CTA members took part in an Open Zoom Session focused on exchanging practical information as tours and excursions get underway. The meeting was very positive with many operators reporting tours already delivered, including the first to Lake Garda in Italy as well as Wales, Northern Ireland and around the UK.

The Open Zoom format will be retained for a further Zoom meeting on 29 September so if you didn’t get a chance to attend this one, please join us next time.

Among the feedback on the session was this from Anne Blackham, Devon’s Top Attractions: ”I just wanted to say that the Zoom networking was great, really interesting to hear from the coach operators’ perspective and to hear the issues that the operators are facing and seeing if we can help and try and make things easier for them.

“I think Zoom is one thing that has come out of Covid that is really positive. To see people’s faces and engage and listen to the issues of others and just communicating is really, really useful. I think even in a normal world, you should continue to do the Zoom networking sessions so everyone can communicate and share issues and successes.”

The session was attended by a number of operators and wholesalers in addition to attractions, hotels and suppliers, including CTA Partner members DFDS, Tourism Ireland and Visit Scotland.

Here are some of the points raised at the Open Zoom session:

Coach tour operators were advised to work closely with each hotel to clarify precisely what the arrangements for groups will be when they arrive including ensuring all Covid-Safe measures and social distancing to reassure customers.

Some venues and hotels have been receiving advice from local authorities stating that the ‘Rule of Six’ means they cannot accept groups. This is now understood to be incorrect advice following clarification of the new regulations, and Kristy Elsmere offered to collate any such incidents and pass on to Bruce Treloar, Trading Standards. Contact Kristy with any information on this. CTA member Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton is in discussions with environmental health officers on this issue to clarify local rulings and is hoping to advise operators about future group bookings shortly.

Anu Desai, ITO Tours reported strong bookings for rest of 2020 and advised that he has rebranded events as Christmas Shopping trips in the absence of some Christmas markets which has gone down well with customers.

Also on Christmas events, Lauren Hogg, VisitScotland reported that Edinburgh Christmas market is going ahead, albeit in a reduced fashion; and Lauren Clarke, Stuart Line Cruises advised that Exeter Christmas market is also taking place. And Bournemouth is running Christmas events from November to January, although its popular Christmas Tree Wonderland is cancelled.

Clare Dwight, Visit Wales advised that the coach and groups market is regarded as very important and the latest information and advice for groups is here. Visit Wales will be promoting Christmas shopping in market towns throughout Wales.

CTA member Europlan, based in Italy, welcomed the first UK coach group to reach Lake Garda operated by Parrys International. And in response to a query, Graham Hopcraft, DFDS Ferries confirmed that they are able to accept full coaches as the earlier 25-maximum capacity has been dropped. Eurotunnel also said they are operating as normal and are very happy to welcome coaches.

Devon is definitely open for business, according to Anne Blackham, despite many attractions facing serious challenges and Devon’s Top Attractions is happy to provide the latest updates and itineraries.

Chris Pascall at Canterbury Cathedral said they are keen to hear from tour operators about what they need to make the most of group visits.

In Scotland, The Devil’s Porridge Museum is looking forward to receiving its first coach groups shortly.

Stuart Line Cruises in Devon has already had 20 coach groups visiting since it reopened on 4 July, and welcomed information from operators on the breakdown of households and bubbles on the coach as it helps with boarding arrangements for the cruises. Devon is open for Christmas with the Exeter Christmas Market going ahead and Stuart Line Cruises is offering Festive Cruises and Winter Warmers – two great additions to itineraries with only 25 minutes drive between them.

Chris Owen, Alpine Travel noted some concerns about price increases being imposed by some attractions. While understanding the challenges for everyone he warned not to “bite the hand that feeds them” as it was very difficult for operators to pass on steep increases to customers.

Salisbury Cathedral remains open and welcoming for coach groups. However, it is urging operators to ensure they pre-book as there have been large groups turning up unannounced this week which has caused serious challenges for cathedral staff.

Ginette Goulston-Lincoln represented one of the newest CTA members, Strawberry Field in Liverpool and advised that there will be events running for some time to commemorate what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday with a number of Beatles partners in the city taking part.

The position of the National Trust was raised with reports that it is still unable to accept groups. However National Trust Wales is running a small pilot with coach groups on behalf of NT England and Wales and hopefully this will result in them being able to take groups across England and Wales.  More information from VisitWales

English Heritage has reopened travel trade bookings at many more of its historic sites and is now able to support bookings for many of the top group sites, featured in the Group Visits Guide, via regional admin teams. A list of contact details for the top sites and full details of how the ‘rule of 6’ will affect your groups are in its recent newsletter

Aerospace Bristol, home of the last Concorde ever to fly, has now reopened to groups and is Covid-secure (a recent survey showed 100 per cent of visitors saying they felt safe at the museum).

Royal Museums Greenwich has reopened all four sites: Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum. It can accept groups (and guided tours) of up to 30 people. All sites are within walking distance so easy to split groups and get them enjoying Greenwich at a distance!

Almarose Hotels & Resorts has all its hotels open with a clean and safe policy in place and is taking groups. It now has 21 hotels which includes 5 Doubletree Hotels, 2 Delta by Marriott Hotels and Mercure Bristol Holland House.

Marsham Court in Bournemouth is closing for accommodation and banqueting from 28 Sept to 28 Feb 2021. It will however be open for day visitors so available to take group bookings for lunch, festive afternoon teas etc if visiting the town. There is lots of space so no problem with social distancing and also coach parking on site.

Mersey Ferries – Liverpool is operating a direct service instead of its leisure 50-min river cruise.

ITO Tours advises operators to contact Lily in its office for information on Floriade 2022 packages.

Juno Thompson, Tourism Ireland advised that the 14 day self-quarantine period remains in place for arrivals into the Republic of Ireland. However there are no travel restrictions for GB arrivals into Northern Ireland. There is not yet an update on the Belfast Christmas market, however Christmas shopping in Belfast will be open.

Ruth Gould, Action Tours has had a number of groups go to Northern Ireland very successfully so far and reports that hotels and visitor attractions are rolling out red carpet for its groups and providing a wonderful welcome.

Lauren Hogg, VisitScotland will provide more details about Edinburgh Christmas Market when available and will also update information on National Trust for Scotland. VisitScotland is currently waiting on a full statement from the Scottish Government on the Rule of 6 exemptions and is happy to advise on any other Scotland queries.