Over 1,000 Travel Industry Professionals including Buyers from global markets and Suppliers from every Latin America Country attended the 35th Annual TravelMart LatinAmerica in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, September 11-13. About 7,000 appointments between Buyers and Suppliers were pre-scheduled for this leading industry event, and many more were arranged “on-site” during the two days of business sessions.
Close to 300 “Buyers” from global markets met with “Suppliers” from every Latin America Country during the three days of carefully structured business and social activities. The focal point of TravelMart LatinAmerica is the two days dedicated exclusively to pre-scheduled business appointments at the modern and spacious CentroSul Convention Center. Other activities included a Welcome Reception at the Costao do Santinho Resort & Spa sponsored by SANTUR (Santa Catarina Turismo), sponsored lunches during the business sessions, and the Closing/Farewell Reception hosted by SANTUR.
TravelMart LatinAmerica was first held in Lima 1978, and this was the fifth time since the inaugural that this prestigious business development Event for Latin America tourism returned to Brazil. TravelMart LatinAmerica was last held in Salvador, Bahia in 1988, Manaus in 1996, Fortaleza in 2000, and Foz do Iguacu in 2004. Last year’s TravelMart LatinAmerica was held in Lima, Peru.
This year’s TravelMart LatinAmerica was sponsored by a long list of distinguished travel industry Leaders including: Santa Catarina Turismo (SANTUR), EMBRATUR, TAM, Florianopolis Convention and Visitors Bureau, ABETA, Metropolitan Touring, Turismo Cartagena de Indias, The Ecuador Ministry of Tourism, Quito Turismo, Tren Ecuador, TripAdvisor, STR Global, Delta Air Lines, Rainforest Alliance, and Mercado & Eventos Brazil.
Many of the TravelMart LatinAmerica delegates visited tourism sites throughout Santa Catarina and Brazil by taking special Pre and Post Tours organized by ABETA and SANTUR. SANTUR also provided complimentary Florianopolis City Tours. TAM Airlines, the Official TravelMart LatinAmerica Airline, and other participating airlines including American Airlines, AviancaTaca, Copa Airlines, and LAN Airlines offered discounted air fares to participating delegates.
Irma Coleman, President & CEO of William H. Coleman, Inc., the TravelMart LatinAmerica organizing company, said: “We are very excited about bringing TravelMart LatinAmerica to Florianopolis. For many TravelMart LatinAmerica Buyers and Suppliers this is the first opportunity for them to personally experience everything that the Santa Catarina area can offer their clients.” Mrs. Coleman also added: “It has been a delight for us to have the support of the Santa Catarina Host Committee dedicated professionals who have been working very hard for almost two (2) years to make this Event successful. And, we are delighted to be back in Brazil, one of the world’s most exciting tourism destinations.”
TravelMart LatinAmerica is produced and managed by William H. Coleman, Inc., an international events management firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, USA with offices in Toronto, Canada, and London, England. Next Year’s TravelMart LatinAmerica 2012 will be held in Cartagena, Colombia, at the new Hotel Las Americas Convention Center, September 12-14.
TravelMart LatinAmerica, sales@whcoleman.com, www.travelmartlatinamerica.com