien New Delhi. This premier event brought together the most affluent travel buyers, including corporate purchasers, as well as wedding and event organizers, for a day of networking and business opportunities.
MTM and LLTM provides a distinct platform for travel decision-makers from corporate entities, wedding planners, and event organizers, all of whom play vital roles in MICE movements, corporate travel, luxury, and leisure travel. By gathering these industry experts in one location, the exhibition offers an ideal setting to showcase products and seize business prospects within a dynamic and results-oriented environment.
MTM and LLTM reflected the emerging trends in the MICE Industry
Globalization of businesses and a surge in SMEs: The MICE sector is witnessing a transformation driven by the globalization of businesses and a surge in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This change is further bolstered by the growth in travel, tourism, and the hospitality sector.
Notably, the Incentives segment is forecast to experience the fastest growth, with a projected CAGR of 3.8% from 2021 to 2026. This growth is attributed to the rising demand for incentive travel, which typically includes hotel accommodations, tour packages, and engaging activities like dinners, entertainment, and team-building activities, thereby fueling the expansion of this segment. All these players were active at MTM and LLTM in New Delhi.
Regional Dynamics in MICE Industry: North America currently leads the MICE Industry Market, holding a significant 40% of the global share. Yet, the spotlight is shifting towards Asia-Pacific, which is predicted to surpass other regions by registering the highest CAGR of 8.6% during the forecast period of 2021-2026. There was increased interest in the Asia Pacific region among buyers.
MICE Industry Market Dynamics: The landscape of the MICE industry is being reshaped by geographical expansions, both by multinational companies entering India and Indian firms extending their global footprint. This trend has led to a rise in mergers and acquisitions, as well as joint ventures, significantly boosting MICE activities worldwide. New companies and increased MICE bolstered enquiries at MTM and LLTM.
Infrastructure’s Impact on MICE Activities: Significant developments in infrastructure, including major upgrades to roads, ports, and airports, along with the inauguration of several large convention centres in metropolitan cities, have notably enhanced both domestic and inbound MICE activities within the country.
Inaugural Morning Session
The Inaugural Morning Session commenced with a warm introduction by Kamal Gill, who holds the positions of Executive Editor and Managing Director at Gill India Group and Director of OptiMICE Events. Kamal Gill expressed her delight in hosting the 25th edition of MTM & LLTM, underlining the significance of this gathering. She also acknowledged the esteemed Guests of Honour and Dignitaries who graced the event.
The opening session featured a distinguished lineup of leaders from the hospitality, aviation, government, and international tourism sectors, sharing actionable insights on various topics, including leadership and excellence in a post-Covid world, as well as exploring the realms of luxury, aviation, MICE, and incentives.
Notable attendees included Jyoti Mayal, President- Travel Agents Association of India and Director – New Airways Travels (Delhi) Pvt Ltd; Gagan Sharma, Country Manager-India, Air Mauritius; Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo; Rajeev Nangia, COO- TRAC Representations India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi; Kean Bon LIM, Area Director – India, South Asia, Africa, Singapore Tourism Board; Kewal Gill, Chairman of Gill India Group; and Arjun Gill, Director of OptiMICE Events.
Kamal Gill acknowledged the remarkable achievements of the travel and tourism industry in 2023, highlighting the reopening of borders, the relaxation of travel restrictions, and the global resurgence of wanderlust.
She said, “The global MICE market size is valued at USD 1066.97 million in 2024 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.41% from 2023 to 2030. This market is expected to rise steadily over the following years, reaching approximately 1.8 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.”
She went on to say, “This remarkable upswing has led to record-breaking tourist arrivals and thriving hospitality businesses, symbolizing the enduring human desire to connect with the world. By participating in MTM and LLTM, exhibitors are harnessing the current industry momentum, forming enduring partnerships, and positioning themselves at the forefront of the evolving travel landscape.”
She expressed her gratitude to the exhibitors for their trust, investment, and faith in the event’s vision and efforts. She assured them that their commitment had played a pivotal role in the exhibition’s success and pledged to continue striving for excellence, providing unmatched opportunities to connect with the target audience and achieve business objectives.
Gill extended a warm welcome to all corporate buyers from across India, expressing appreciation for their longstanding association and support. She also thanked the corporate buyers and supporters for their unwavering patronage and valuable contributions throughout the journey.
During the opening session, attendees were treated to special addresses by Gagan Sharma, the Country Manager of Air Mauritius, and Kean Bon Lim, the Area Director North of the Singapore Tourism Board.
