Connections
Connections Luxury operates an invitation-only B2B events and networking platform for the global luxury travel industry, hosting six regional flagship events annually and serving 25,000+ vetted buyers and suppliers through a proprietary digital community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWestminster, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Connections does
Connections Luxury operates an invitation-only B2B events and networking platform serving the global luxury travel industry. Founded in 2014 by Jacobs Media Group, the company hosts six flagship regional events annually — Europe, UK & Ireland, Americas East, Americas West, Middle East, and Asia Pacific — combining pre-scheduled one-to-one business meetings with immersive destination experiences under a proprietary methodology branded as "The Connections Way." It serves a vetted private community of more than 25,000 luxury travel decision-makers representing $7.8bn in combined spending power, with 95% of buyers at Director level or above and 50+ nationalities represented.
The company's technology stack comprises a proprietary digital platform and mobile application (iOS/Android) functioning as a year-round community hub, providing a member directory, event programming, ConnecTALKS educational content, news bulletin, and an AI-powered meeting coordination system (delivered via the third-party GRIP platform) that generates personalised appointment agendas from delegate wish lists. Revenue is generated through three principal streams: (1) supplier-paid Connections Access Fees for flagship event participation; (2) bespoke event services for tourist boards and destination marketing organisations, including Super FAM trips, marketing campaigns, and luxury consultancy; and (3) ancillary digital platform engagement that supports supplier renewal. Buyer membership is complimentary and includes hosted accommodation, meals, and experiences for qualified delegates.
Connections operates as a division of CONNECTING TRAVEL MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC (registered in Dubai Media City, UAE) under Jacobs Media Group Ltd (registered in England and Wales, company number 08713328). The company maintains offices in London (3rd Floor, 52 Grosvenor Gardens) and Dubai (Media City). The platform has delivered more than 100 events since inception and was recognised with the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2020 for international growth exceeding 50% over three years. Recent strategic developments include a minority investment by Doug Emslie in Jacobs Media (October 2024), a major 2025 rebrand introducing three pillars (Luxury, Cruise and Explore), the launch of Connections Cruise Arabia, and inaugural editions in Saudi Arabia (November 2025) with confirmed Tokyo expansion through 2027.
Connections firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connections
- Legal name
- CONNECTING TRAVEL MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC
- Website
- https://weareconnections.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Connections Luxury operates an invitation-only B2B events and networking platform for the global luxury travel industry, hosting six regional flagship events annually and serving 25,000+ vetted buyers and suppliers through a proprietary digital community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connections industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Travel Networking Events
- NAICS
- All Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (561599)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Travel Subscription, Membership & Deal Clubs (THAKAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online Booking & Reservation Platforms (B2B/B2C) (THALAMAA)
Keywords
Where Connections is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westminster
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Connections business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Supplier Connections Access Fee: Suppliers (luxury hotels, DMCs, tourist boards, cruise lines, experience providers) pay a Connections Access Fee to participate in events. The fee is specified in the Connections Schedule of Events and quoted in USD. Payment is due in full on signature of the agreement, with instalment options available. The fee covers participation in pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings, event sessions, and experiences.
- Bespoke Events for Tourist Boards: Custom event services delivered on behalf of destination marketing organisations (tourist boards, convention bureaus, government tourism ministries). Services include bespoke events (up to 40 hand-picked buyers), Super FAM trips, marketing campaigns, luxury consultancy, and community events. These are tailored partnerships that generate revenue through service fees.
- Digital Platform Membership: Buyers receive complimentary access to the digital platform and app upon membership acceptance, with year-round access to the community hub, content, and connections. The membership creates a recurring engagement loop that drives repeat supplier participation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Supplier Access Fee — event participation |
| Freemium | Annual | Buyer Membership — complimentary |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Connections product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Connections Luxury operates an invitation-only B2B networking ecosystem for the luxury travel trade, hosting six flagship regional events annually (UK & Ireland, Europe, Middle East, Americas East, Americas West, Asia Pacific) that combine pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with immersive destination experiences. Suppliers (luxury hotels, DMCs, cruise lines, experience providers) pay an Access Fee to participate, while qualified senior travel buyers receive complimentary hosted buyer status. The offering is extended year-round through a proprietary digital community platform and mobile app, complemented by bespoke events for tourist boards, Super FAM trips, marketing campaigns, and luxury consultancy services.
Product overview
Connections is a B2B event and networking platform for luxury travel professionals. The core offering includes regional flagship events (Connections Luxury Events in UK & Ireland, Europe, Middle East, Americas, and Asia Pacific), powered by The Connections Way proprietary methodology. This is complemented by a year-round Digital Platform & App for community access, ConnecTALKS educational sessions, and specialized sub-brands including Suite Stories podcast, Wellbeing Series, Adventure Series, and Wedding Series. For destination partners, the company offers Bespoke Events, Super FAMs, Marketing Campaigns, and Luxury Consultancy services. The platform also expanded in 2021 with Connections For All for mainstream travel, and Virtual One-to-One Meetings for remote networking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Connections Luxury Flagship Events Invitation-only B2B travel trade forums connecting vetted luxury travel suppliers (hotels, DMCs, cruise lines, tourist boards, experience providers) with senior travel buyers through pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings and immersive destination experiences across six global regional editions.
