After a long career in coach tourism, David set up Blakes Coaches in Devon in 1998. With a fleet of 24 vehicles, Blakes Coaches operates holidays and excursions in the UK and across Europe. In addition to being on the CTA board, David has also been elected onto the UK Coach Operators Association Board, and [...]
Robert Shaw is CTA’s Chair and previously served for over 10 years on the CTA board. As Managing Director of coach holiday operator Harry Shaw, based in Warwickshire, Robert has 40 years’ industry experience. Joining the family firm in the early 1980’s after graduating from The Cass Business School in London, Robert was involved in [...]
Paul Harper is Commercial Director for Daish’s Group, a family owned and operated hotel and coach operator. With more than 20 years’ experience in leisure and tourism industry, including the past 10 years within the coach and hotel market working at Daish’s, Paul is passionate about tourism and the role it has to play in [...]
Jason Edwards is company owner and managing director at Jason Edwards Travel, located at Heathrow, London with a recently-opened office in Pontypridd, South Wales. With more than 23 years of experience in the transport and tourism industry, and 13 years as an aircraft engineer with British Airways and GE, an eye for detail comes naturally [...]
We are excited to launch the bookings for the CTA Conference & Workshop 2025 which takes place in Stratford-upon Avon from 8-11 February. The event is based at the Crowne Plaza Stratford and features the ever-popular and must-attend Meet the Buyer Workshop on the Monday morning, plus a Conference session that afternoon and networking dinners on Sunday and Monday. There are [...]
CTA operator and wholesaler buyer members should book now for the remaining places available at CTA Winter Networking. The event takes place in Blackpool, Saturday 23 to Monday 25 November. Over 120 delegates have booked to attend the event with the new extended format. Held at The Imperial Hotel Blackpool, the weekend will present widespread opportunities [...]
Louise Webster, European Tours Manager at Acklams Coaches, and Beverley Williams-Smith, Head of Sales and Partnerships UK & Inbound, Kew Green Hotels, have joined CTA’s board of directors. With more than 20 years in the industry and a degree in Business Management, Louise Webster has held her role at Acklams Coaches for three years, following [...]
CTA-member suppliers are invited to sponsor the 2025 CTA Conference, taking place in Stratford-upon-Avon, 9-11 February. A range of packages are still available, providing excellent exposure to over 200 expected delegate companies at the event, as well as media and social media promotion to a wider travel trade audience. Options cover a variety of price [...]
Gwynedd Council has launched a study into improved coach access, drop off and parking in Caernarfon, and is inviting coach operators to provide feedback. The feasibility study is looking into the management of coaches and coach parking, particularly over seasonal peaks. The 16-question survey is open to operators and/or drivers and can be accessed here: [...]
TTG Encore has launched group tickets for The Devil Wears Prada, a new musical, based on the blockbuster film and bestselling novel, that will strut into London’s Dominion Theatre from October 2024. The musical is based on Lauren Weisberger's best-selling 2003 novel and 2006 blockbuster film from Twentieth Century Studios. Featuring an original score by [...]
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway has launched guided tours of its 200-year old Boston Lodge Engineering Works, the oldest continually operating railway engineering works in the world. Groups can learn about the people involved in the works and the railway, as well as the locomotives and carriages that have been built and held at Boston Lodge. [...]
The Tudor World, a new, permanent exhibition at Hampton Court Palace, has now opened, exploring the story of the Tudor royal dynasty. Set within the oldest palace rooms, the Wolsey Rooms, the exhibition is told through rare and important 16th-century artwork and historic objects, as well as interactive displays. The Tudor World will explore the [...]
Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth has announced a Twixmas offer from 27–30 December 2024. The late availability includes three nights’ accommodation including tea & coffee on arrival, a three-course table d'hote menu each evening, full English buffet breakfast, evening entertainment in the bar on one night (subject to numbers), coach parking on site, porterage, plus [...]
Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is providing coach group offers, including tours of the castle and grounds with bespoke packages available. The site, situated less than a mile off the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh, is one of the largest inhabited castles in England and has been home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family, the Percys, [...]
Blenheim Palace has announced the introduction of exclusive offers for groups visiting during off-peak dates between 6 January and 31 March 2025. 2025 prices for group visits start from £39 for a Palace, Park and Gardens adult ticket for groups of 15+, including free admission for a group leader. The rate includes all-day coach parking, [...]
Cumbria’s Westmorland & Furness region of The Lake District has announced a range of new attractions, including the world speed record Bluebird K7, as well as the reopening of Barrow’s refurbished Dock Museum. Donald Campbell's iconic hydroplane, the Bluebird K7, in which he set seven world water speed records between 1955 and 1964, has returned [...]
Forth Boat Tours, one of Edinburgh’s leading attractions, has partnered with Rosebank Distillery, Scotland’s newest distillery, located in Falkirk, to create a new river cruise and distillery experience. With travel trade rates available for coach groups up to a maximum of 44 people, the ticket includes a guided tour of Rosebank Distillery and tutored tasting [...]
