The Holiday Fair 2024 kicked off on Wednesday with a positive Trade Day. The long-standing optimism in the travel industry (“On the way to best travel year ever”) for the coming financial year was also clearly noticeable among trade visitors and exhibitors of the fair. CEO Jeroen van Hooff of Jaarbeurs announced at the opening that this year’s Vakantiebeurs had approximately 200 more exhibitors: more than 1,000 exhibitors from 100 countries. Last year there were 863 exhibitors. In addition, there were 1,500 square meters more booth space at the fair than in 2023, according to Jaarbeurs. Despite the optimistic mood about the coming summer season, it seemed quieter on the exhibition floor than in previous years. This observation was confirmed from several quarters. ‘I am very happy that the atmosphere is so positive and the forecast for next summer is so optimistic. It just seems less busy than I expected’, ANVR director Frank Oostdam said when asked. The Jaarbeurs was unable to confirm that finding. The visitor figures of the Trade Day, together with the visitor figures of the consumer days, will only be published on the Monday after the fair. ‘However, there is one more hall than last year, which could have an influence’, a spokeswoman said on Thursday. ‘What we can already say is that we have understood from many exhibitors that they are satisfied with the high-quality visit.’ Last year, the Trade Day had 7,940 trade visitors. The Trade Day 2024, referred to as Travel Trade Day for international visitors, was a mix of familiar and new ingredients. Familiar was the Champagne drink at Sunair, the Cup of TUI for a start with good coffee, the Sunny Cars terrace with free coffee and smoothies and the fries from the Jong Intra, formerly known as Coby’s Fries. Because de Jong Intra did not have its own stand, the lunch snack was served at Captain Cruise’s stand for the second year. It went through 600 portions of fries. The Trade Day ended with a well-attended trade drink in restaurant Speys, sponsored by TRAVel Media, publisher of Travelpro and TravMagazine, among others. With plenty of snacks, drinks and music from DJ Hilco, it was a nice end to the Trade Day. New features include drinks on Friday 12 January, when all exhibitors can welcome their important relations, customers, partners and employees for drinks at the stand from 17:00 to 19:00. Relations have free access to Vakantiebeurs from 15.00 hrs. From 16:00 to 20:00 there is the Vakantiebeurs VrijMiBo at the Dutch Travel Week Festival with the Brotherhood & Qmusic Maximum Hit Hour with Menno Barreveld. ‘Of course, everyone is invited’, says stock exchange manager Marleen Rompen. The Holiday Fair lasts until Sunday 14 January, daily from 10:00 to 17:00. On Friday evenings (12 January) the fair is open until 20:00. (Photo TravMagazine)View the photos of the Trade Day here.
