The Coach Tourism Association’s CTA Annual Workshop 2026, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, took place 6-10 February and attracted nearly 180 industry stakeholders to Derry~Londonderry for the industry’s flagship annual business development event. The CTA Annual Workshop was the first edition of the organisation’s new-look annual event and featured a full day of pre-arranged, one-to-one business [...]
Join CTA members at the British Tourism and Travel Show 2026, Thursday 19 March, Hall 8, NEC Birmingham. Visit the CTA’s stand and network with fellow members – join us on Stand A18. This year, BTTS has a new one-day format to create a an even productive and efficient experience for visitors. BTTS is the [...]
Save the date for CTA Spring Networking 2026, taking place between Saturday 9 May and Monday 11 May. The location for the event is expected to be revealed in March once final confirmations are complete. The Spring gathering for CTA members will involve fam trips and networking opportunities, plus a Supplier Workshop, and the CTA [...]
The CTA Member Handbook 2026 will be available in March, complete with full member listings plus various information to help you get the most from your membership. Issued exclusively to members, the Handbook provides contact details of all members of the organisation, enabling you to identify and get in touch with the buyer or supplier [...]
Birmingham City Council is calling for input from coach operators and coach-friendly attractions on the city’s coach access and parking. The council is requesting operators and attractions that welcome coach groups to complete an online survey on travel routes, drop off and pick up points, and other coach facilities. The survey responses will help Birmingham [...]
If you’re heading to VisitScotland Connect, Scotland’s premier travel trade event, taking place 15-16 April at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow, visit CTA at the event. Buyer registration is still open, although Supplier registration is now closed, and a waiting list is in operation for suppliers and destinations. VisitScotland Connect welcomes tourism buyers from [...]
CTA member Castlebridge Hospitality has taken on the management of Courtyard by Marriott Keele, Staffordshire, a 150-room hotel located close to Keele University and Science and Innovation Park. Adding the hotel to its portfolio since the start of 2026, the Courtyard by Marriott Keele is surrounded by countryside but is just minutes away from Stoke-On-Trent [...]
Hastings Hotels, offering a range of hotels across Northern Ireland ideal for coach groups, has joined the CTA. Many CTA members will be familiar with Hastings Hotels through the Everglades Hotel in Derry-Londonderry, which was the host of the Buyer Workshop and also provided accommodation for the recent CTA Annual Workshop 2026. Hastings Hotels presents [...]
CTA member and insurance provider Towergate Travel has renamed as Everywhen. Providing insurance to coach operators of all scales, policies range from one commercial vehicle to a fleet, and services include a range of insurance types. Insurance can be provided for passengers, drivers, and business, with bespoke options available. Everywhen offers coach and bus insurance [...]
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is welcoming groups this year to experience a nostalgic journey through 24 miles of stunning Yorkshire scenery aboard its fleet of heritage steam and diesel locomotives. The main railway season starts at the end of March and runs through the year until the end of October, when the NYMR [...]
LGH Hotels has announced the reopening of the newly refurbished Cambridge Bar Hill Hotel, part of the Signature Collection by Best Western. The hotel is now welcoming coach groups for 2026 and beyond. Designed with group travel in mind, LGH says the Cambridge Bar Hill Hotel refurbishment blends modern comfort with practical features, including a [...]
CTA member Olympus Fish & Chip Restaurant in Bolton is once again welcoming coach groups in 2026, including dining options, sing-along entertainment, as well as partnerships with local Bolton attractions. A fish and chip restaurant with a twist, Olympus hosts Dance & Singalong events, Monday to Wednesday, between 1pm and 4pm, where the resident pianist [...]
Strawberry Field Liverpool has been awarded a Gold certification from Green Tourism, placing it among a small number of leading sustainable visitor attractions in the Liverpool City Region. The internationally recognised accreditation confirms that Strawberry Field has exceeded rigorous sustainability standards. Green Tourism assesses organisations against robust criteria aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development [...]
Nearly 180 members have booked for the CTA Annual Workshop, taking place 6-10 February 2026 in Derry~Londonderry, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, with the CTA Meet the Buyer Workshop to feature more than 1,200 one-to-one meetings between Buyers and Suppliers. Limited places are still available on a first-come-first-served basis for the fam trip to Donegal open [...]
Registration is open to book your place to attend the British Tourism and Travel Show 2026, Thursday 19 March, Hall 8, NEC Birmingham, and the CTA is welcoming members to visit us on Stand A18. BTTS is the UK’s largest group travel event and will present around 200 exhibitors from across the domestic travel trade [...]
CTA members are advised to save the date for CTA Spring Networking 2026, which will take place between Saturday 9 May and Monday 11 May. Although the location for the event is still under wraps, the popular Spring event will involve various fam trips alongside networking opportunities, plus a Supplier Workshop. While Saturday 9 [...]
The CTA would like to remind members that membership and Partner rates have been frozen for 2026. Membership renewal applications have been distributed by e-mail. If you haven’t already submitted your application, please do so as soon as possible. Membership renewals made by 20 February will also secure the inclusion of your brand and contact [...]