Meet and forge business alliances at MTM and LLTM
Over the years, MTM and LLTM has played a pivotal role in facilitating meaningful business interactions between corporate buyers and travel service providers, resulting in remarkable transactions and valuable leads. The overwhelming support received by MTM and LLTM underscores the significance of the MICE, luxury, and leisure segments, both domestically and internationally, while highlighting their vast untapped potential.
Reverse MarketPlace: Standout feature of MTM and LLTM
MTM and LLTM introduced their unique Reverse Marketplace Duo, which allowed exhibitors to engage in one-on-one meetings with exclusive corporate buyers and conduct business efficiently.
MTM and LLTM featured two premium Reverse Marketplace Sessions. The first session brought together over 30 pre-qualified corporate buyers from various cities across India, including Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune, who engaged in exclusive meetings with exhibitors. The second session comprised a distinct group of 30+ pre-qualified corporate buyers from the host city of Delhi.
This unique feature of MTM and LLTM, where more than 60 esteemed corporate VIP buyers take a seat on the opposite side of the table, creates exclusive sessions that enable sellers to establish face-to-face connections with VIP buyers. This fosters mutually beneficial relationships and creates opportunities for future collaborations.
The event continued with an impactful Business Day, during which participants embarked on a productive journey through a Reverse Marketplace session. With VIP corporate buyers travelling in from various parts of the country, sellers had the exclusive opportunity to engage in face-to-face interactions, discussing business prospects and establishing mutually beneficial connections. This session laid the groundwork for fruitful partnerships and opened new avenues for collaboration.
Among the participating corporate buyers were Max Life Insurance Company, Accenture, Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies, Pfizer, Novartis Healthcare, Hero MotoCorp, JK Lakshmi Cement, Relaxo Footwears, Haier Appliances, Panasonic Life Solutions, Bharti Airtel, Ashok Leyland, Godrej Industries and Associate Companies, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, Kansai Nerolac Paints, Metro Brands, Adobe, Hexaware Technologies, and many more.
After a satisfying lunch, the momentum continued with a second Reverse Marketplace session, introducing new VIP corporate buyers to sellers. This provided sellers with additional opportunities to engage and discuss potential business transactions, maximizing their chances of forging successful deals. Exhibitors were busy indulging themselves at MTM and LLTM in meetings and discussing future business and event proposals from Pan India and the host-city corporate purchasers throughout the day.
The ability to bring together so many corporate decision-makers for one-on-one meetings in a single day was highly appreciated by the attending delegates. There was a healthy mix of first-time and returning exhibitors, all of whom took full advantage of this unique gathering.
The exhibitors represented various sectors, including the hospitality industry, travel agencies, DMCs (Destination Management Companies), sports and events companies, cruise lines, and national and international tourism bodies.
A range of networking events
One of the event’s highlights centred around the prestigious MTM Star Awards, where distinguished wedding planners and leading corporate companies received recognition and applause from an enthralled audience. This esteemed ceremony stood as a testament to their exceptional contributions and accomplishments within the industry.
The lineup of proud awardees in the MTM and LLTM Star Award categories included esteemed corporate recipients such as Bajaj Energy Limited for Most Well-Planned Business Travel in Power/FMCH/Sugar; Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company for Most Well-Planned Business Travel; CRISIL Limited for Most Well-Planned Business Travel; Devyani International for Best Training Programme for Employees/Associates; EXL Service.com (India) for Most Well-Planned Business Travel; Haier Appliances India for Best Meeting/Exhibition Programme; Hero MotoCorp for Best Incentive Programme for Distributors/Dealers; KEI Industries Limited for Best Incentive Programme for Distributors/Dealers; Kohler India Corporation for Best Incentive Programme for Employees/Associates, and more.
To bring the eventful day to a close, participants were invited to the Networking Cocktails and Dinner, creating an ideal platform for exhibitors to further nurture relationships and engage in friendly discussions. Evening group discussions elevated business networking to another level, resulting in valuable partnerships with industry counterparts from across the country and overseas.
The convivial atmosphere at MTM and LLTM fostered a sense of camaraderie as approximately 100 corporate representatives and wedding planners relished the opportunity to unwind and solidify partnerships, marking the end of a day filled with productive business meetings.
Towards a Sustainable Travel World
Minor adjustments can yield significant results. In alignment with the global effort to eliminate plastic usage, MTM and LLTM took a transformative step in elevating the traditional exhibition setup. They introduced a tabletop format and incorporated live LED walls at sponsored exhibitor booths.
This innovation led to a remarkable reduction of over 90 per cent in the utilization of flex and plastic materials at the Exhibition. Not only did this novel approach enhance the overall aesthetics of the event, but it also effectively doubled the available space for exhibitors, delivering greater benefits to all participants.
