After the COVID-19 pandemic pushed last year’s Global Travel Marketplace West (GTM West) online, 98 top-producing travel advisors and a select group of supplier partners were once again able to convene in person for this year’s event, which was held Sept. 17-19, 2021, in Tucson, Ariz.
The event was hosted by sister publications TravelAge West and Travel Weekly and took place at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.
The nearly three-day event featured one-on-one appointments, networking receptions and boardroom presentations in what was “for many, a first reunion with travel industry peers that proved to be emotional and exhilarating,” according to Emily Bookey of Emily’s Travel.
During the event, travel advisors were also able to discuss the state of the industry and strategize about its recovery — while doing business at the same time with the various destinations; tour operators; river and ocean cruise lines; hotels and resorts; and professional services in attendance.
GTM West has always been a place where suppliers and advisors gather to do an impressive amount of business. This year, it’s playing an even larger role in the recovery and reemergence of travel.
“I received bookings for 2022 on my first day here, meaning this has quickly been a success,” said Ramez Salama of High End Journeys, a DMC in Egypt that has not previously attended GTM West. “It’s because everyone is here to do business. Any supplier who is not participating in GTM West is missing out.”
To qualify for the event, travel advisors must have a minimum of $800,000 in annual sales, live in the U.S. or Canada, have a global book of business and provide supplier references.
Another supplier representative, Anthony Cooper of Atlas Ocean Voyages, said he could tell that travel advisors were “eager to learn about various products” and that he believes his company will see a great return on investment.
Throughout the event, Northstar Travel Group worked with the destination of Tucson, the resort and the attendees to follow Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommendations, along with local COVID-19 guidelines.
"GTM West has always been a place where suppliers and advisors gather to do an impressive amount of business,” added Alicia Evanko-Lewis, executive vice president for travel group global events for Northstar Travel Group (the parent company of TravelAge West). “This year, it’s playing an even larger role in the recovery and reemergence of travel.”
Next year, the event will take place from May 2-4, 2022. It will once again be held at The Westin La Paloma in Tucson.
The Details
GTM West
