The March Marketplace (MAMA) will take place on 16th and 17th of March 2015. This is the 7th year that ETOA has organised a UK & Ireland workshop. It is already set to have a record number of branded inbound operators represented and attending. The number of buying companies registered is already more than 100% up on this time last year. We have purchasing managers for such leading brands as ACIS/AIFS (UK), ANA Sales, ANA Corporate, Brendan Vacations, Contiki, Cosmos, Europamundo Vacaciones, Gate 1, Globus, Go West, Grand European Tours, HIS, Insight Vacations, JTB, Newmarket Holidays, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, Shearings Holidays, Trafalgar, Superbreak and Cox & Kings.
Martine Ainsworth-Wells of ETOA said, “I think what is attracting them is the fact that we are having two specific days concentrating on distinct areas of appeal: we have one day devoted to London, and another day concentrating on regional UK and Ireland. This enables the big contracting organisations to deploy their specialised buyers, and for them to know that they will get suppliers relevant to their needs. They are particularly interested in new product: experiences and accommodation that enable them to differentiate their offer.”
The format of MAMA remains the same: buyers will stay seated, those who wish to sell to them will move around according to pre-set appointments. Buyers attending have a combined purchasing power of over £1 billion and represent over 35 markets worldwide.
Paul Wagner, Purchasing Director at JTB Travel Plaza Europe said, “Japan is an origin market which has a long tradition of interest in both London and regional UK. One of the defining characteristics of the Japanese is the depth and variety of their cultural sophistication: we have people interested in everything from Harry Potter (and Beatrix Potter) to Golf, Single Malts and Northampton-made shoes. They also require the very best in accommodation. MAMA is a perfect workshop in which we can explain to a variety of suppliers what we need.”
“We bring tens of thousands of American visitors over here,” said Tristram Yarde-Leavett, Managing Director. “We show them the enormous cultural and scenic riches of the UK and Ireland. Globus and Cosmos have attended the UK and Ireland events organised by ETOA for over seven years. Whilst we have over 50 years of purchasing experience, we are always open for information and interesting products. We find it an excellent forum to discover what is new and to renew contacts with existing suppliers.”
Tom Jenkins, CEO of ETOA, said “Whilst wholesalers represent the bulk of travel trade buying in the UK, the branded operators who sell directly to consumers are a vital component in MAMA. I am delighted that so many volume operators who sell directly to consumers throughout the world are appearing in force.”
March Marketplace (MAMA) (16-17 March 2015) is a B2B workshop which enables UK & Ireland regions to meet and contract with international tour operators, wholesalers and OTAs. The event consists of two days:
Day 1 – UK & Ireland
Day 2 – London
• One day devoted to UK & Ireland, one to London
• UK & Ireland suppliers meet with proven travel buyers, both international and domestic
• £1bn purchasing power
• More than 35 origin markets represented
• Up to 64 pre-scheduled meetings over 2 days
• Brand new bespoke appointment management system
Register now at ma-ma.travel
