WTM London 2019: A round-up of stands and events

Go to the Visit Orlando stand for the chance to win Little Mix gig tickets and get a demo of the brand new Orlando Virtual Tour, which lets you ride a coaster, zip line over alligators, and more.

Also hear about major theme park and hotel expansion plans.

UK travellers have just gained smoother access to Fort Myers & Sanibel thanks to a new United Airlines service between Washington DC and Fort Myers, using Southwest Florida International airport.

There’s tipple-tasting on the Visit Seattle stand this year.

From 16:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday, try craft beers and wines from Washington State. Also ask about the city’s new glass sculpting festival and the latest hotel openings.

In 2020, Palm Springs will debut the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza featuring a museum, art gallery, landscaped gardens, an Oasis Trail with meditation labyrinth and the Agua Caliente Spa and Bathhouse.

Also find out about several upcoming hotels.

Cruise America, the US’s largest RV rental firm, has added five new international rental locations: Bozeman in Montana, Charlotte in North Carolina, New York East (Long Island), and Nashville and Baton Rouge in Louisiana.

Meet West Ham United players on the Experience Kissimmee stand on 5 November as the destination continues its partnership with the club, with special offers for fans.

Hear about Kissimmee’s many villas and easy theme park access.

Find out what’s covered by the two newest US Sightseeing Passes – for the Smoky mountains and historic Fort Lauderdale.

The Pass now also features London and Malaga.

Find out about new agent training and roadshows.

News from the destination includes the first Tiger Woods- designed public golf course opening in the Ozark mountains next year, and the centenary of prohibition.

In 2020 New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrates 150 years since its opening with a host of special exhibitions and events.

Highlights include the opening of the newly renovated British Galleries. Pick up a famous artwork lapel pin at the stand.

Meet a WWE wrestler on the stand as Tampa Bay celebrates Wrestlemania365 arriving in April.

Next year will also bring the world’s tallest, fastest hybrid rollercoaster to Busch Gardens and an expanded manatee rehabilitation area, reopening at ZooTampa.

The first stages of the $1.5 billion Manchester Pacific Gateway development are expected to open in 2020, transforming San Diego’s port district into a waterfront plaza with two hotels, shopping, dining and entertainment. Discover more on the stand.

Nashville will be promoting the arrival of the new National Museum of African American Music – the first of its kind in the US – in 2020.

Also learn about hotel developments in some of Music City’s cool emerging neighbourhoods.

As Great Lakes celebrates the Ryder Cup coming to Wisconsin in September 2020, have a go at the on-stand golf putting competition for a chance to win the ultimate road trip essentials kit, including a satnav, water bottle and portable phone charger.

The new Great Lakes USA guide will be launched at 14:00 on Tuesday.

The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster is among the new shows opening on Broadway in 2020.

Find out how to book your clients to see this and multiple other shows at one of more than 100 venues owned by GSBO.

MoMA opened new galleries in October along with a flagship MoMA store, a restaurant and a state-of-the-art performance studio.

Its new street-level galleries are free to the public. There’s also a space to create your own art at the gallery.

This will be the first time Discover Puerto Rico – the island’s newly formed destination marketing organisation – has attended WTM London.

Learn about the island’s recovery two years on from Hurricane Maria and the opening of the District San Juan entertainment area.

The World Heritage City of Philadelphia will be promoting its history, art, culture and tax-free shopping.

New tourism developments in 2019 have included the openings of Four Seasons Philadelphia, Fashion District Philadelphia and the new Bourse food hall.

In 2020, the city will welcome new W and Element hotels.

Visit the stand to check out the new Destination Canada branding “For Glowing Hearts”, which will help the country market tourism experiences that “transform and move” people.

Also learn about new flight routes.

New Ontario hotel openings include the boutique Drake Motor Inn in Prince Edward County, featuring art and photography installations; and the new four-star Delta Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay on the city’s waterfront.

Club Med is opening its first resort in North America in Quebec’s Charlevoix region.

The $120 million all-inclusive Club Med Mountain Resort will be located in Le Massif, offering outdoor action year-round, including winter skiing. Also find out about foodie and cultural news.

Club Med is opening its first resort in North America in Quebec’s Charlevoix region.

The $120 million all-inclusive Club Med Mountain Resort will be located in Le Massif, offering outdoor action year-round, including winter skiing. Also find out about foodie and cultural news.

Montreal’s Old Port has a spectacular new pyramid-shaped attraction created by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte.

PY1 houses a multi-sensory experience using state-of-the-art technology. Among hotel news, Four Seasons has a new offering in The Golden Square Mile.

From 29 March 2020 Air Canada will begin operating its Ottawa to Heathrow route with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, increasing capacity on the route by 20% and giving passengers a wider choice of cabins, including premium economy.

Air Europa’s UK team will be out in force at WTM London to promote its 24 Latin American destinations, plus the US.

Learn about the airline’s UK flight connections, its new business class and its fourth Brazilian destination, Fortaleza, launching in December.

Legendary Antiguan cricketer Sir Viv Richards will be on the Antigua and Barbuda stand throughout the show.

Learn about the island’s latest openings and hotels in the pipeline that will add more than 2,000 rooms by 2021. The new rooms include the destination’s first overwater bungalows.

Meet cricket legends Sir Gary Sobers and Desmond Haynes on Monday and Tuesday and taste some Bajan flavours between 14:30 and 15:30 daily.

Hear more about how by using next year’s theme, “Vision 2020: We Gatherin”, Barbados is calling overseas Barbadians back to visit.

Elegant hotels has news in five Caribbean resorts, including Tamarind becoming a gastronomic all-inclusive property and an Elemental Herbology Spa opening at Colony Club.

Drop your business card in for a chance to win Grenadian organic tree-to-bar chocolate in draws at 15:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The island continues its luxury push with the opening of Royalton Grenada and Kimpton Kawana Bay in 2020.

Elite Island Resorts will be celebrating the launch in December of its newest property, Hammock Cove, a 40-villa adults-only retreat in Antigua.

Also learn about its latest fitness additions, including the W8 GYM programme by singer Fleur East.

There’s a chance to win a three-night stay when you learn about the new Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos.

Also hear about the Punta Cana property’s new bowling alley and water park, and Cirque de Soleil appearing next year.

Jamaica will be launching a marketing campaign to coincide with the spring launch of new James Bond film No Time To Die, which was shot on the island.

New accommodation includes H10 Resorts & Hotel, opening next month.

Win three nights at the five-star, adults-only all-inclusive Unico 2087 Riviera Maya in a stand prize draw and hear about its new gin bar and wedding and romance packages.

This little-known destination is working with the industry to raise its profile. There’s an invite-only, meet-and-greet drinks on Tuesday afternoon.

Email guyana@wearelotus.co.uk if interested.

Enjoy daily chocolate tasting and entertainment from a steel- pan musician and singer on Tobago’s stand.

There will also be a goody-bag prize giveaway, on Wednesday between 11:00 to 13:00 and again from 15:00 to 16:30.

Join a cocktail party on Tuesday at 16:00 hosted by Cata, the international non-profit organisation that promotes multi-destination travel to the seven nations of Central America plus the Dominican Republic.

Discuss the latest happenings, including the new Maya Route.

Peru will be hosting its popular pisco sour hour on-stand cocktail and canape reception daily from 12:00 to 13:00 and again from 17:00 to 18:00, starting with live cooking demonstrations.

Hear about new hotels, responsible tourism, gastronomy, archaeological sites and adventure travel.

The tourism board for Chile will be promoting off- the-beaten track adventures, the growing astrotourism trend ahead of the total solar eclipse in 2020, and new sustainable tourism initiatives.

There will also be food and wine-tasting every day from 12:30 to 13:00 and again from 15:30 to 16:30.

Drop by for a Costa Rican coffee and hear the destination’s latest plans for the UK market, the special focus on the recently launched National Decarbonisation Plan and the supporting tourism strategy.

Also discover product that ties in with the island’s ongoing wellness theme.

BUENOS AIRES TOURISM BOARD (LA450)

Buenos Aires will be promoting its “We Are Portenos” campaign, which showcases the people that make the city with themes such as art and culture; literary links; food, drink and nightlife; and festivals and events.