- The Connections Way Proprietary networking methodology and framework combining pre-scheduled one-to-one appointments, shared immersive experiences, and ConnecTALKS educational sessions to create long-lasting business relationships for luxury travel professionals.
- Digital Platform & Mobile App Year-round digital community hub providing vetted members with access to a directory of decision-makers, event programme, ConnecTALKS content series, news bulletin, and networking/chat capabilities via web and iOS/Android mobile apps.
- Bespoke Events Custom destination-focused event service welcoming up to 40 hand-picked luxury travel buyers and premier companies for highly personalized destination experiences, delivered on behalf of tourist boards, convention bureaus, and government tourism ministries.
- Super FAM Trips Familiarization trips created for selected luxury travel buyers within the Connections community, designed to educate and recruit quality agents to promote specific destinations.
- Marketing Campaigns Targeted marketing campaigns building awareness and interest in destinations through outreach to vetted luxury travel community members throughout the year.
- Luxury Consultancy Consultancy services bringing luxury travel experts to destinations to educate, advise, and inspire private sector tourism companies, elevating and enhancing destination offerings for the global luxury market.
- Community Events Large gatherings of Connections members welcoming up to 100 suppliers and 100 buyers in a high-end FIT (Free Independent Traveller) format, held four times annually across Middle East, Europe, UK, and Americas regions.
- Suite Stories Podcast Podcast series featuring interviews with luxury travel and hospitality leaders, sharing insights into industry trends, destination spotlights, and career stories. Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
- ConnecTALKS Educational session series delivered in collaboration with recognized industry partners, artisans, and pioneers in the luxury realm to discuss trends and challenges facing the luxury travel market.
- Connections For All Annual travel trade event for mainstream travel covering beach, culture, family, and gastronomy sectors, designed to extend the Connections networking model beyond luxury.
- Wellbeing Series Specialized events focused on wellness tourism, featuring globally-known wellness brands including hotels, spas, and practitioners targeting the luxury wellness travel segment.
- Adventure Series Specialized events bringing international buyers interested in extraordinary travel experiences together with suppliers offering unique authentic adventure travel products.
- Wedding Series Specialized events dedicated to empowering event planners to organize luxury weddings, covering venues, bespoke tailoring, and luxury wedding experiences.
- Virtual One-to-One Meetings Virtual event format delivering pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings for luxury travel professionals and tourist boards, providing remote networking capabilities independent of physical location.
- Meetings & Incentives Events Events targeting corporate and incentive meeting planners in the MICE segment, expanding the Connections networking model to the business events industry.
Companies that use Connections
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Connections technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Connections partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- AspireflagshipAspire is the UK's largest luxury travel community and a leading print trade magazine. It serves as the official Event Partner for Connections Luxury UK & Ireland, contributing a dedicated panel discussion on sustainability within the luxury travel industry. The partnership brings together regional luxury travel designers and international brands.
- Visit CaliforniaflagshipLong-standing strategic partner hosting the California Luxury Forum powered by Connections. The partnership includes multiple editions across different California regions, showcasing the destination's luxury travel product to international buyers through bespoke event programming.
- Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentflagshipGovernment tourism partner for Connections Luxury Seoul, hosting annual bespoke events in Seoul. The partnership has delivered five editions (inaugural 2022, through 2026) showcasing South Korea's luxury tourism product to global travel buyers.
- Catalan Tourist BoardcoreCo-destination partner for Connections Luxury Europe events held in Barcelona. The partnership has delivered multiple editions with the Catalan Tourist Board hosting events at iconic venues including Casa Batlló and Teatre Nacional de Catalunya.
- West Hollywood Travel + Tourism BoardcoreDestination partner for Connections Luxury Americas West events in West Hollywood, USA. The partnership creates customised programming for the luxury travel trade, developing exclusive high-end B2B events aligned with the destination's goals.
- GRIP (Event Technology Platform)coreThird-party online platform provider used by Connections for event registration, pre-scheduled meeting coordination, and delegate management. Suppliers and buyers register through the GRIP platform for events.
- Preferred Hotels & ResortscoreWorld's largest independent hotel brand and active supplier participant and partner in Connections events. Kirk McDonald, Director of Global Sales - Middle East, has appeared on the Suite Stories podcast.
- XO PrivatecoreLuxury travel network listed as a trusted partner in the Connections community ecosystem.
- Tourism IrelandcoreListed as a trusted partner, participating in Connections Luxury UK & Ireland events.
- Tourism Promotions Board PhilippinescoreHosted the inaugural Connections Wellbeing Philippines event at The Farm at San Benito in 2023, showcasing Filipino wellness culture and hospitality. Followed by post-event FAM trips to five destinations.
- Visit PortugalcoreLong-standing destination partner for Connections events, hosting editions across Portuguese destinations including Madeira, and supporting multiple event formats.
- Oman Ministry of Heritage & TourismcoreBespoke event partner hosting flagship events in Oman (Muscat), showcasing the destination's luxury tourism product.
- Tokyo Convention & Visitors BureaucoreDestination partner for Connections Luxury Tokyo events, including bespoke editions and luxury FAM trips. Partnership continues with 2027 edition confirmed.
- Saudi Tourism AuthoritycoreHost partner for Connections Saudi inaugural edition (November 2025), taking global travel leaders through Saudi Arabia's heritage, culture, and innovation.
- Salesforce (Pardot)coreEmail marketing automation and subscriber management system used to store member details and manage newsletter/e-communication delivery.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Connections competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Questex (Travel & Hospitality Events): A B2B events and media operator running multiple travel, hospitality, and luxury industry event brands. Functions as an adjacent enabling operator in the same travel-trade event space, hosting shows that overlap with Connections' supplier and destination audiences.
Direct peers
- Traveller Made: A global network of luxury travel designers and DMCs running invitation-only events and a curated supplier directory. Closely comparable to Connections in its curated, designer-focused approach to connecting luxury buyers with high-end suppliers.
- Aspire (Luxury Travel Community): The UK's largest luxury travel community and print trade magazine, already listed as Connections Luxury UK & Ireland's official event partner. Targets the same UK luxury travel designer segment with a membership community and curated event programming.
- Serandipians: A by-invitation luxury travel advisor consortium providing curated supplier partnerships, hosted events, and exclusive experiences for senior travel designers. Mirrors Connections' invitation-only community model and supplier-meets-buyer event format.
- ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market): Reed Exhibitions' flagship B2B luxury travel trade event series held annually in Cannes and regionally worldwide. It is the most direct competitor to Connections Luxury's invitation-only, pre-scheduled meeting format for connecting luxury suppliers with senior travel buyers.
- Virtuoso: A leading invitation-only luxury travel advisor network offering curated supplier access, exclusive events, and a year-round community for high-net-worth travel advisors. Operates a comparable membership/community model serving similar luxury travel buyer and supplier constituencies.
Broad incumbents
- Travel Leaders Network: One of the largest US travel agency consortia, hosting hosted-buyer events and supplier partnerships across leisure and luxury segments. Overlaps with Connections on senior luxury travel advisors but at a broader agency-network scale and less curated format.
- World Travel Market (WTM) London: Reed Exhibitions' flagship broad travel trade show at ExCeL London, attended by tens of thousands of buyers and suppliers globally. Competes with Connections for supplier attention and trade-show budgets, but at much higher volume and lower curation than Connections' invite-only format.
- Signature Travel Network: A US-headquartered cooperative of luxury and upscale travel agencies with preferred-supplier partnerships and hosted events. Serves the same luxury travel advisor constituency but as a broader agency consortium rather than a curated, invite-only event platform.
Regional players
- Arabian Travel Market: Reed Exhibitions' leading Middle East travel trade event held annually in Dubai. Competes for the same Middle East supplier and tourist-board partnerships that anchor Connections' Middle East flagship, but as a broader regional trade show rather than a luxury-only format.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connections social profiles
Digital presenceConnections financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connections leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Connections funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connections M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Connections
What does Connections do?
Connections Luxury operates an invitation-only B2B networking ecosystem for the luxury travel trade, hosting six flagship regional events annually (UK & Ireland, Europe, Middle East, Americas East, Americas West, Asia Pacific) that combine pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with immersive destination experiences. Suppliers (luxury hotels, DMCs, cruise lines, experience providers) pay an Access Fee to participate, while qualified senior travel buyers receive complimentary hosted buyer status. The offering is extended year-round through a proprietary digital community platform and mobile app, complemented by bespoke events for tourist boards, Super FAM trips, marketing campaigns, and luxury consultancy services.
Is Connections a public or private company?
Connections is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Connections founded?
Connections was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Connections based?
Connections is headquartered in Westminster, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Connections make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Supplier Connections Access Fee is the primary driver. The others are bespoke Events for Tourist Boards and digital Platform Membership.
Who are Connections's main competitors?
Questex (Travel & Hospitality Events) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Traveller Made, Aspire (Luxury Travel Community), Serandipians, ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) and Virtuoso. Broad incumbents are Travel Leaders Network, World Travel Market (WTM) London and Signature Travel Network. Arabian Travel Market is listed as a regional player.
Does Connections have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connections.
What industry is Connections in?
Connections's product category is Luxury Travel Networking Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAAAL, Travel Subscription, Membership & Deal Clubs, with a secondary code of THALAMAA, Online Booking & Reservation Platforms (B2B/B2C). Its NAICS code is 561599 and its SIC code is 7900.