Travel Journalists on the VIP Media Program had interactions with many incredible hotel brands.
Our first media luncheon was at Relais & Châteaux property Bruno Oger La villa Archange in Cannes. I recently stayed at Auberge Saint-Antoine Relais & Châteaux in Québec City.
I was able to meet with the General Managers and top executives as well as re-connect with travel friends like Mark Ellwood from Condé Nast Traveler and Bloomberg. I met editors like Zhu Tong from Condé Nast China, Steven Bond from Destinations of the World News Dubai and Hill Choi Lee from South China Morning Post.
VIDEO: WHAT HAPPENS AT ILTM IN CANNES?
Walking the red carpet into the venue for the ILTM Global Forum – “The Year of Health and Wellness” in the Grand Auditorium at Palais des Festivals et des Congrès was magical. We went to the ILTM Welcome Reception at the Ambassadors Suite, Palais de Festivals which was sponsored by The Italian Tourist Board and had photo booth specials with the gorgeous Italian countryside.
Over the course of the conference, I went to many rooftop and penthouse parties where I learned even more about the top brands. At the Shangri-La Hotels event, I was able to see the team from Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London.
We finished our evening at San Telmo with Lucy Clifton and her team from Spotlight Communications who made my first experience at ITLM a dream. Their attention to detail was legendary and I was well prepared and organized to make the most of my time in Cannes at the conference.
Day Two, December 4, 2018 started with breakfast by Hilton Luxury & Lifestyle Group at Restaurant Mantel (Table 22) 22 Rue Saint Antoine, 06400 Cannes where we learned about the new Waldorf Astoria and Aston Martin partnership as well about the underwater Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and many other new and exciting properties. I cooked with a chef at the Conrad in Miami and recently filmed at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.
Each morning at the ILTM Media Centre, we had ‘In Conversation with’ or press conferences with big brands and destinations with top-line stories. There were five minute presentations by senior board directors, CEOs and/or Presidents with 15 minutes of questions from the floor.
Walking the floors of the conference halls I saw many travel friends in their booths and was able to make appointments to learn about the happenings with various brands.
We had glorious weather and enjoyed our luscious lunch hosted by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts outdoors at the penthouse of Résidence 67 Croisette with live music and lively conversations. I recently had a hard hat tour of Four Seasons Philadelphia at Comcast Tower.
Our Afternoon Tea Networking sessions where in the First Floor Restaurant at the Palais des Festivals and were very valuable. I was able to meet with many hotels and brands in a short amount of time and learn about new stories in many locations. I meet with Edwardian Hotels, Sweet Bocas, Jumeirah Vittaveli and more.
As the sun set and the sky was full of magical colors, my journalism friends and I were able to participate in several cocktail parties and events including cocktails hosted by Cheval Blanc in the Majestic Suite, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, Cannes. We experienced VOGA Vogue Yoga with PROUD Experiences NYC. We went on Mabruk III for the Visit California yacht party. We had drinks with IHG lifestyle and design and I loved that every event in Cannes had live music.
Where did I stay in Cannes? Hôtel Martinez Cannes by Hyatt. See part TWO of my video for more of my ILTM VIP MEDIA experience!
Thank you to Lucy Clifton, the entire team at Spotlight Communications and everyone at ILTM for including me in the International Luxury Travel Mart Cannes 2018.
Watch all my conference videos and look for ILTM Part 2 for more of what happened in Cannes Dec 2018.
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