Also find out also why UK arrivals to the city are booming.

Visitors to Colombia’s stand can try local coffee, take part in a graffiti activity to find out more about the city of Medellin and bust some moves at a silent disco.

Agents can also find out about the destination’s focuses, which include community tourism, sustainability and music.

Visitors can make their own street art at WTM London’s first interactive graffiti wall.

Meet South Africa guides Charles Ncube and former Masterchef contestant Abigail Mbalo (pictured) to learn about sustainable township tourism. Drop in for wine-tasting from 17:00 daily.

Drop a business card at the stand for a chance to win a holiday.

Find out about tourism trends in Hurghada, the opening of new hotel Mesca at the end of this year and expanding golf facilities in the resort.

Peak has just achieved its goal of doubling its number of female tour leaders six months earlier than planned, mainly in countries where tour leading is seen as “unsuitable” for women.

Find out about its women-only tours with Intrepid Travel at the stand.

Rahisi Tours, founded by an ex-TV journalist, aims to expand the market for accessible tourism in Kenya.

With 15% of the world experiencing some kind of disability, the operator believes there’s an opportunity for accessible safaris.

Gambia has embarked on a massive $14 million renovation of its international airport to improve, expand and add more services.

Find out about this, new beach hotels and why thousands of Brits holiday in the West African nation.

Learn more about Tunisia’s thalassotherapy centres, marinas, 10 golf courses and eight Unesco sites, plus how the destination boasts the biggest mosaic collection in the world and the oldest casbah in Africa.

For a chance to win a prize, head for happy hour at 16:00 on Monday.

Taiwanese snacks will be served and the TTB director and partners will speak.

Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same- sex marriage this year and Wendy Wu Tours has introduced three Taiwan itineraries for 2020-2021.

Tourism Malaysia will launch a “20 in 20” initiative for the UK trade at WTM London, with 20 agent incentives next year designed to boost engagement and bookings.

It is part of the plans for Visit Malaysia Year 2020 as the destination seeks to welcome 30 million tourists.

TAT will share some famous Thai hospitality at WTM London.

Pick up a Fairtrade Peang Thai coffee daily at the stand and drop in for happy hour on Tuesday from 16:00 to network over Thai beer, wine, cocktails and canapes.

Look out too for food demonstrations and tastings on the stand.

Drop in during the Vietnam Airlines happy hour for unlimited beer from 17:00 on Monday. Try Vietnamese paper art and traditional coffee.

Learn about the new Bali and Phuket routes, plus the airline’s plans to add Los Angeles and Perth.

Indonesia’s stand will feature handy pick-me-ups in the form of coffee and tipples from a mixologist.

There will also be a henna counter, carnival performances from 10:00 to 14:00 and traditional dance performances from 17:00 to 18:00.

Find out about the ministry’s 10 new Bali destinations that have been earmarked to spread tourism further in the archipelago.

Try on a real kimono from Kyoto DMC Hotel and Experience on the Japan stand and post a selfie of you wearing it online to be in with a chance of winning a three-night stay for two at Kyoto Traveler’s Inn.

Tag #KimonoKyoto and @kyototravellersinn on Instagram, or @kyoto.travellersinn on Facebook.

Fresh from hosting the Rugby World Cup, Japan is looking ahead to further sporting action.

It will invite stand visitors to learn about its increasing number of ski resorts as well as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. You can also taste sake, Japanese tea and sweets at the stand.

Asia Pacific specialist Tour East has launched e-books and a newsletter to help sell its Asia and Pacific destinations.

Both tools are designed to guide the trade through the plethora of information offered online, using Tour East’s expert insights on experiences, hotels and promotions.

Okinawa in Japan comprises 160 islands. Find out about a wave of new luxury hotels that have opened on its Miyako islands in the past year.

Also discover how it is the home of karate – which becomes an official Olympic sport in 2020 – and how visitors can join events and classes.

Agents will have the chance to win a holiday and experience the islands via a VR experience.

Visitors can also enjoy music and snacks.

Also ask about the destination’s new hotels and UK airlift.

