World Routes Opens in US for First Time

AsiaNet 54516

LAS VEGAS, Oct, 5. 2013/PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    Aviation Industry heads to Las Vegas for world's largest commercial

aviation event

    Around 300 airlines, 750 airports and over 100 destinations are currently

heading to Las Vegas for World Routes, the 19th World Route Development Forum,

to discuss the future of air services across the globe in more than 8,000

pre-arranged face-to-face meetings and three high-profile conferences.

    The world's most important commercial aviation event of its kind will take

place on 5-8 October 2013, co-hosted by Las Vegas Convention & Visitors

Authority (LVCVA) and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. World Routes is

a significant part of the city's strategy to increase air service and attract

more visitors.

    Speaking at the opening media briefing in Terminal 3 of Las Vegas McCarran

International Airport, Nigel Mayes, VP Commercial - Routes, UBM Live said:

"This year World Routes is heading to the United States for the first time. It

is fitting to bring the world's largest commercial aviation event to the one of

the largest conference cities in the world. Las Vegas attracts nearly 40

million visitors a year and I'm pleased we are able to bring some more high

profile visitors to the city. We have over 2,700 aviation decision-makers

attending this year, including almost 150 C-level delegates, which is the

largest core World Routes delegation we have ever had."

    "Las Vegas has evolved to host people, and we are ready to showcase the

energy and excitement of the destination to the world's aviation leaders," said

Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors

Authority. "Las Vegas is the perfect setting to discuss the future of the

industry and delegates attending World Routes will see first-hand the

investment and business activity taking place in the destination."

    "There is no way to replicate the experience that comes with seeing Las

Vegas first-hand, and we cannot wait to share those experiences with World

Routes attendees, beginning from the moment they step off of their flights here

at McCarran International Airport," said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Director of

Aviation for Clark County, Nev. "Over the years we have worked hard to develop

one of the world's most-modern and efficient airports, and we hope this

conference becomes the first of many future visits to Las Vegas for World

Routes attendees and the airlines and organizations they represent."

    Core to the event are the face-to-face meetings which take place between

attending airlines, airports and tourism authorities providing airports and

destinations with the opportunity to discuss their route with the carrier. In

addition, World Routes 2013 will see a number of content streams running

throughout the event which will bring together leaders from across the industry

to participate in discussions that will set the commercial and political agenda

for the industry.

    This Conference Programme includes the World Routes Strategy Summit,

sponsored by Oman Airports Management Company and held in partnership with ICAO

and the World Bank; the World Tourism Summit, sponsored by Brand USA and held

in partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the

International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) and TTG; Invest and Manage

and a programme of Routes Talks.

    High level speakers who have confirmed their participation include Stephen

Attenborough, Commercial Director, Virgin Galactic; Bob Jordan, Executive Vice

President & Chief Commercial Officer, Southwest Airlines & President, AirTran

Airways; Estuardo Ortiz, Chief Operating Officer & Executive VP, AviancaTaca;

Lee McCabe, Head of Travel, Facebook; Christopher L Thompson, President & CEO,

Brand USA; Stephanie Villedrouin, Minister of Tourism, Haiti; Prof. Jack

Kasarda, Director - Centre for Air Commerce, University of North Carolina and

Jaime Daly, CEO, Latin American Airport Holding (LAAH).

    Also taking place during this year's World Routes will be the first meeting

of Caribbean & Indian Ocean Vanilla islands. Chaired by Minister Alain St.

Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture and the

sitting President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands some 40 Tourism Ministers

and CEOs of Island Tourism Destinations from the Caribbean and from the Indian

Ocean Vanilla islands have been invited for a historic meeting of these two

groups known as the Small Island States who are dependent on tourism for their

economy.

    Notes to Editors

    About Routes

    - Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events

      through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year,

      there is one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa,

      Europe, the Americas and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com

    - Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd., a

      consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.

      http://www.asm-global.com

    - Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August

      2010.

      From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference and

      Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.

    - UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across

      five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new

      products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through

      premiere brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami,

      the Concrete Show, the Routes portfolio of events, Airport Cities and

      many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs,

      publications, websites and training and certification programs are an

      integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20

      industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

    Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes,

@NLPROU, @airlineroute

    About UBM Plc

    - UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications

      company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and

      sellers together at events and online, as well as producing and

      distributing news and specialist content. Our 5,500 staff in more than

      30 countries are organised into expert teams which serve commercial and

      professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets

      to work effectively and efficiently.

    - For more information, go to http://www.UBM.com; follow us on Twitter at

      @UBM_plc [http://twitter.com/UBM_plc ] to get the latest UBM corporate

      news; follow @UBMNews for news from all UBM's businesses; follow @UBM

      for a flavour of UBM from selected members of UBM's Twitterati.

    SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd