At the beginning of December, Kendall had the opportunity to attend the prestigious International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) conference in Cannes, France. Known as the most renowned luxury travel event, ILTM features four full days of one-on-one meetings with top hotels, tour companies, tourism boards, and destination management companies.
Now that Kendall has had some time to recover from the busy event, she’s excited to share her five key takeaways from the conference this week, all part of the behind the scenes work that we undertake to make your trips special.
1. Discovering New Partners
In the travel industry, relationships are everything. While we deeply value our relationships with clients, we also place a high priority on partnerships that enable us to make our clients’ experiences truly special. ILTM is one of the best events for building relationships with new partners we haven’t worked with before. As travel trends evolve, fostering these connections allows us to expand our partnerships and offer clients exciting destinations around the world. Whether it’s connecting with the general manager of a new hotel in Rome or having lunch with the tourism board of an emerging destination, we always leave these events inspired by the growing opportunities we can provide to our clients.
2. Reconnecting
While creating new relationships is vital, nurturing long-standing partnerships is just as important. Behind every itinerary we craft lies a (often lengthy) email thread between us and our in-country suppliers. Not a day goes by without us collaborating on schedules, addressing specific client needs and requests, discussing private tour options, and more. Since many of our partners are based in other countries, events like these provide a rare opportunity to meet face-to-face and further strengthen our partnerships.
3. Staying Up To Date on Trends
With over 10 meetings daily, I had ample opportunities to discuss travel trends with industry colleagues. A key trend is off-season travel and exploring emerging destinations, offering smaller crowds and better value by shifting plans by a month or two, if possible. For those revisiting popular spots like Italy, alternatives such as Slovenia or lesser-known regions within Italy—like Piemonte, the Tuscan coast, or Lazio’s countryside—are worth considering. These discussions help us expand our expertise and confidently craft unique, personalized trips for our clients.
4. Pre ILTM - Paris
Prior to heading down to Cannes for the conference, I had the opportunity to spend the weekend in Paris. Visiting Paris in early December felt absolutely magical, with the city decked out in stunning holiday decorations but without the overwhelming crowds of peak season. I stayed at the Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg, a beautiful hotel which we have a great relationship with. It is perfectly located near iconic landmarks and high-end shopping. One of the highlights of my trip was a food tour arranged by one of our amazing France partners. From visiting local coffee shops to tasting cheeses at a typical French cafe, it was a delicious and immersive way to experience Paris and its hidden culinary gems during the festive season.
5. Post ILTM - Florence
If you’ve spoken with me about an Italy trip, chances are I’ve mentioned that Florence is my favorite city in Italy—perhaps even my favorite in all of Europe. There’s something about Florence that makes me feel at home, and I’ve heard many clients share the same sentiment. During my stay at the Hotel Balestri, a fantastic 4-star option along the Arno River, I had the chance to experience the city in early December. Much like Paris, Florence is beautifully decorated for the holidays, with stunning lights and a nightly light show on the iconic Ponte Vecchio. It was the perfect setting to connect with a few of our trusted Italian partners, capping off a successful week of networking.
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Hi, I'm John, and I'm told I have a cool accent. I absolutely love travel and I am proud to have built a team as passionate about exploring the world as myself. It took me a very long time to align my career with my undeniable passion for exploring, but now I and the team are here for you. Your personal travel tailors - award reservation and luxury custom itinerary experts. We provide a bespoke service, imagining and creating itineraries for independent minded families and groups.
