GTM 2011 – Greeting GNTB

Dear colleagues,

Welcome to the GTM Germany Travel Mart™ (GTM) 2011. Between 8 and 10 May 2011, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) will be hosting the 37th GTM in Cologne along with Köln Tourismus GmbH and Tourismus & Congress GmbH Region Bonn/Rhein-Sieg/Ahrweiler. The two-day workshop, which forms the main element of the world's largest B2B marketplace for inbound tourism in Germany, will take place at the exhibition centre in Cologne. It will be the sixth time that buyers from all over the world descend on the Cologne/Bonn region to find out from the around 350 exhibitors about Destination Germany's latest products and services as well as about trends and developments in Germany's incoming tourism industry.

This year's GTM will focus in particular on the 'health & wellness’ theme for 2011, which is divided into three main areas: 'spas and health resorts', 'wellness and beauty hotels' and 'medical tourism'. According to the 'Quality Monitor' German tourism industry survey, some 40 per cent of international visitors come to Germany for rest and relaxation, while 14 per cent specifically want to enhance their health and fitness – and this number is rising.

Germany will also be showcasing itself as the home of the automobile to tie in with the 125th anniversary of the car. Visitors to the country will be able to experience its passion for sport under the banner 'THE BEAUTIFUL SIDE OF 20ELEVEN!™' – the official slogan of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011™, which will take place in nine German cities between 26 June and 17 July 2011. In conjunction with its partners, the GNTB will also offer a varied supporting programme of informative and entertaining activities that will present Germany's cities and regions in all their diversity.

We look forward to building on and developing the success of the GTM with you.
See you soon in Cologne and Bonn!

Petra Hedorfer
Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board