South Western Railway has named Stratford-upon-Avon’s Shakespeare Distillery as one of the country’s top gin distilleries according to a recent survey. The rail operator’s survey included Google Reviews, where Shakespeare Distillery achieved 96% five-star reviews. This high ranking placed the distillery in eighth place in the UK-wide survey. This adds to other recent awards for [...]
Salisbury Cathedral reported a four-fold increase in group bookings in April, coinciding with the spring season and new exhibitions on display. A new exhibition, To be free: art and liberty, is exploring human rights and freedom, and includes works by internationally renowned artists. The cathedral is also home to the best-preserved remaining Magna Carta, the [...]
Waddesdon House & Gardens, Buckinghamshire, has announced details of its 2023 Christmas events. Waddesdon manor and grounds will transform into a wonderland inspired by classic British tales. Inside the house, groups can explore the Mad Hatters tea party, travel to the Ice Queen’s lair, and discover Captain Hook’s treasure cave. Outside, the manor’s façade will [...]
Yorkshire-based coach operators, Acklams Holidays and Welsh’s Holidays, have enjoyed recent successful tours to Scotland.Taking in the Highlands, Acklam’s coach can be seen on the Nevis Range Gondola trip to the base station on Aonach Mòr, 2200ft, the highest cafe in Scotland. Meanwhile, Welsh’s Holidays took in the southern counties of Scotland including a trip [...]
New CTA member Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers a great way to travel through London and enjoy the city’s landmarks. The River Bus stops at 24 piers across the capital linking key locations such as the Battersea, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and Tower of London, Greenwich and North Greenwich for The [...]
www.edenproject.com 01726 811911 Eden Project Eden is the gateway into the fascinating world of plants and people and a vibrant reminder of how we need each other for our mutual survival. A unique regeneration project which transformed an old china clay pit into a global garden and home to the [...]
Our next CTA event will be our Summer Networking which takes place at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Elstree on 23-24 July 2023. We are very grateful for sponsorship of the event from Visit Herts and CTA Partner member VisitScotland. The event starts with a Fam trip to CTA member Hatfield House and includes a [...]
The Excursions domestic group travel show is taking place at The Great Hall at Wembley Stadium, Saturday 27 January 2024. Organised by Tourism South East, the event has reached its 50th anniversary. The organisation’s CEO, Fran Downton, says: “Celebrating 50 years of Excursions firmly cements the show as the leading and most established group travel [...]
The newly imagined Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit near Inverness has reopened following significant investment, creating a new immersive experience. Reopened on Saturday 10 June following takeover by Continuum Attractions earlier this year, £1.5m has been invested in a full upgrade to enhance the visitor experience, including trips aboard the attraction’s research vessel, Deepscan. This [...]
At Buckingham Palace this summer The Royal Trust Collection is displaying the outfits worn by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Coronation. The display will present the Robe of Estate worn by The King, which was also worn by his grandfather King George VI for his Coronation in 1937, and will [...]
Visit Kent has held a joint reception at The House of Commons with The Port of Dover and LeShuttle to celebrate Kent’s tourism industry and launch a new sustainability plan. The new sustainability plan for the visitor economy in Kent has been developed over a number of months by The Act for Impact Group which [...]
Saren Travel Group will be advising operators on tours to The Hague and The Netherlands following an extensive fam trip. The CTA member helps coach and tour operators with their travel arrangements throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe, with The Hague and Holland now included. “We had the opportunity to visit some fantastic attractions in [...]
Hilton is inviting coach operators to a Customer Showcase at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 5 July 2023. It should be a great opportunity to learn about its latest updates and runs from 12.30pm until 8.30pm so you can drop in when convenient. See the flyer here and scan the QR code to [...]
For the Summer Solstice 2023 at Stonehenge, English Heritage would like to remind operators that all coaches and minibuses must be pre-booked and pre-paid. The organisation says that display passes should also be clearly displayed on the dashboard. This year, Summer Solstice will celebrated at Stonehenge from 19:00 on Tuesday 20 June to 08:00 on [...]
Johnston Mailing, based in Glasgow, joined CTA as a new Supplier member recently and is keen to discuss the benefits of Direct Mail marketing with coach tour operators. Johnston Mailing offers a range of direct mail services which it says is a very effective way for travel businesses to promote their products and services. Some [...]
Marriott has produced a new bi-monthly national sales newsletter which includes the latest news and updates from Marriott International in the UK. The newsletter includes updates on the conversion of 23 hotels to Delta Hotels by Marriott in the UK which is now well underway, bringing with it newly renovated hotels, with redesigned spaces and [...]
CTA is deeply saddened by the news that Stacy Whittington, The QHotels Collection, died suddenly last Wednesday (31 May). Stacy was very well known right across the CTA membership and was a regular and very enthusiastic attendee of our networking events. Stacy's presence will be sorely missed by all her friends and colleagues in CTA [...]
