Now in its third year, Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM), the region's first annual event dedicated to the luxury travel industry, is expecting strong attendance at this year's event in Shanghai in June.

Exhibitors are finding the show more relevant than ever in the current economic climate and not just because of the pressure to make their marketing efforts more effective. 

"This will be Silversea's third year of participation at ALTM. The event is a proven platform to showcase our product to a highly targeted audience," said Steve Odell, Senior Vice President, Silversea Cruises.

"With the difficult economic climate it's even more important to be highly visible, especially as the Asian markets are proving more resilient than others around the world," he added.

ALTM is being held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre from 15-18 June 2009, and brings the most important travel buyers from the Asia Pacific region face to face with the worlds most sought after destinations, ultra-luxurious accommodation, elite transportation and unique travel experiences.

"We have been to many trade shows, and still find ALTM one of the better shows that best represents luxury lifestyle brands with relevant networking opportunities. It's not all glitz but serious business connections have been initiated and developed in the last two years since ALTM started in this region," said Crystal Seah, Director Marketing Communications, COMO Hotels and Resorts.

"In this day of global economic challenges, we have to be even more strategic in our sales efforts and marketing resources, that is why COMO Hotels and Resorts have opted to return and make this event work harder for us in securing successful partnerships."

According to PATA'S Travel Monitor, despite the gloomy global economic outlook, individual source markets to specific inter-regional destinations are continuing to experience growth - one such example is Thailand to Macau. They quantify Asia as a region that accounts for half of the USD80 billion luxury travel industry and is home to over 2.3 millions individuals with a net worth of over USD1million.

MasterCard Insights for Asia Pacific suggest the demand for luxury travel and leisure will continue to make up a large proportion of consumers spending between 2006 and 2016, beaten only by the clothing and personal accessories category.

"ALTM is key for our company as the meeting place for important business connections.  Despite the expected sluggish market this year, we feel that luxury tours will remain strong and it's important to continue to provide new products for this sector" said Mr Yap Fu Fuh, Managing Director, Parlo Tours

ALTM is the sister event of the highly successful International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) held annually in Cannes, France now entering its eighth year.

"The luxury travel market is our main target with the majority of our clients coming from China and Hong Kong so ALTM seems like the perfect fit.  Our clients are constantly on the look out for what is new, unique and ‘luxury' making attendance at ALTM vital for us" said George Kai, Deputy General Manager, China Travel Service.

Exhibitors already committed for ALTM 2009 include Silversea Cruises, COMO Hotels and Resorts, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Jumeirah Hotels, Sina Fine Italian Hotels, Peninsula Hotels, Conde Nast Johansens, Six Senses Resorts & Spas, Design Hotels, Prestige Hotels of the World, Switzerland Tourism, Government of Dubai, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Zacchera Hotels, The Villa Book ltd, Hunt & Palmer Plc, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Orient-Express Hotels Trains and Cruises, Fairmont Raffles Swissotel Hotels and Resorts, Twinpalms Phuket and Shanghai Zendai Himalayas Real Estate.