As the appetite for luxury African travel rebounds strongly, ILTM Africa, the premier luxury travel trade event, returns to Cape Town from April 7-9, offering a unique platform to connect with the industry's top international travel advisers.
Under the theme 'Step Inside ILTM Africa', this invitation-only event hosted at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens will facilitate exclusive face-to-face meetings and networking opportunities between luxury travel brands from across Africa and the Indian Ocean islands with pre-qualified buyers.
With booking platforms reporting a doubling of trips valued at over US$3 800 since 2019, particularly for safari adventures, the demand for luxury African travel is undeniable. ILTM Africa 2024 provides exhibitors with the ideal opportunity to showcase their offerings to this burgeoning market.
Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism & RX Africa Marketing at RX Africa, says: “With three-quarters of attendees having final purchasing power, ILTM Africa enables meaningful sales conversations from the moment you arrive. The event format will also offer ILTM Africa's first-ever TED Talk style presentation of the 2024 Trend Report.”
This year's edition will feature a collection of luxury hotel partners spanning the continent, including The Last Word Hospitality and Southern Sun. High-end local experiences will also be showcased through partners like Cape Town Tourism, Okavango Gin Company and Cape Cobra with interactive activations on the show floor.
Celebrating the destination, the host city of Cape Town will play a starring role. The City of Cape Town's Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says: "We are honoured to welcome the prestigious ILTM Africa back to our world-renowned city. This event aligns perfectly with our focus on driving luxury tourism that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the authentic Cape Town experience."
From a picnic in the Kirstenbosch Gardens hosted by The Diamond Works to Shimansky's ‘A Night of Art and Celebration’ at the Norval Foundation art museum, the exclusive agenda offers ample opportunity for buyers and exhibitors to connect.
Other event sponsors include Spier Resort Management, GOLD Restaurant, Afrikoa Lux Chocolate, Terre Paisible wines, and African Hub. Exhibitors also include Healing Earth, Cape Island, Numuti Drinks and Percy Koji Wines.
The event will also launch the highly anticipated annual Africa Travel Week Trends Report 2024, exploring the biggest shifts impacting luxury African travel like overtourism, culinary experiences, agritourism and more.