The travel and tourism industry is experiencing a global resurgence in 2023. MTM and LLTM (MICE Travel Mart and Luxury & Leisure Travel Mart) join forces to celebrate their most successful year to date.
This collaborative event brought together esteemed Corporate MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) travel buyers and trusted sellers, delivering a series of engaging activities designed to foster invaluable relationships and facilitate lucrative collaborations.
The highly anticipated 24th edition of the MTM and LLTM Travel Exhibition took place on June 1, 2023, at the prestigious ITC Maratha Mumbai. This premier event brought together the most affluent travel purchasers, including corporate buyers, and wedding and event planners, for a day of networking and business opportunities.
MTM and LLTM offer a unique platform for travel decision-makers from corporate houses, wedding planners, and event planners, who are key players in MICE movements, business travel, luxury, and leisure travel. By congregating these industry professionals under one roof, the exhibition provides an ideal setting to showcase products and seize business prospects within a dynamic and results-oriented environment.
Inaugural Morning Session
The event began with a warm welcome from Kamal Gill, Executive Editor and Managing Director, Gill India Group and Director of OptiMICE Events. Kamal Gill expressed immense pleasure in hosting the 24th edition of MTM & LLTM, emphasizing the significance of the gathering and acknowledging the esteemed Guests of Honour and Dignitaries in attendance.
Among them were Consulate General of Malaysia Tourism; Rajiv Kaul, Luxury Hotelier and Founder of Kaul Advisory; Parveen Chander, EVP – Sales & Marketing, IHCL; Romi Dutta, Executive Director, Amby Valley and Hotel Sahara Star; Iqbal Mulla, Chairman, Treasure Tourism Corporation Ltd; Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – MEISEA at South African Tourism; Renjie Wong, Area Director, India, South Asia & Middle East, Singapore Tourism Board; T.Ediwanto T.Eddie, Deputy Director, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board; Atul Bhalla, Area General Manager for the West and East regions, as well as the General Manager of ITC Maratha; Rajiv Duggal, Travel Advisor and Director of Travel Specialists; Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI; Kewal Gill, Chairman of Gill India Group, and Arjun Gill, Director of OptiMICE Events.
The inaugural morning session saw a galaxy of leaders from the hospitality, aviation, government, and international tourism industries providing actionable information on everything from leadership and excellence in a post-Covid world to understanding the world of luxury, aviation, MICE, and incentives.
Kamal Gill acknowledged the remarkable achievements of the travel and tourism industry in 2023, highlighting the reopening of borders, easing travel restrictions, and the global resurgence of wanderlust. She said, “This extraordinary upswing has resulted in record-breaking tourist arrivals and flourishing hospitality businesses, symbolizing the unwavering human desire to connect with the world. By participating in MTM and LLTM, exhibitors are leveraging the current industry momentum, forging lasting partnerships, and positioning themselves at the forefront of the evolving travel landscape.”
She expressed gratitude to the exhibitors for their trust, investment, and belief in the event’s vision and endeavours. She assured them that their commitment has been vital to the success of the exhibition and pledged to continue striving for excellence and providing unparalleled opportunities to connect with the target audience and achieve business goals.
Gill extended a warm welcome to all the 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 contribution throughout the journey.
During the opening session, Maishaa Mukadam, Manager – India and South Asia, Singapore Tourism Board delivered a talk on a subject dear to all hearts – Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Corporate Events. Maishaa Mukadam highlighted the increasing importance of environmental sustainability and community engagement in the corporate events industry and shared insights on eco-friendly venues, sustainable event planning, and the integration of social impact initiatives.
Meet and forge business alliances at MTM and LLTM
MTM and LLTM has been instrumental over the years in facilitating meaningful business interactions between corporate purchasers and travel-service providers, leading to remarkable transactions and valuable leads. The overwhelming support received by MTM and LLTM underscores the significance of the MICE, luxury, and leisure segment, both domestically and internationally, while highlighting its vast untapped potential.
MTM and LLTM showcased its unique Reverse Marketplace Duo, which enabled Exhibitors to meet exclusive Corporate Purchasers and do business through one-on-one meetings.
MTM and LLTM brought into play two premium Reverse Marketplace Sessions. The first session had over 30+ pre-qualified Corporate Buyers from all over India — from corporate hubs in cities, such as Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Pune — sitting in exclusive meetings with exhibitors. The Second Session comprised a different set of 30+ pre-qualified Corporate Buyers from the host city of Mumbai.
