Travel Industry Boom is Palpable at Global Travel Marketplace West

SECAUCUS, NJ - Travel Weekly and TravelAge West’s annual Global Travel Marketplace West (GTM West) event was held in Tucson, Arizona at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa May 2-4, 2022. The event provided a platform for top-producing travel advisors and global suppliers to come together for two-and-a-half days of one-on-one appointments and networking.

"This year’s event made it evident that travel demand is high and is continuing to soar,” said Alicia Evanko-Lewis, Executive Vice President, Travel Group Global Events, Northstar Travel Group. “The partnerships formed at GTM West will be integral in helping advisors and suppliers capitalize on this surge in travel.”

First-time participant, Majestic Resorts, saw the power of GTM West advisors instantly. “We received bookings from our first day of meetings so we are absolutely confident that we will see a big return on investment from this event,” said Lucien Echavarria, Majestic Resorts. “Advisors are looking for immediate vacation solutions for their clients.”

GTM West hosted 109 travel advisors from the U.S. and Canada who met strict sales qualifications and other application requirements. This vetting process is unique to GTM West, and very attractive to participating suppliers. “GTM West’s vetting process doesn’t really exist in our industry,” said Michael Scott, United Airlines. “The travel advisors that are invited work really hard to come to this event. They’re all highly qualified and they’re from different cuts of the industry. You're meeting luxury travel advisors, people that are focusing on family, or all inclusive. The array of advisors at GTM West is awesome.”

Supplier companies participating represented all facets of the industry including destinations, tour operators, river and ocean cruise lines, hotels and resorts, and professional services. The event was pleased to welcome back a number of supplier representatives based outside of the U.S.

The breadth of suppliers present helps advisors expand their offerings. “GTM has helped me grow my business immensely,” said Kim DalPonte, Pixie Dust & Paradise Travel, Inc. “It’s made me broaden my horizons. I've always focused on family travel, but now I'm doing everything. And I'm rebranding due to GTM so that my clients know I can service all their travel needs. What’s even more special is that suppliers and advisors I’ve met at GTM are helping me with my rebrand.”

Being at GTM West emphasizes the camaraderie of the travel industry and the collective drive to help it reach new heights. “Within my first 24 hours here I immediately felt my overwhelming love for this industry,” said Brittney Hughes, Key to the World Travel. “What I like most about GTM West is the fire that it lights inside of me.”

GTM Wests’ sister event, GTM, will take place July 28-30, 2022 at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale, FL. GTM West moves to the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa in Henderson, NV, July 11-13, 2023. In 2023, GTM will be held at The Diplomat Beach Resort May 4-6. Qualifying travel advisors must have a minimum of $1 million in annual sales for GTM, and $800,000 in annual sales for GTM West, reside in the U.S. or Canada, have a global book of business, and provide supplier references. For more information, please visit www.globaltravelmarketplace.com. For supplier inquiries, please contact Emmy Morales at emorales@travelweekly.com or 201-902-1951.

ABOUT NORTHSTAR TRAVEL GROUP

Northstar Travel Group is the leading B-to-B information and marketing solutions company serving all segments of the travel industry including leisure/retail, corporate/business travel, business and sports meetings, incentives, hospitality, and travel technology.

Northstar is the owner of well-known brands including Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, Travel Weekly China, Business Travel News, Successful Meetings, Meetings & Conventions, Incentive, M&C China, Travel42, Axus Travel App, and Web in Travel. The company produces more than 80 face-to-face events in 13 countries in retail travel, hospitality, corporate travel, travel technology, sports travel, and the meetings & incentive industry. In addition, Northstar owns Phocuswright, the leading research, business intelligence, and event producer serving the travel technology industry.

Northstar Travel Group owns the Burba Hotel Network, the leading producer of hotel investment events globally, including ALIS, the largest hotel investment conference in the world produced with the American Hotel & Lodging Association in Los Angeles each year.

Northstar is also the majority shareholder in Inntopia, the leading SaaS e-commerce software, CRM database marketing and predictive analytics business serving the mountain destination, golf, activities, hospitality, and specialty destination travel markets.

Northstar Travel Group is owned by funds managed by EagleTree Capital.