Unicomm and the Los Angeles Times have agreed to join forces to
create a new consumer travel show in the Los Angeles area. The two
companies will co-produce the Los Angeles Times Travel Show with
the Adventures in Travel Expo and Luxury Show at the Long Beach
Convention Center Jan. 27-29, 2006.
“Combining the 10-year track record of Los Angeles Times Travel
Show with the established Adventures in Travel Expo and Luxury Show
will result in a far more diverse and dynamic event. It will enable
us to offer three shows in one: adventure, luxury and traditional
leisure travel,” said George Stewart, senior manager, Creative
Advertising Group at the Los Angeles Times
In the past, the Los Angeles Times Travel Show has featured more
than 1,000 travel-related companies and attracted more than 74,000
attendees and 5,000 travel agents.
Unicomm currently produces the Adventures in Travel Expo and
Luxury Shows in six U.S. markets that include Chicago, New York and
Washington D.C. According to Unicomm’s CEO, John Golicz, this will
be a chance to move the show into the L.A. market.
L.A. Times Travel Show
“If ever there was an ideal pairing for an exposition, this is
certainly it,” said Golicz. “Not only does this make perfect sense
from a business standpoint, but also in terms of the value of what
we’ll now be able to offer exhibitors and travel consumers.”
The event will combine the best of both the Los Angeles Times
Travel Show and the Adventure in Travel Expo and Luxury Shows all
in one show floor. Rather than being destination based, the show
will be activity based, and different pavilions will house assorted
categories of travel.
Under the agreement, Unicomm will manage event logistics and
exhibit sales, while the Times will develop programming for panel
and workshop sessions.
According to Stewart, topics will be as diverse as the show
floor. Programming will offer travel education about all types of
travel leisure, luxury and adventure and will feature sessions
focusing on ‘Cultural Journeys: Creating Travel Experiences’ and
the latest trends in luxury travel.
Highlighting the program will be forums with travel experts
Peter Greenberg and Rick Steves. In addition, the entertainment
provided at the show will reflect cultural diversity.
The event will target agents and consumers as well as meeting
and event planners.
“The programming and entertainment is developed with both trade
and consumer in mind,” said Stewart.
According to Stewart, dedicated trade hours and programming will be
scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, 2006. Trade hours include an
exclusive travel agent breakfast. Trade-only panels, speakers and
seminars and trade-only show floor hours will be 8 to 11 a.m. For
consumers, show hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 29-30.
When asked how successful he expects the show to be, Golicz
commented, “New York is still the biggest but we think L.A. will be
the second largest with a show floor of 100,000 square feet. It’s
going to look huge.”
www.adventureexpo.com
www.latimes.com/events