Reverse MarketPlace: Standout feature of MTM and LLTM
This standout feature of MTM and LLTM where over 60 esteemed corporate VIP buyers occupy the other side of the table creates exclusive sessions that enable sellers to establish face-to-face connections with VIP buyers, fostering mutually beneficial relationships and creating avenues for future collaborations.
The event went on with an impactful Business Day, where participants embarked on a productive journey through a Reverse MarketPlace session. With VIP corporate buyers flying 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 set the stage for fruitful partnerships and opened new avenues for collaboration.
The occasion marked a rush of corporates. Some of the top companies who attended were Pfizer, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Group, Titan Company, Kirloskar Brothers, Godrej & Boyce Mfg., Accenture, VE Commercial Vehicles, Tata Communications, Adobe Systems India, Ashok Leyland, Ather Energy, Panasonic Life Solutions, Tata Consulting Engineers, FIS Global, Welspun Group, Matrimony.com, ACG Worldwide, NTT Data Global Delivery, Macrotech Developers (Lodha Group), and many more.
Following a satisfying lunch, the momentum continued with a second Reverse MarketPlace session, introducing fresh 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 had their hands full as they introduced themselves, met, and discussed future business and event proposals from Pan India and the host-city corporate purchasers throughout the day.
The fact that the session was able to bring together so many Corporate decision-makers for one-on-one meetings, that too in a single day, was highly appreciated by the attending delegates. There was a healthy mix of first-time and returning exhibitors, who took full advantage of this unique gathering.
The Exhibitors included players from Hospitality Industry, Travel Agencies, DMCs, Sports and Events companies, Cruise Lines, and National and International Tourism Bodies.
A range of networking events
One of the highlights of the event was the prestigious MTM Star Awards, where leading wedding planners and top corporate companies were recognized and applauded in front of a captivated audience. This esteemed ceremony served as a testament to their outstanding contributions and achievements within the industry.
The constellation of proud awardees in the MTM Star Award category included Corporate Awardees like UltraTech Cement for Best Incentive Programme for Distributors/Dealers; Maddock Films for Best Meeting/Exhibition Programme; HDFC Life Insurance for Best Incentive Programme for Employees/Associates; HDFC Ergo General Insurance for Best Training Programme for Employees/Associates; Sharekhan by BNP Paribas for Most Well-Planned Business Travel.
The MTM and LLTM Star Awards in the Wedding/Event Planner category recognised well-known industry personalities like Iskra Events & Celebrations, We Weddings & Entertainment Hospitality, Saffron Strings, Krayonz Entertainment, Momente Weddings, Kkings Events, The Wedding House and Yolo Events among others.
To conclude the eventful day, participants were invited to the Networking Cocktails and Dinner, creating an ideal platform for exhibitors to further nurture relationships and engage in friendly discussions. Group discussions in the evening brought business networking to another level and valuable partnerships with industry partners were formed from across the country and overseas.
The convivial atmosphere fostered a sense of camaraderie as approximately 100 corporate representatives and wedding planners enjoyed the opportunity to unwind and solidify partnerships, capping off a day filled with productive business meetings.
Towards a sustainable travel world
Small changes can go a long way. Joining hands with the global cause of going plastic-free, MTM and LLTM revamped the conventional exhibition space to a whole new level, by introducing a tabletop format and live LED walls at sponsor exhibitor stalls.
This reduced the usage of flex and plastic at the Exhibition by more than 90 per cent. The new feature provided greater benefits to all Exhibitors, as it offered a more sophisticated look and also doubled up the space for their participation.
A resurgent global wanderlust – Explore new horizons and shape the future of travel & tourism
Against the backdrop of a resurging global wanderlust, the travel industry has experienced an unparalleled surge in activity, with record-breaking tourist arrivals and thriving hospitality businesses. In this climate, MTM and LLTM present unrivalled opportunities for exhibitors to engage with their corporate target audience and achieve their MICE and travel-related business goals.
The sold-out event highlighted the huge impact of the Meetings and Incentive, Luxury, and Leisure industries on our economy. Overall, the event received an outstanding response from all the delegates, who spoke highly of this innovative Corporate business and networking event and thanked the organizers, OptiMICE Events and exclusive media partner Today’s Traveller for putting together this unique corporate platform.
The future of the MICE Market -Poised for incredible growth
MTM and LLTM Travel Exhibition explores the Future of the MICE Market with a deep dive into the current trends and potential of the MICE industry, and learn about innovative solutions to assist in updating its business offer.
