The 25th World Travel Market (Monday 8- Thursday 11 November 2004, London�s ExCeL) will feature a brand new zone dedicated to training, qualifications and personal professional development.

The Skills Zone is being organised jointly by The Institute of Travel and Tourism and City and Guilds, UK.

It is part of a major �Wise Up @ World Travel Market� programme, aimed at providing agents with the most extensive and comprehensive range of key educational opportunities ever offered to agents at the event, particularly on Thursday 11 November.

The new area will provide World Travel Market with a fresh focal point for human resource related issues.

One of the prime drivers for the creation of the Zone is to encourage travel agents to attend, especially on the last day of the event.

Group Exhibition Director, Fiona Jeffrey said:� �Wise Up @ World Travel Market� is the first step in an ambitious but highly practical new development in which we are working with consortia, national tourist boards and respected organisations such as ITT and City and Guilds to offer agents what they really want in order to progress in their careers. This is just the first step of a long-term programme, using independent research and focus groups to understand and deliver the right services at the right time.

�The Skills Zone will have lots to attract the travel agent, and especially the front line consultant. There will be practical workshops which will focus on profit development and the chance to use a visit to World Travel Market to gain a City & Guilds accredited qualification.

�We believe the zone will also provide a focus for a whole range of Human Resource specialists who may not currently believe that the event is really for them.�

ITT Chairman Steven Freudmann believes that the Skills Zone will attract a new type of visitor to World Travel Market. He said: �HR and people development issues are implicit in much of World Travel Market but this is the first time something will be created dedicated to personal professional development.�

Two Zones

There will be two complementary elements to the Zone:

Zone One will be an important part of the main exhibition. It will provide an opportunity for HR and training managers, travel agency managers and consultants, to talk to training providers, awarding organisations and other specialists. It will include a continual demonstration of on-line training packages as well as video and DVD support material.

Zone Two will be situated in one of ExCeL�s Cityside function rooms and will feature a continuous programme of seminars and workshops.

On the first two days, with exclusive access to Meridian Club members � international buyers - the programme will be strategic in nature, aimed at senior management within the industry.

On Wednesday and Thursday, when the event is open to Meridian Club members, other trade professionals and agents, the programme will be geared towards area managers, branch managers and front line staff in travel agencies, tour operators and call centres.

There will also be an opportunity for travel agents and others selling insurance to sit free the ABTA/City & Guilds accredited Level One insurance examination.

For further information on �Wise Up @ World Travel Market� telephone Jane Larcombe at +44 (0) 1892 785071 or email jane@janelarcombecommunications.com

For further information on the ITT/City and Guilds programme telephone Peter Holyoake on +44 (0)1256 421410 or email peter@phprandmarketing.co.uk

4 August 2004

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET PICTURE LIBRARY

High resolution World Travel Market pictures can be accessed speedily and efficiently via the online World Travel Market Picture Library. � Log on to www.wtmlondon.com � Click on Press & PR on left hand side of screen and then click to enter library. When prompted, please key in your name and company for our records. � You will find a wide selection of logos, general views and specific pictures with captions, depicting aspects of the event. These will be regularly updated. � Click on the thumbnail of your choice to see a larger version of the picture � Click on the download button in the left margin � Save as a jpg. file � Open the file after saving to your system.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Reed Travel Exhibitions is part of Reed Exhibitions Ltd. who organise over 430 events in 32 countries, serving 49 different industries in 13 key sectors, attracting over 90,000 exhibiting companies and more than 4 million visitors every year.

2. As a member of the Reed Elsevier plc group, the world-leading business and information provider, Reed Exhibitions is unique in offering integrated market access programmes covering exhibitions, trade publications, direct marketing and the Internet. Reed Elsevier�s business titles are closely linked with Reed�s exhibition activities across both geographic and industrial markets. It also has a growing portfolio of electronic publishing and information services, including LEXIS-NEXIS, the world�s leading provider of on-line information services and management tools.

3. Reed Travel Exhibitions organise 13 events worldwide, including World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, C.I.S. Travel Market, EIBTM, British Travel Trade Fair, Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME), International Golf Travel Market, Top Resa, Mediterranean Travel Fair, ICCA Exhibition, in association with the ICCA Congress, International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), La Cumbre and Latin American & Caribbean Incentive & Meetings Exhibition (LACIME).

4. For further press information, please visit the Reed Travel Exhibitions� website on www.reedtravelexhibitions.com