The exhibition, which was held at ExCel between November 7-9, saw the highest number of exhibitor invitees and buyers attend the event in its 37-year history.

The show, which took on a new-look three-day format this year, also registered a joint-record attendance figure of 51,500 international travel industry professionals.

The figure was a 4% rise on attendance seen at last year’s event.

Organisers added that the “key benchmark” of exhibitor invitees and WTM Buyers’ Club members in attendance were also at record levels.

Exhibitor invitees – classed as senior industry executives invited by exhibitors on the first day of WTM London to discuss business deals - were up 9% to 14,140.

While the number pre-qualified buyers from the WTM Buyers’ Club that attended the event stood at 9,714 - a 6% increase on WTM London 2015.

Total visitor numbers (excluding press, ministers, ministers’ aides and students) stood at 31,951 – a 5% increase on WTM London 2015.

Organisers added that more than 865,500 “on-stand connections” took place over the three days of WTM London 2016, leading to more than £2.5 billion in industry deals being negotiated and signed.

Simon Press, senior director of World Travel Market London said: “WTM London has grown at an unprecedented rate in recent years making it the event where the industry conducts its business.

“More than £2.5 billion in industry contracts were agreed at WTM London 2016 with more than 9,700 buyers conducting 865,500 meetings with 5,000 exhibitors.

“The record number of participants, exhibitor invitees and WTM Buyers’ Club members is testament to the success of the new-look three-day WTM London and demonstrates all the key decision-makers and those with purchasing responsibility attend WTM London.”

WTM London 2017 will take place at ExCeL, between November 6-8.