Travel Entrepreneur Claude Blanc Takes the Helm at WTM Portfolio

World Travel Market 2018, ExCeL London -The team. Photo Source: WTM London

Travel industry entrepreneur Claude Blanc has been appointed director of the WTM Portfolio, owned by leading exhibition organizer Reed Exhibitions.

Claude Blanc

WTM Portfolio includes the World Travel Market (WTM) London, Travel Forward, the International Travel & Tourism Awards, WTM Africa, Arabian Travel Market and WTM Latin America.

With extensive experience at major brands and startup ventures, Claude has an impressive track record of more than 25 years in top management roles across the travel trade and hospitality industry.

Until recently, Claude was Chief Executive Officer at Paris-based Travel & Co, a tour operating group he founded in 2007.

Before that, he was Digital Travel Director at TUI Group, and has held senior posts with a leading online travel agency in France; travel management company Rosenbluth International, and timeshare exchange company RCI.

He has also worked with successful French travel startups such as Karavel-Promovacances and Orchestra.

“I joined WTM, as I have sold my company and I felt too young to retire. I was looking for a new, exciting challenge, and I found it within Reed Travel Exhibitions,” Claude said.

“Having been a sponsor, an exhibitor and a visitor at many travel trade shows, I bring a client perspective, an international network and a digital culture. I would like to make WTM Portfolio the best business, brand and ‘brain booster’ marketplace for the travel industry,” he added.

World Travel Market 2018, ExCeL London -The team. Photo Source: WTM London

Claude hailed the brand’s flagship event WTM London 2018 as the most successful edition yet. Held during November 5-7, it attracted 51,409 delegates, including a record 32,642 visitors, and hosted around 1 million meetings, generating around £3 billion in industry deals.

Claude will report to Reed Travel Exhibitions Divisional Director Nick Pilbeam.