The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) market is projected to experience strong growth in the future, with a value of USD 876.42 billion in 2022 and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2023 to 2030. This expansion can be attributed to a variety of factors, including increasing individual spending, global urbanization, and innovation in technology. The market analysis also takes into account potential government and market regulations affecting the industry, ensuring a thorough understanding of market trends.
Recent surveys indicate significant engagement in bleisure travel – roughly 90% of millennials – as well as a trend of turning business travel into vacations to reduce costs. An increased number of business travellers attending corporate events and exhibitions, along with a focus on employee engagement, will continue to drive market growth.
The corporate events industry is experiencing significant growth due to a rise in organization and attendance rates. Asia Paints, for example, hosted a Sales Conference in 2022 which drew over 10,000 attendees from across India. The global market is also seeing growth with an increased number of national and international exhibitions, attracting visitors from around the world.
One such event includes Expo 2020 in Dubai which ran from October 2021 to March 2022, aiming to increase awareness of global issues while celebrating culture, innovation, and cooperation. The meetings event type segment dominated the industry in 2022, accounting for over 41.85% of the overall revenue.
The rising number of business events is driving demand for meetings, including shareholder, management, and general meetings. Destination popularity is also playing a role, with less densely populated tier cities becoming more attractive, often promoted by local governments offering travel grants to encourage business events.
The incentive travel segment is expected to see the fastest growth during the forecast period due to the surging demand for unique travel experiences among millennials. Organizations offer incentives such as travel rewards to their teams, staff, partners, and affiliates as an expression of support and appreciation, boosting morale. As the number of millennials seeking adventure rises, companies are on the lookout for easily accessible destinations that offer excitement and intrigue.
The Asia Pacific region currently leads the industry, accounting for over 44.30% of revenue in 2022, and is forecasted to maintain its dominance with the fastest CAGR, benefiting from its status as one of the world’s fastest-developing regions. The growth of the MICE sector can accelerate economic growth, regional collaboration, and intellectual progress, fueled by the rise of SMEs, globalization of businesses and the expansion of corporate industries, and the transformation of business travel into leisure travel, rapid urbanization, and rising disposable incomes.
Europe is forecasted to experience the second-fastest growth rate from 2023 to 2030. As the MICE events increase in Europe, resorts in the region are adapting to specialized MICE hotel locations and services, allowing them to take advantage of the expanding regional market with a positive impact on enterprises, communities and destinations.
About MTM and LLTM Travel Exhibition – The Premier Platform for Showcasing MICE, Luxury & Leisure Travel
The MTM and LLTM Travel Exhibition (MICE Travel Mart and Luxury & Leisure Travel Mart) is a highly anticipated bi-annual event that brings together the most influential Corporate MICE travel purchasers in India. As a premier platform for showcasing products and connecting with key decision-makers, the exhibition has successfully facilitated numerous business transactions and has played a significant role in the growth of the MICE, luxury, and leisure segments.
MTM & LLTM exhibition explores newer options, enriches all MICE Luxury & Leisure players with new ideas, and builds an endearing bond between the travel service providers, and corporates.
About OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd – Professional Meeting & Event Planning
OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd, specialize in creating custom events and meeting experiences that bring tangible value to corporate buyers. The company’s team of dedicated professionals helps to create a dedicated platform for forging alliances for planning successful MICE activities throughout the year and beyond.
Established in 2010, OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd has a singular objective: to bridge the gap between corporate buyers, tourism destinations, and travel service providers. The company’s goal is to facilitate high-quality meetings and foster business networking that yield a strong return on investment (ROI).
As pioneers in the Indian market, OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd has made significant strides in the corporate MICE and Business Travel segment. The company’s extensive reach and excellent reputation with corporate entities throughout India have solidified its position as an industry leader.
Through the company’s media arm, Today’s Traveller, one of the oldest travel magazines in India, OptiMICE Events has cultivated strong relationships with end consumers and major travel trade associations such as TAAI, TAFI, OTOAI, NIMA, EETA, IATO, and EEMA. This network further enhances the company’s ability to connect with key players in the travel industry.
Under the guidance of Kamal Gill, a highly experienced industry veteran with over three decades of expertise and renowned travel writing credentials, the company has achieved remarkable success. Kamal is the Founder and Executive Editor of Today’s Traveller and the Director of OptiMICE Events Pvt. Ltd.
With more than 13 years of experience organizing trade shows and niche events, OptiMICE has successfully executed various exhibitions for the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality industries. The company takes pride in being at the forefront of promoting MICE destinations and products to the Corporate world, the Film fraternity, and FIT & Leisure buyers.
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