On the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority stand, Sun Resorts will show off renovations to five-star Sugar Beach Mauritius on the island’s west coast, as well as the flagship Long Beach Mauritius at Belle Mare, where additions include a Rum Academy experience where guests are greeted with rum cocktails and a live DJ.

Find out about the resort’s continuing $20 million renovation, which will add a refurbished spa on a private island with multiple pools, gardens and a private yoga area.

New three-day spa packages are also available and the whole resort has been refurbished to give it a more Maldivian feel.

The Westin has recently introduced a different wellness focus for each month, with specialist practitioners visiting the resort for different themes.

December’s theme is inner healing. It offers a wide range of wellness activities in its spa and fitness centre.

Meet the Moomins on Visit Finland’s stand, along with suppliers and partners.

Hear about the new Sustainable Travel Label, which makes it easier to recognise responsible tourism companies and places, and speak to Finnair about its new direct flights from Heathrow via Helsinki to Sapporo.

Enjoy a taste of Slovenia with daily trade brunch parties featuring cuisine from a world-class chef to celebrate new marketing and tourism initiatives for 2020 with a gastronomy theme.

The destination will also be talking about its new circular Julian Alps Trail, responsible tourism and luxury boutique properties.

Israel has a smoothie stand, a pub, tech exhibitors’ area and a “cash cube”, where you can try to win prizes daily between 10:00 and 17:00. Drop by on Monday and Tuesday for wine tastings (13:00 to 14:00) and chef demos (12:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 15:00).

Poland has 40 raffle prizes on offer to celebrate 40 years of WTM London.

Try your luck during happy hour from 15:00 on Tuesday and learn about the lesser- known sides to the country’s famous cities and regions, as well as a new Baltic coast cycle route.

Catch happy hour from 16:00 on Monday and Tuesday to find out about the board’s new promotional campaign and hear about St Michael’s Cave, which uses mapping technology to tell stories about the destination’s history.

Catalonia will be promoting the Year of Sports Tourism 2020, encouraging tourists to catch events including the 100th annual La Volta cycling race and to try canoeing, swimming, motor sports and mountain biking.

CzechTourism will present a new stand for their 2020 campaign celebrating castles and alternative cities.

Find out about two new Unesco World Heritage sites: the Krusnohori mining region and horse breeding centre the National Stud Farm in Kladruby nad Labem.

The Balearic Islands archipelago of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera will highlight the projects funded by the sustainable tourism tax.

Register at balaearicislands@wearelotus.co.uk to catch a presentation about the stand at 10:30 on Tuesday.

Join the Iceland team from 13:00 to 15:00 on Wednesday for a virtual reality immersion that will take you beyond the well-known attractions, with the chance to experience the island’s exciting horse corral.

Also learn about the new Arctic Coast Way and the lesser-visited areas of the west, Westfjords, the north and the east.

Spain’s leading hotel company will be showcasing its expansion with three new hotels announced for 2020 in Sicily and Menorca.

This follows the opening of three new hotels in 2019: Bless Hotel Madrid, Bless Hotel Ibiza and Palladium Hotel Costa del Sol.

Parc Asterix will celebrate the launch of new accommodation les Quais de Lutece, opening in 2020. This year the French theme park marked its 30th anniversary and added a 4D cinema.

It is also extending its Christmas festivities.

Drop a business card at the Pegasus booth on the Turkey stand for a chance to win one of two flights on any of its 111 routes to Turkey and beyond.

The budget carrier has this year added three new destinations – Manchester, Venice and Ras Al Khaimah.

Find out more about the destination’s sports hub The Campus – for professionals and enthusiastic amateurs, opened a year ago.

Its second phase has added a family-friendly restaurant, which screens games and hosts live music.

Learn about the launch of the Malta Tourism Authority’s first comprehensive trail booklet for tourists.

Next year is also the year of sustainability for Malta, building on the success of recent initiatives such as summer music festival Summerdaze reducing waste by at least 70%.

Rabbie’s European Trails will take guests off the beaten track in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland.

In the UK, new tours for 2020 will explore the country’s craft beer, wine and gin.