The Delta Hotels by Marriott St Pierre Country Club in Chepstow has announced its relaunch following an extensive refurbishment. The historic fourteenth-century manor includes 148 guestrooms, with a range of kings, twins, and suites. The updated hotel is a great location for groups to explore The Wye Valley, Forest of Dean, and South Wales. St [...]
The Real Mary King’s Close, a five-star heritage visitor attraction in Edinburgh, says it has celebrated its best summer season ever, welcoming over 93,000 guests from around the globe. The Royal Mile attraction, operated by Continuum Attractions, has also celebrated being named the UK’s Best Visitor Attraction by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. Continuum says that [...]
With places selling fast, CTA coach operator and wholesaler members are advised to book now for CTA Winter Networking in Blackpool, Saturday 23 to Monday 25 November. Over 80 delegates have already booked for the extended event that will give even more opportunities for business development and networking. Based at The Imperial Hotel Blackpool, the event [...]
Sponsorship requests for the 2025 CTA Conference are now open. CTA members are invited to sponsor an event at the Conference, taking place in Stratford-upon-Avon, 9-11 February 2025, with options including dinners, entertainment, as well as coaches & guides. Sponsors already confirmed include Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Valor Hospitality. A variety of sponsorship [...]
VisitScotland Connect, Scotland’s premier travel trade event, returns in 2025 on 9 and 10 April at P&J Live, Aberdeen. Booking registration will open late this summer – more information to follow. The event presents tourism buyers from around the globe with the opportunity to experience Scotland and meet face-to-face with Scottish tourism businesses. VisitScotland Connect [...]
CTA has learned the sad news of the passing of Diane Brown of Johnson Bros. Johnson Bros said: “Diane was a much loved member of the Johnson Business and had worked with us for more than 20 years. Diane was a huge presence amongst colleagues and clients and was adored by all. She will be [...]
New CTA member The Ruskin Hotel is a Visit England 3-star hotel in the centre of Blackpool, keen to work with coach groups. The hotel is encouraging coach tour operators attending CTA Winter Networking to visit the hotel while they are in Blackpool. In July 2023, the hotel purchased the last two properties on the [...]
The QHotels Collection would like to remind CTA members that there’s still time to donate to the 100km charity walk team who are participating in memory of Stacy Whittington. Hutch and Lynette from The QHotels Collection sales team are taking part in the South Coast Challenge on 7 September to raise money for the charity Cardiac [...]
Hilton Cambridge City Centre hotel is inviting CTA members to a supplier event on 19 September to promote Cambridge as a destination for travel and event needs. The event is scheduled for 10am to 1pm and exhibitors already signed up include the Museum of Zoology, the Traditional Punting Company, Hidden Cambridge, the Cambridge Gin Lab, Cambridge [...]
Coach groups are invited to experience the two-day Coin, Coal and Cheers package in South Wales. The tour takes in the Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan, involving the Royal Mint, the Rhondda Heritage Park Museum, and Hensol Castle Distillery. The Rhondda Heritage Park Museum provides a Welsh Coal Mining Experience at the [...]
Roeville, the supplier of reservation, operations and e-commerce systems to UK coach tour operators, has appointed Daniel Caddick as its new Commercial Director. Daniel previously held the role of Commercial Manager having joined Roeville in 2017. Daniel says: “I’m thrilled to be able to take up this role at such an exciting time for the [...]
Booking is open for groups to enjoy Christmas at Blenheim Palace, featuring a magical Neverland-themed journey, taking place from 15 November until 1 January 2025. The historic Palace and Gardens will once again come alive with thousands of lights to celebrate the festive season. This year, the stage is set for a swashbuckling adventure in [...]
Dover Castle has opened Under Siege, a new visitor experience explaining the 1216-1217 siege and how the English throne was prevented from falling into French hands. Visitors will also see what life was like for a soldier in the 1800s when fears of a French invasion in the Napoleonic era reached another peak. Interactive exhibitions [...]
This Christmas, Waddesdon is set to be transformed for a magical festive experience inspired by the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Enjoy beautifully decorated interiors, new light projections on the Manor façade, a glittering light trail in the gardens, and the return of the ever-popular Christmas market. Taking the classic story as inspiration, a team of [...]
CTA member Liverpool Football Club Museum has relaunched with a new, immersive journey following the attraction’s first revamp in a decade. Located in the heart of Anfield, the museum retells the club’s story as a tribute to the legacy of the club for fans from all over the world. State-of-the-art exhibits showcase iconic moments, legendary [...]
Visit Lake District, Cumbria has launched a range of cultural experiences across the Westmorland & Furness region for coach groups to add new product. The Let’s Go Culture experience presents a range of activities and trip ideas across the Westmorland & Furness region that spans from Alston in the North Pennines to Barrow-in-Furness on the [...]
Vox delivers a range of guide technology services, including digital radios and smartphone apps for group guiding, as well as local expert technology for multilingual group guiding, and self-guiding apps for free-time activities. voxtours.com presents the company’s portfolio of services which also includes content creation and venue management services. The website displays a variety of [...]
