Qatar Travel Mart

What Qatar Travel Mart does

Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) is an annual international B2B exhibition for the travel and tourism industry, organized by NeXTfairs Ltd and held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) in Qatar. Launched in 2023 under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, the event targets tourism boards, hospitality operators, destination management companies (DMCs), travel and tour operators, transportation providers, travel technology vendors, MICE operators, real estate developers, and cultural and educational bodies. The exhibition spans 10 dedicated product sectors: Culture, Leisure, Business, Luxury, Sports, Medical, Halal, Technology, Sustainability, and Education. QTM 2025 attracted 11,851 visitors, 312 exhibiting companies from 52 countries, 333 hosted buyers, and 34 conference speakers.

The platform operates on an event-driven B2B business model with multiple revenue streams. Primary revenue comes from exhibitor booth and stand rental across the 10 product sectors, with pricing handled through inquiry-based sales rather than public disclosure. Tiered sponsorship packages (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Session) are sold to companies seeking brand visibility, networking access, and thought leadership positioning; Platinum sponsors include Retaj and The Ned, with West Walk as Gold and qissatec as Silver. The Hosted Buyer Programme is fully funded by Visit Qatar (Strategic Partner) and brought 333 senior executive buyers with direct purchasing power in 2025, exceeding the 150+ baseline target. Conference programming is curated with the World Leisure Organization, and a Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, Media Familiarization Trips, and Global Village cultural showcase are add-on features.

Underlying technology consists of an Exhibitor Portal for self-service booth management (profile updates, booth specifications, badge downloads, marketing powerpacks) and a QTM mobile app for buyer-exhibitor matchmaking and meeting scheduling via a My Invitations tab. Distribution is via enterprise field sales to exhibitors, dedicated sponsorship sales processes, a CRM-tracking exhibitor interest form, and a media partner network of 15+ international travel publications. The event is supported by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, anchored by Founding Partner Katara Hospitality, and aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 targets of 5.24M tourists and $35.57B tourism GDP contribution by 2028.

Name

Qatar Travel Mart

Legal name

NeXTfairs Ltd

Website

https://qtmqatar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Qatar Travel Mart is an annual B2B trade exhibition for the global travel and tourism industry, organized by NeXTfairs Ltd at DECC in Doha, Qatar. It serves tourism boards, hotels, DMCs, tour operators, and travel technology providers across 10 product sectors, funded by exhibitor rentals, tiered sponsorships, and a Visit Qatar-funded Hosted Buyer Programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Trade Exhibition Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

Keywords

• Travel trade exhibition
• B2B tourism networking
• Hosted buyer program
• MICE industry events
• Exhibition booth rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Doha

HQ country

Qatar

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth/Stand Rental: Primary revenue stream from selling exhibition space across 10 dedicated product sectors. Exhibitors include Tourism Bodies, Authorities, Ministries, Associations, Hospitality Operators, Travel & Tour Operators, Transportation Operators, Travel Technology Providers, MICE Operators, Real Estate Developers, Entertainment, Cultural & Educational Bodies, and Health Service Providers. 312 exhibiting companies participated in 2025.
2. Sponsorship Packages: Tiered sponsorship offerings including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Session sponsorships. Sponsors receive business exposure, branding, networking opportunities, thought leadership platforms, customized activation opportunities, and long-term strategic value positioning alongside Qatar's growing tourism hub.
3. Hosted Buyer Program: Program funded by Qatar Tourism for qualifying senior executive buyers. Qatar Tourism covers full costs for over 150 international hosted buyers, creating a VIP attendee experience with specialized three-day schedule. Generates deal-making and business interactions between buyers and exhibitors.
4. Conference & Gala Events: Conference sessions curated in partnership with World Leisure Organization across Culture & Heritage, Hospitality & Sustainability, and Events & Wellness Tourism themes. Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony celebrates industry excellence with entertainment, speakers, and networking.
5. Media Partnership: Media partnership agreements with international travel and tourism publications including Qatar Day, Marhaba, MICE in Asia, MICE & More, The Business Year, TTW, and others for promotional coverage and audience reach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) is an annual international B2B exhibition for the travel and tourism industry, organized by NeXTfairs Ltd and held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). It sells exhibition booth/stand space, tiered sponsorship packages, conference participation, hosted buyer access, and ancillary event programming (Gala Dinner, Global Village, Media Familiarization Trips) to tourism boards, hotels, DMCs, tour operators, travel technology providers, transport operators, and cultural/educational bodies. The exhibition spans 10 dedicated product sectors — Culture, Leisure, Business, Luxury, Sports, Medical, Halal, Technology, Sustainability, and Education — and positions Qatar as the gateway to the Arabian Gulf under the patronage of Qatar's Prime Minister.