A resurgent global wanderlust – Key Takeaways from the 25th MTM & LLTM Travel Exhibition
Amidst the backdrop of a resurging global desire for travel, the travel industry has witnessed an unprecedented surge in activity, marked by record-breaking tourist arrivals and flourishing hospitality establishments. Within this dynamic landscape, MTM and LLTM offer unparalleled opportunities for exhibitors to connect with their corporate target audience and achieve their business objectives in the fields of MICE and travel.
- Leading the 2024 Travel Scene: The MTM and LLTM exhibitions started the year as India’s first major travel event, sparking a buzz among corporate MICE players in key areas like AI, budget optimization, and data-driven strategies.
- A Milestone for MICE Industry: This record-breaking event connected over 100 leading Corporate MICE buyers and sellers across India, mirroring the global MICE market’s growth, valued at USD 1066.97 million in 2024.
- An Incubator for Business Growth: MTM and LLTM served as a dynamic business hotspot for idea exchange, collaboration, forging business partnerships opening fresh leads. Key trends to take note of: corporate buying was in full swing, Bleisure travel remained top draw, and long-term bookings centred on price points of hotel inventory and air travel flexibility.
- Strategic Focus on Corporate MICE: Tailor-made for brands targeting corporate travel decision-makers, and with more than 24 exhibitions under its belt, MTM and LLTM saw the significance of in-person business engagement (2700 B2B meetings during the day at MTM) in a market poised for a CAGR of 7.41% from 2023 to 2030.
- Diverse Business Opportunities: The exhibition catered to sectors, from weddings and entertainment to business travel, luxury resorts, budget accommodations, airline connectivity and convention spaces. The event’s vast network of partnerships,- major International Tourism Boards, domestic State Tourism Destinations, Hospitality giants, international and domestic Airlines and leading travel agencies, ably reflected the industry’s expansive growth potential.
The event, which was completely sold out, underscored the substantial impact of the Meetings and Incentive, Luxury, and Leisure sectors on our economy. Overall, the event received an overwhelmingly positive response from all attendees, who commended this innovative corporate business and networking gathering.
They expressed their gratitude to the organizers, OptiMICE Events, and the exclusive media partner, Today’s Traveller, for assembling this unique platform dedicated to the corporate world.
About MTM and LLTM Travel Exhibition – The Premier Platform for Showcasing MICE, Luxury & Leisure Travel
The MTM and LLTM Travel Exhibition, comprising the MICE Travel Mart and Luxury & Leisure Travel Mart, is a highly anticipated bi-annual event that assembles India’s most influential Corporate MICE travel buyers. Serving as a premier platform for product showcasing and connections with key decision-makers, this exhibition has consistently facilitated numerous business transactions and has been instrumental in the expansion of the MICE, luxury, and leisure sectors.
MTM and LLTM exhibition constantly seeks to explore fresh opportunities, enriching all stakeholders in the MICE, Luxury, and Leisure domains with innovative ideas. It fosters enduring relationships between travel service providers and corporate entities, strengthening their bond and cooperation.
About OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd – Professional Meeting & Event Planning
OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd specializes in crafting MTM and LLTM event and meeting experiences that deliver tangible value to corporate buyers. The company’s dedicated team of professionals works tirelessly to establish a dedicated platform for fostering alliances and planning successful MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) activities year-round and beyond.
Founded in 2010, OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd has a singular mission: to bridge the gap between corporate buyers, tourism destinations, and travel service providers. Their ultimate goal is to facilitate high-quality meetings and cultivate business networking opportunities that result in a substantial return on investment (ROI).
As trailblazers in the Indian market, OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd has made significant strides in the corporate MICE and Business Travel segment. Their widespread influence and stellar reputation among corporate entities across India have solidified their status as industry leaders.
Through their media arm, Today’s Traveller, one of India’s oldest travel magazines, OptiMICE Events has nurtured strong relationships with end consumers and major travel trade associations such as TAAI, TAFI, OTOAI, NIMA, EETA, IATO, and EEMA. This extensive network further enhances their ability to connect with key players in the travel industry.
Guided by Kamal Gill, a highly experienced industry veteran with over three decades of credentials, the company has achieved remarkable success. Kamal serves as the Founder and Executive Editor of Today’s Traveller and the Director of OptiMICE Events Pvt. Ltd.
With over 13 years of experience in organizing trade shows and niche events, OptiMICE has successfully executed various exhibitions for the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors. The company takes pride in being at the forefront of promoting MICE destinations and products to the corporate world, the film industry, as well as FIT (Free Independent Traveler) and Leisure buyers.
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