Visit County Durham has reported that the county’s visitor economy hit £1.23bn in 2023 following a 12.5% increase in visitors to 20.15million last year, with visitor spending up by 18.8%. The figure reflects the county’s investment which has also seen tourism employment increase by 12.4% to over 13,000 employees. Visit County Durham says that new [...]
CTA’s next networking event will take place on the opening morning of World Travel Market (WTM), Tuesday 5 November, at The Fox ExCel bar, at ExCel, London. CTA Networking at WTM is sponsored by Croisi Europe, and gives members the opportunity to meet and develop new business ahead of the show. Meeting at approximately 9am [...]
CTA is very saddened to hear of the passing of Derek Easton, a director of Eastons Holidays, who died on 28 June. Eastons Holidays said that Derek fought a six-year battle with cancer but passed away peacefully at home with family by his side. The company said: “He was so proud of his legacy, both [...]
Paris intends to restrict coach access within the centre of the city as part of its pedestrian-first policy, ‘Paris piéton’ and its clear-air policy, ‘Paris respire'. According to ETOA (European Tourism Association), The Right Bank - running 4km from Place de la Concorde to Canal Saint-Martin and 1.5km from the Seine to the Grands Boulevards [...]
A new museum is opening late July 2024 in Derry ~ Londonderry. The Peacemakers Museum focuses on how the North of Ireland moved from decades of violent conflict to peace. The museum is located in the Bogside area of Derry that witnessed some of the key events of the conflict including the Battle of the [...]
CTA members booking trips for 2025 with Broads Tours before the end of the year will benefit from 2024 prices with no deposit required. Operators can also receive cash back at the end of the season. CTA member, Broads Tours, based in Wroxham on the Norfolk Broads, provides a range of river trips and tailored [...]
CTA member Magic Costa Blanca Hotels & Resorts is inviting operators to find out more about its range of hotels in locations including Gandia, and now, six new hotels in Magic World Resort, Castellon. Across a variety of locations on Spain’s Costa Blanca, Magic Costa Blanca provides group hotel accommodation including spacious cabins, apartments, and [...]
Scotland's Tay Country has joined the CTA to support the region’s offerings to promote and assist coach tours and trips. Situated on the stunning east coast of Scotland and just an hour north of Edinburgh, Scotland's Tay Country is a captivating visitor destination that encompasses the beautiful areas of Angus, Fife, Perthshire, and the vibrant [...]
Ascot Racecourse is now a CTA member and is keen to engage with coach operators to welcome groups to its race meetings. Ascot is a venue rich in history and heritage, hosting one of the world’s most prestigious race meetings, Royal Ascot, as well as 21 race days each year, and non-racing events too. Ascot [...]
Ad Gefrin, located in Wooler, Northumbria, brings together a contemporary museum with a pioneering Whisky Distillery, celebrating the best of the region. The site includes the archaeology of the seventh century royal palace, discovered only four miles away, along with the richness of produce in the region today. In the re-imagined Great Hall, visitors take [...]
New CTA member, Innsbruck’s Nordkettenbahnen cable car, is inviting coach groups to experience the spectacular journey, travelling from the city centre to Austria's largest nature park in just a few minutes. The cable car presents a breathtaking 360° view, with the capital of the Alps on one side and the Karwendel Nature Park on the [...]
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire has won Gold in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 as ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’. WWT Slimbridge took home the prize at the national awards ceremony on Wednesday 5 June at Rum Warehouse, The Titanic Hotel, Liverpool. This is the second time WWT Slimbridge has made it [...]
Vine Hotels is presenting a range of coach group meal stops at various hotels across the country. Participating hotels include picturesque and historic settings such as Clarion Hotel Charlecote Pheasant in Stratford-upon-Avon, Mosborough Hall Hotel in Sheffield, and Abbotts Barton Hotel in Kent. Eight hotels in total are participating. The offer ranges from tea, coffee, [...]
Loving Welsh Food has launched a new coach tour itinerary including Castles & Cuisine, combining Welsh castles, Welsh cuisine, Cardiff city centre, and the tranquil surroundings of the Vale of Glamorgan, known as the Garden of Cardiff. Open to coach operators, the tour itinerary takes place from 10:00hrs to 1700hrs and includes a guided visit [...]
Aberdeen Countryside Rangers is offering coach groups the opportunity to explore some of the beautiful nature spots on the outskirts of the city. The Seabird Safari goes along Aberdeen's coastal trail and is an expert lead tour, identifying local birds and sea life while walking along the rugged coastline. The Woodland Walk & Mini Beast [...]
Salisbury Cathedral’s upcoming events programme includes Afternoon Carols in December, and next Spring the historic site offers a Flower Festival. On Tuesday 10 December at 2pm, groups are invited to Afternoon Carols. Along with Salisbury Cathedral Choir, groups can join in with carol favourites. The afternoon also includes Christmas readings as well as mulled wine [...]