CTA member Worldwide Attractions, the business-to-business travel sales representation company, staged a successful fam trip to Rotterdam in December, hosting15 attendees including the CTA. The three and four day fam trips were presented in conjunction with three CTA supplier members, including P&O Ferries, Royal Spido and Euromast, to demonstrate how rewarding Rotterdam is as a [...]
CTA member Visit Southport is presenting a host of exciting events across 2026, ideal for group trips. Highlights include Lightport, an immersive light and sound installation that will turn the town into a walk-through rainbow of colour and creativity, taking place 14 - 16 February. From 3-4 April, French street theatre company Transe Express brings [...]
The Bentley Hotel Lincoln, a Best Western Plus hotel, managed by the Meridian Group, has joined the CTA to emphasise its engagement with coach tour groups. Family owned for over 25 years, the Bentley Hotel features 81 double/twin rooms with free Wi-Fi, and a complimentary leisure club with pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and gym. The hotel [...]
Liverpool’s The British Music Experience, which presents the history of British rock and pop, is staging Don’t Believe the Hype… Uncovering the Artwork of Arctic Monkeys’ Debut Album. This temporary exhibition, staged between 23 January and 22 March 2026, explores the creation and cultural legacy of one of the most recognisable album covers of the [...]
Michels & Taylor Hotels has appointed Jill Nichols as National Account Director, managing a portfolio of 17 properties spanning from Scotland to the South Coast. Jill’s remit also features branded properties including Hilton and IHG, as well as The Welcombe and The Abbey hotel independent hotels. Attending the CTA Annual Workshop in Derry~Londonderry next month, [...]
Edinburgh Zoo has appointed the city’s Heritage Portfolio, a Sodexo Live! brand, as its new catering and hospitality partner. The zoo says the new partnership will celebrate Scottish ingredients, support local producers, and enhance the visitor’ experience. The food and beverage plan is built around conservation, community, and engagement, with priorities focussing on improving quality [...]
The STG Hotel Oxford Street, formerly St Giles Hotel, Soho, has become part of Criterion Hospitality. The hotel is popular with coach operators due to the location just off Oxford Street north of Tottenham Court Road tube station and features 731 rooms. The hotel is ideally located to visit Soho, the British Museum, and Covent [...]
CTA member Trust My Travel, the global merchant account solution, has rebranded as Repayd. Repayd’s solution enables travel and hospitality providers to accept, protect, and optimise cross-border payments with built-in financial protection. The service includes a fully managed payment infrastructure designed for high-risk, high-value, and international transactions. For tour operators, Repayd’s merchant accounts are designed [...]
The Holiday Inn Bristol Filton Hotel, managed by LGH Hotel Management, is inviting coach operators to explore its facilities and book for the year ahead. Located near the M4 and M5 motorway intersections in north Bristol’s Filton area, the hotel has undergone a recent refurbishment and offers easy access to the South West and South [...]
CTA members are reminded that the final booking deadline to attend the CTA Annual Workshop is midnight Friday 19 December. Over 150 members have already signed up for the event that will take place 6-10 February 2026 in Derry~Londonderry, sponsored by Tourism Ireland. The 19 December deadline is in place to arrange more than 1,200 [...]
115 Coach Tourism Association members attended CTA Winter Networking Perthshire, 21-24 November, sponsored by VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council and supported by Scotland’s Tay Country. Several operators have made requested bookings as a result of the event that presented new product development opportunities. Hosted primarily at the Crieff Hydro Hotel, the weekend visited various [...]
The CTA would like to thank Steve & Sue Rooney as they step down from the organisation after eight years’ service. Steve & Sue have successfully headed CTA’s membership operations and communications management since 2017. Their final day with the CTA will be 19 December. Overseeing management of CTA operations, including during the challenges of [...]
The CTA is happy to announce that membership rates and Partner rates will be frozen for 2026. Membership renewal applications will be distributed by e-mail from 15 December. Freezing the membership and partner rates at the same level as 2025, the annual membership rates are: Small coach operator (operating up to 5 coaches) – £285 [...]
Visitor registration is now open for the British Tourism and Travel Show 2026, taking place Thursday 19 March, Hall 8, NEC Birmingham. BTTS is the UK’s biggest event for group travel, showcasing the best of group tourism across the British Isles and beyond. Attendance to visit the event is free. The CTA will be present [...]
The Castle of Brecon Hotel, part of the Coaching Inn Group, has been fully restored inside and out as part of a £3m refurbishment for the Brecon landmark. The hotel is located within the remains of the original Brecon Castle and offers 42 guest bedrooms, a restaurant, bar, and social spaces, which blend modern comfort [...]
Perth Museum, the new £26.5m redevelopment of a historic building in the centre of Perth City, has released its travel trade rates and guide. A popular feature on the recent CTA Winter Networking event, The Perth Museum invites visitors to explore Scotland’s past and its connection to the wider world through its display of exceptional [...]