CTA's Spring Networking event in Llandudno, sponsored by Visit Wales, attracted 95 members including coach operators, wholesalers, and industry suppliers. Held over Sunday 21 to Monday 22 May, the programme included a fam trip, supplier showcase and networking, as well as a social media masterclass. See a photo gallery of the event here - thanks [...]
CTA will welcome members to its Spring Networking & AGM event in Llandudno this coming weekend (21-22 May). CTA is delighted to confirm sponsors for the Llandudno event. Christmas in Birmingham is sponsoring the Networking Dinner on Sunday evening. And CTA Partner member Visit Wales is sponsoring the buyers’ attendance at the event. (See the latest tourism trade [...]
CTA has launched an updated news submission service, making it easier for members to share their news for promotion across the organisation’s network. All members are invited to submit their news updates to an easy to use online template. Selected news submissions will be included within the new CTA News Update that will be circulated [...]
Providing a range of more than 20 brewpubs across England and Wales, Brewhouse & Kitchen has opened a new location in Chelmsford. Like all Brewhouse & Kitchen venues, the Chelmsford pub brews its own beer on site and offers a range of dining options. Groups can enjoy a tour, tasting, and meal package, with a [...]
A new exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, reveals life in the eighteenth century through fashions of the day. Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians aims to explain life in Britain during a revolutionary era of industry, trade, travel, and technological innovation. On display until 8 October 2023, the exhibition reveals how the Georgians [...]
This year, groups attending Christmas at Blenheim Palace are invited to book directly with the Blenheim Palace groups booking team. Enabling operators to book direct for the popular Christmas events is aimed at further improving the service by offering the expertise of the in-house Blenheim Palace team. To book the date and time to visit [...]
Insurance provider Towergate Travel is now open to enquiries for ABTA bonds. Towergate Travel is working in partnership with AXA Insurance UK plc. The company says that following the exit of several insurance markets following Brexit and Covid, bringing additional bonding capacity to the travel industry has been challenging. Towergate Travel can now provide ABTA [...]
Liverpool’s Strawberry Field has revealed images of a new mosaic that will feature in the bandstand opening later this year. Meanwhile, groups can enjoy the updated garden tour, featuring soundscapes intended to help visitors explore mindfulness and reconnect with nature. Strawberry Field is an interactive experience that tells stories of the Victorian house, its transition [...]
The Book of Hours prayer book, once owned by Anne Boleyn, is currently on loan display at Hampton Court Palace until 30 October. Groups can see the book that features Anne’s signature and her personal inscriptions. Anne Boleyn’s Book of Hours been loaned to Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s ‘pleasure palace’, by Hever Castle in [...]
Stage set designs by Paul McCartney are going on display at the Liverpool Beatles Museum. The designs were commissioned by Beatles manager Brian Epstein as potential backdrops to a concert by The Four Tops at The Saville Theatre. The Liverpool Beatles Museum is revealing the designs on Thursday 27 May before opening viewing to the [...]
Chatham Historic Dockyard relaunched its popular Call The Midwife Official Location Tour and unveiled a brand new gallery at an event with the cast on 27 April. Many of the outside scenes from the BBC series are filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent. The new gallery hosts costumes and items from the popular [...]
Aylesbury’s Waddesdon Manor is presenting tours of the little seen, cultivated four-acre walled garden for groups of up to 30 people. Eythrope is the Rothschild's private walled garden at Waddesdon Manor, renowned for its gardening excellence and haven for traditional techniques. A visit to Eythrope includes a garden tour from one of Waddesdon’s specialist guides, [...]
Abba Voyage is lending the hand-made ‘Phoenix Collection’ outfits from the recent ‘virtual Abba’ show for public display at the British Music Experience. The display is part of the museum’s celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The Abba Voyage show features digital versions of the band members created with motion capture and performance techniques. [...]
See latest update here from Port of Dover in respect of Whitsun bank holiday arrangements CTA press release on 6 April in response to the delays at Dover in the Easter holidays: New measures aiming to reduce delays for coaches passing through Dover to Europe risk moving responsibility to coach operators, says the Coach Tourism [...]
Booking is now open for group visits to Waddesdon in 2023 with so much to discover throughout the year. In the formal gardens, over 50,000 tulips will bloom in spring before beautiful bedding inspired by the coronation is planted. In the House, fine art and incredible treasures await visitors who will also see some incredible [...]
Strathmore Hotels reports that The Cairn Hotel, Harrogate still has some availability for 2023. The hotel is set on four acres and nestles on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. It is located five minutes from the centre of Harrogate and has ample free parking for coaches. There is a lift to all floors and [...]
