World Travel Market 2013 is set to boost the London economy by more than £160 million.

The event – which was hosted by ExCeL, London last week – attracted around 50,000 of the global travel and tourism industry’s most senior executives, who come to London each year to profile the hottest travel destinations.

Business deals worth over £2 billion were expected to be triggered by the event, with over £160 million pumped into the economy through money spent on hotels, restaurants, flights and other discretionary spend by those visiting the capital.

To put this figure in context, the British Fashion Council’s London Fashion Week – which took place from September 13 to 17 – was estimated to generate only £100 million.

World Travel Market showcased more than 180 countries and regions.

The event – which was hosted by ExCeL, London last week – attracted around 50,000 of the global travel and tourism industry’s most senior executives

The deals agreed at WTM will be the product content in travel companies’ brochures and on their websites, which will ultimately decide where holidaymakers visit in 2014 and beyond.

World Travel Market attracts many celebrities as destinations use their famous ambassadors to gain a competitive advantage.

Celebrities attending WTM 2013 included Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor, who also starred in Slumdog Millionaire and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Anil was joined by cricketing legends Viv Richards and Brian Lara.