ABTA announces akwaaba partnership

The African Business Travel Association (ABTA) and Akwaaba Travel Market has announced a partnership agreement that will see the organisations working together to host the upcoming 9th African Travel Market taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, from 23 to 25 October 2013.

Akwaaba: African Travel Market in its 9th year is the only annual international Travel Fair in West Africa, drawing 7,000 to 10,000 delegates from over 20 countries worldwide. This Travel Fair not only boasts a large amount of visitors but also excels in the promotion of the 80+ exhibitors from the region’s leading hotels, airlines, travel agents, tour operators and similar industry suppliers that participate in the event.

In addition to the trade-show aspect of the event, the organisers will also be running several educational sessions aimed at addressing business-travel topics that are of pertinence to local industry professionals. “We are delighted to have formed this partnership and to have been named as the Exclusive Education Partner for the upcoming Akwaaba: African Travel Market,” said ABTA Founder Monique Swart.

“Akwaaba has done a fantastic job, working very hard over the last several years in hosting these phenomenal events; and we feel very privileged to have been invited by them to assist in hosting the educational sessions that will be taking place during the event.”

Swart continued by saying that the two organisations have many areas of synergy as Akwaaba’s network of business travel executives across Africa is unparalleled, and ABTA’s focus on the education of this sector to advance the African Business Travel industry makes for a natural and mutually beneficial partnership that will positively impact business travel professionals across Africa.

Speaking about the collaborative partnership between the two organisations, Ikechi Uko -- Organiser of Akwaaba said: “It’s wonderful to get a partner like ABTA with their experience in training and corporate travel empowerment. For us, this is a great partnership that promises to make AFTM 2013 a must-attend event for professionals in the region and across Africa.”