CTA member Blenheim Palace would like to welcome CTA operator members for a complimentary day visit for two people at their convenience. Availability for the visit will be subject to availability avoiding some events and Christmas. If you would like to take up this offer, just email partnerships@blenheimpalace.com to get your tickets.
Woods Travel of Bognor Regis have issued a newsletter to its customers to highlight the fact that it remains independently-owned and run and has not been acquired by another business. The newsletter is in response to some customers getting an incorrect impression following a marketing campaign from a large operator that included a company with [...]
Roland Eglinton, managing director of CTA member Chalkwell Coaches is in training for the London Marathon in aid of Wellchild. The event takes place on 23 April and will involve around 40,000 other runners as it returns to its traditional April slot following Covid-related disruption. A keen runner in his spare time, Roland has completed [...]
Historic Royal Palaces has an array of incredible events and exhibitions this year across its sites. At the Tower of London, the Crown Jewels will be an integral part of the historic coronation of King Charles III. The Tower will continue to showcase these awe-inspiring objects and explore their stories in a permanent exhibition. And from [...]
Brend Hotels is restyling itself as the Brend Collection with a new website and updated social media channels. The rebrand highlights the collection of hotels, restaurants, bars and spas that the group now operates. “Our mission is to be the company of choice for guests, customers and talent,” says Brend Collection. “Whenever a customer is [...]
Matilda The Musical is the perfect musical for a group visit to London. The award-winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by Roald Dahl is brought to life with original songs by Tim Minchin, and tells the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and [...]
Continuum Attractions is taking over one of Scotland’s most famous visitor attractions, The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, near Inverness, investing £1.5million into its refurbishment. Continuum, owners of attractions across the UK and with a 20-year heritage in Scotland, is taking a long lease of the iconic Highland tourism site with immediate plans to upgrade [...]
With a Vampire Squid (from hell), tales of a Kraken with tentacles 2 metres long and a scale-model of Boaty McBoatface, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is showcasing an exhibition that has been described as the most technically sophisticated and lavish sea monster-themed showcase ever produced. Curated by the National Maritime Museum Cornwall with the National [...]
Arena di Verona Opera Festival celebrates the event’s centenary at the 2023 season. For 100 years, the festival has offered an unprecedented programme with eight opera titles, four gala evenings and an extraordinary concert by the orchestra and choir of the Teatro alla Scala. The 100th Opera Season in the Arena will include repeat performances [...]
Our next CTA event will be our Spring Networking & AGM which takes place at the Imperial Hotel, Llandudno on 21-22 May 2023. CTA is delighted to confirm sponsors for the Llandudno event. Christmas in Birmingham is sponsoring the Networking Dinner on Sunday evening. And CTA Partner member Visit Wales is sponsoring the buyers' attendance [...]
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported a very successful CTA Conference & Workshop 2023 in Belfast. Many thanks to all the delegates who attended a great event in Belfast for our 2023 Conference. A packed schedule of Fam visits, Workshop and Conference sessions hopefully kept everyone informed, entertained and fully networked. We are [...]
British Tourism & Travel Show returns to the NEC Birmingham on 22-23 March, with 50 new exhibitors confirmed to enhance the group tourism sector's biggest annual event. More than 250 visitor attractions, hotels, venues and destinations will be exhibiting to inspire coach tour planners and group travel organisers with the best of Britain and Ireland. [...]
Caledonian Macbrayne reports that fares on the Clyde & Hebrides ferry network will be frozen for six months. Ticket prices will be held at current levels from April until the end of September to help people and businesses from Scotland’s remote rural and island communities. Caledonian Macbrayne operates 33 ferries to mainland and island ports [...]
Mersey Ferries has launched its full programme for the year ahead including a varied range of cruises for groups of all sizes. Manchester Ship Canal cruises offer a six-hour round-trip along the historic waterway. Cruises depart from either Seacombe Ferry Terminal, Wirral or Liverpool Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal (Pier Head). There is stunning industrial architecture [...]
Ambassador Cruise Line has opened registrations for a UK-wide ship visit programme for trade partners and agents. The initiative offers the opportunity to sample the ‘Ambassador experience’ on board either Ambience (currently in service) or Ambition (launching May 2023), at a port that is convenient. From 12 May 2023, Ambassador will sail from seven UK [...]
Been inside Anfield’s towering Main Stand? Then why not try outside – abseiling 100ft down from top to bottom in this brand new adrenaline filled adventure! Visitors and fans now have the chance to scale down the walls and experience Anfield Stadium from a completely different perspective and challenge themselves with The Anfield Abseil. Liverpool [...]
Strathmore Hotels has now committed itself further to transferring away from fossil fuels (gas mains and oil) as its main source of heat energy with consent being granted for a Biomass installation at the 100+ bedroom Ben Wyvis Hotel in Strathpeffer. The Ben Wyvis Hotel joins the other seven hotels in the group which have [...]