Product overview

Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) operates as a unified annual travel and tourism exhibition platform positioned as the definitive event for the global travel industry. The core offering is the QTM Exhibition, supported by integrated modules including the QTM Conference (partnered with World Leisure Organization), Hosted Buyer Program, Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, Media Familiarization Trip, and Global Village. The platform also provides digital tools including the Exhibitor Portal for stand management and the QTM App for networking and agenda access. Together, these components create a comprehensive B2B marketplace connecting destinations, DMCs, hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, technology providers, associations, and tourism boards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) Exhibition Annual international B2B exhibition for the travel and tourism industry, held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) and organized across 10 dedicated product sectors — Culture, Leisure, Business, Luxury, Sports, Medical, Halal, Technology, Sustainability, and Education. Brings together tourism boards, DMCs, hotels, tour and cruise operators, travel agencies, technology providers and associations for booth exhibits, B2B meetings, and partnership development.
• QTM Conference Multi-day conference program curated with the World Leisure Organization, featuring keynote sessions and interactive panels across Culture & Heritage Tourism, Hospitality & Sustainability, and Events & Wellness Tourism themes; 34 speakers participated in 2025. Targeted at travel-trade executives, hospitality leaders, and tourism policy stakeholders attending QTM.
• Hosted Buyer Program VIP hosted-buyer program delivering 150+ fully-funded senior executive buyers to QTM via Qatar Tourism's sponsorship, with a specialized three-day schedule designed for tour operators, travel agents, hospitality providers, group tour operators, event/congress organisers, and MICE professionals. Delivers pre-scheduled B2B meetings between buyers and exhibitors.
• Sponsorship Packages Tiered (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Session) sponsorship packages for companies seeking brand visibility, thought-leadership platforms, and customized activation opportunities at QTM. Includes business exposure, branding, networking, market expansion, and long-term strategic positioning alongside Qatar's growing tourism hub.
• QTM Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony Annual gala dinner and awards ceremony celebrating excellence across the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, featuring entertainment, keynote speakers, and fine-dining networking for exhibiting companies, hosted buyers, sponsors, and government stakeholders.
• Global Village Cultural showcase within QTM that connects different parts of the world under one roof, exhibiting heritage, philosophies, and cultural performances organized by participating embassies and nations.
• Media Familiarization Trip Program for international travel and tourism media partners to experience Qatar's destinations and unique travel experiences first-hand, generating global media coverage and editorial content supporting the QTM exhibition and Qatar tourism destination brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of exhibitors attained their targets at QTM 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and secondary.

• Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Government ministry providing support for QTM as part of Qatar's national mandate to position the country as a premium destination for business events. Listed as 'Supported By' partner, indicating institutional backing and endorsement.
• Visit QatarflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic Partner of the exhibition. Provides the Hosted Buyer Programme funding for over 150 international buyers. Acts as Qatar's promotional arm for tourism, driving visitor arrivals and event support. Full sponsor of VIP buyer experience.
• Katara HospitalityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Founding Partner of QTM. Leading global hotel owner, developer, and operator based in Qatar. Provides foundational support for the exhibition and participates as exhibitor showcasing Qatar hospitality portfolio including Raffles Doha, Fairmont Doha, and The Ritz-Carlton Doha.
• AMFORHTcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Association Partner for QTM. International association focused on tourism and hospitality education and professional development. Listed as exhibitor and partner, bringing global tourism professional network to the exhibition.
• World Leisure Organization (WLO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Conference Partner curating the QTM Conference program. Brings together global leaders, innovators, and professionals from tourism and hospitality sectors to explore evolution of travel, culture, sustainability, and wellness. Provides speaker network and conference expertise.
• RetajcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Platinum Sponsor providing significant financial support for the exhibition. Hotel group operating multiple properties in Qatar.
• The NedcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Platinum Sponsor. Luxury hotel property in Doha, part of the Katara Hospitality portfolio.
• West WalksecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gold Sponsor of QTM 2025.
• qissatecsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Silver Sponsor of QTM 2025.
• mowasalat (Karwa)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Official Transport Partner providing transportation services for exhibition logistics and attendee transport.
• Qatar Insurance (Islamic Insurance)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Official Insurance Partner for QTM 2025.
• Experience QatarcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Official DMC (Destination Management Company) partner for the exhibition, providing local tourism expertise and services for international attendees.
• Green DestinationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sustainability Partner promoting environmentally sustainable tourism practices at the exhibition. Aligns with Qatar's broader sustainability goals in tourism development.
• Qatar-LivingsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Official Online Partner providing digital promotion and audience reach through Qatar's prominent online community platform.
• BCC LogisticssecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Official Freight Partner managing logistics and freight services for exhibition materials and equipment.
• MaSS Production (MaSs)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Official Stand Contractor providing booth design and construction services. Sister company to NeXTfairs, offering space-only booth specifications and design approval services through the Exhibitor Portal. Provides turnkey exhibition solutions.
• NeXTfairsflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Organizing Company behind QTM. Multi-format events organizer with 16+ years of experience. Full-service provider of unique meeting programs, B2B & B2C exhibitions & conferences, sales rep and technology services. National mandate to Position Qatar as the Premium Destination for Business Events.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ITB Berlin: The world's largest travel trade show, organized by Messe Berlin. A direct global peer with the same trade-show-for-travel-industry model, multi-sector coverage, and conference programming targeting international tourism suppliers and buyers.
• IBTM World: A leading global MICE industry trade show organized by RX (Reed Exhibitions) in Barcelona. Comparable as a B2B events-industry trade show with hosted buyer programs, particularly relevant given QTM's MICE sector and Visit Qatar's MICE positioning.
• Arabian Travel Market (ATM): The Middle East's leading international travel and tourism trade show held annually in Dubai, organized by RX (Reed Exhibitions). Directly competes with QTM for the same pool of Middle East, GCC, and international exhibitors and hosted buyers, and is the most relevant regional substitute.
• IMEX Frankfurt: Major global meetings and events industry trade show with a strong hosted buyer program. Comparable in business model (exhibitor booths, hosted buyers, conference content) and overlap in MICE buyer profiles, with overlap in Gulf-region tourism interest.
• WTM London (World Travel Market): One of the world's largest B2B travel and tourism trade shows, held annually in London by RX (Reed Exhibitions). A direct global peer competing for international exhibitor marketing budgets and hosted-buyer programs with a similar B2B marketplace model.
• FITUR (International Tourism Trade Fair): Spain's flagship international travel trade fair held annually in Madrid, organized by IFEMA. A direct global peer in the travel trade show category, with comparable hosted buyer programs and multi-sector tourism exhibitor base.

Regional players

• SATTE (South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange): India's leading B2B travel and tourism trade show, organized by Informa Markets. Comparable as a regional travel trade show with exhibitor sales and hosted buyer model, but serving South Asia rather than the Middle East, making it more of a regional substitute than a direct competitor.
• ITE (International Travel Expo) Hong Kong: A long-running Asian travel trade show combining B2B and B2C formats. Comparable as a regional travel trade exhibition with hosted buyer elements, but focused on the Asian inbound and outbound market rather than the Gulf.

Emerging players

• TTG Travel Experience: Italy's leading B2B travel industry event organized by Italian Exhibition Group. Comparable in business model (B2B travel trade show with conference) and exhibitor base, but with a narrower European focus and smaller scale relative to ATM or WTM.
• ATM India (Outbound Travel Mart India): An emerging B2B travel trade event focused on the Indian outbound market. Comparable in event-driven B2B trade show format and hosted buyer programming, but with a narrower geographic focus and a different buyer demographic than QTM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/qtmQatar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgDW8NALErdNQHGy_bpNsFw
• Facebookfacebook.com/QTMQatar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qatar-travel-mart
• Instagraminstagram.com/qtm_qatar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qatar Travel Mart