CTA members are invited to a networking evening followed by dinner and an overnight stay at the Hilton London Croydon on Tuesday 20 January. Hilton London Croydon offers an ideal location to explore London and its attractions, as well as a base to explore the South East counties including Surrey, Sussex, and Kent. The hotel [...]
The Museum of Royal Worcester, the famed porcelain brand, is inviting group travel organisers to step into a world of creativity, heritage, and craftsmanship spanning over 250 years. The museum is located by the regenerated Royal Porcelain Works factory site in the historic city of Worcester. Founded in 1751, Dr. Wall’s early porcelain factory began [...]
Scotland's Tay Country has published its new Coach Operator Toolkit, providing operators with full information to plan, promote, and deliver coach trips and tours across Scotland’s Tay Country. Tay Country comprises Angus, Fife, Perthshire, and the city of Dundee. The new toolkit provides insights to help operators understand the Tay Country offer, including suggestions for [...]
Cornwall Council has advised that Fairmantle Coach Park in Truro will be closed to coach operators from 5pm on Friday 20 February 2026 until Monday 23 March 2026. For coach drop off and pick up during this period, the council suggests using the bus stops on St Clement Street, which are not currently in use. [...]
The popular Stratford-upon-Avon attraction Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall, has published its new group rates covering 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028, including group tours. The 605-year-old building, built during the reign of Henry V, is the location where the young William Shakespeare was educated and inspired to become one of the world’s most famous [...]
Shuttleworth has added a Hawker Hurricane to its collection of historic aircraft, with the aircraft registration G-HURI flying in at the end of November. Hawker Hurricane G-HURI was one of the first civilian Hurricanes flying in 1989, and Shuttleworth’s addition has been added from the Historic Aircraft Collection. The airworthy Hurricane was part of the [...]
Over 100 CTA members have already signed up for the CTA Annual Workshop, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, taking place 6-10 February 2026 in Derry~Londonderry, with Early Bird Booking available until Friday 14 November. Limited places remain for the pre-event fam trips open to Buyer members, with accommodation provided by Tourism Northern Ireland, including options for [...]
CTA Winter Networking, taking place in Perthshire, 22-24 November, sponsored by VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council, has received 117 bookings from buyer and supplier members. A very limited number of final places are still available – e-mail Isabelle Sanzelle Kanaan if you require a late booking. Based at the Crieff Hydro Hotel, the weekend [...]
More than 60 CTA members attended the CTA Networking event at WTM 2025 last week, which took place on the opening morning of the global travel show at Excel London. With a significant increase of members attending the CTA event compared to last year, there was a good mix of buyers and suppliers and a [...]
Registration is now underway for VisitScotland Connect 2026, Scotland’s biggest travel trade event, which will take place 15-16 April at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow. The event presents tourism buyers from around the world with the opportunity to experience Scotland. The VisitScotland Connect format includes two days of pre-scheduled, one-to-one workshop appointments. The event is [...]
The first, new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years has taken to the water in Liverpool where sea trials will begin next year. The Royal Daffodil, the new £26m Mersey Ferry, was moved to the River Mersey on 6 November for basin testing, where the vessel first touches the water to test propulsion, steering, [...]
Holiday wholesaler Ashley & Newey has presented its brand new 2027 portfolio, offering inspiring coach holiday experiences across the UK and Ireland. Specialising in coach holiday experiences, Ashley & Newey provides comprehensive tour management, including accommodation, itineraries, ferries, room requests, invoicing, marketing support, and driver notes. New featured tours for 2027 include Leeds Castle and [...]
CTA member Raby Castle in County Durham has created a festive package for groups featuring the new Raby Castle at Christmas experience. For the first time in fifty years, groups can visit the ground floor of the fourteenth century castle, which will be open to the public in the build up to Christmas. The new [...]
Westminster Abbey has launched a new groups booking portal, giving access to group tickets with guaranteed timed entry. Travel trade partners and Blue Badge Guides can now register for a groups booking portal account, which will become the standard booking route for all groups visiting Westminster Abbey. The registration form is live now on Westminster Abbey’s Groups [...]
CTA member Thwaites Hotels has won the AA Group of the Year prize at the AA Hospitality Awards 2025. The award category was for large hotel groups providing the best levels of service, food, and accommodation across the range of properties. The ceremony, hosted by TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay, was held at the [...]
Isle of Man DMC has launched a new collection of small-group sightseeing tours designed to help coach and group operators add the Isle of Man to their programmes. The new range available from the CTA member offers ready-to-sell, fully commissionable day tours that can be combined within wider touring itineraries or adapted for private groups. [...]
Cadw would like to remind coach operators about the advantages of its Tour Operator Scheme when making bookings to its historic properties in Wales. Cadw is the Welsh government’s historic environment service, presenting visitors with a range of special interest sites and buildings. For group visits, the Tour Operator Scheme provides preferential trade rates, two [...]
