ILTM Cannes 2013 was my first ILTM in Cannes. I had previously been to ILTM Asia in Shanghai in June and was unable to attend ILTM Americas this past September. I normally don’t attend many travel shows or conferences. I generally find them useless for what I am interested in-especially the biggest industry conferences and travel blog shows. However, I find ILTM to be different and very worthwhile. I feel like I have gotten and get a lot out of the conference. Not to mention Cannes isn’t a bad place to hang out for 4 days!

ILTM Cannes is ILTM or the International Luxury Travel Market. It is the original and the show that all the others around the world hatched from. All the largest luxury brands, operators, movers and shakers are all at ILTM Cannes and the French Mediterranean town does a great job in hosting.

I attended ILTM Cannes as hosted VIP media and had set up a bunch of meetings prior to arriving in Cannes. As media, I have access to most aspects of the show including the press briefings in the media center and of course I am free to roam the floor and pop into any of the booths that I choose to visit.

This being my second ILTM, I saw a lot of people whom I met in Shanghai and was able to do the Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio Program for the 4th time. At ILTM Cannes, I also met a ton of new people this year and feel like I really made good contacts all around the globe.

My focus on luxury and adventure travel these days is a perfect fit for ILTM. All the top luxury brands and luxury adventure brands like Mantis Extreme are present and gives me the perfect opportunity to talk to them, hear what they are up to, make contacts and set things up for the following year.

I mention Mantis Extreme as I just was in Antarctica with their affiliate White Desert. They have a lot of experiential properties and camps around the hard to reach parts of the globe. They are also planning on launching a balloon that can enter space in 2015. I am looking to stay tuned on that!

For me, I am always looking to make deals, partnerships and stay at the forefront of International luxury travel. ILTM is the perfect setting for me. I feel like it is big enough to have options and not feel like everyone is watching you but also small enough to get to know people during the day and at the fabulous parties at night.

Let’s face it, the best thing about most industry trade shows are the parties at night. Work hard, play hard is the motto most use and who can argue. After having the same conversations all day, it’s nice to let loose at night and see your colleagues in a different light.

The parties at ILTM Cannes this year were pretty awesome. They ranged from a massive, conference wide party at the Hotel Martinez; which included countless rooms or different music and settings. It was basically like being in Cannes or St. Tropez in the summer indoors in a hotel ballroom in December-not sure if that’s a good thing or not!

However, my favorite party was the final party at the Hotel Majestic. It was an elegant but really fun party worthy of Cannes and its international reputation for great parties and festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival. Believe me, there is a reason all the worlds movie stars like to come to Cannes! Oh and the after-parties up in the suites are pretty fun too!

Cannes is also a great place for a tradeshow because the town and the Croisette (the main drag along the sea) are small enough to walk the whole thing in 30 minutes. I don’t like feeling trapped inside like you might in a big city and the venue is smack in the middle of town.

It’s close to old town where you can walk up to and get the best views of Cannes and a great meal. It is also close enough to all the hotels where you can have off-site meetings or go back to your room if you need something. There are also great little, but very expensive, cafes near the conference venue where you can relax outside with an espresso or cappuccino as one may like to do in France overlooking the sea!

I stayed at the Intercontinental Carlton Hotel during my stay at ILTM Cannes. This is one of the most famous hotels in Cannes and anywhere really. It is the old staple of Cannes and most famous for jewel heists and being the place where Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III met before they were married in nearby Monaco.

It reminded me a bit of the Waldorf Astoria in New York. It is a grand place and very cool to be at but it definitely needs some updating in the rooms. That said, it was still a great spot to stay and the Mediterranean views from my balcony didn’t suck!

So all in all, I had a great time at ILTM Cannes and am looking forward to working with new contacts and following up with old ones. That’s really what trade shows are for. Networking, forming relationships and of course the parties. I just wish all conferences were held in Cannes!

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