As the Turner Prize opens in Margate, Kent looks ahead to an exciting year of culture in 2020. According to Visit England’s recent Annual Attractions Survey, England’s art galleries and museums are currently enjoying significant growth in visitor numbers with figures up by 6 per cent in 2018 compared to the previous year. With millions [...]
The CTA Christmas Networking Event is being held in Coventry on Sunday 24 November 2019 and promises to be one you really won’t want to miss! Hosted by Doubletree Hilton, the event will be a great opportunity to catch up with industry friends and colleagues ahead of the festive period and will include a fabulous [...]
Following a suggestion by CTA member Robert Easton, we have set up a new group page on Facebook which is designed to enable coach operator members to discuss matters of interest regarding organising tours and excursions. The group enables members to share best practice and information including your favourite hotels, stopovers and destinations, and advice [...]
Places are still available for CTA operators for a special Christmas event at Tilbury on board Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ flagship Columbus on 19 December. Photo: CTA board member Paula Ward and communications director Helen Bowron met up with CMV’s Deborah Rixson (centre) on board the Columbus for a sneak preview. The Christmas event is [...]
The latest travel trade update from VisitScotland highlights Manderston House in the Scottish Borders which welcomes groups all year round. An Edwardian country house, Manderston was designed by Scottish architect John Kinross in the 1790s and is today home to the 4th Lord Palmer and sits in 56 acres of formal and informal gardens. Another [...]
Cheshire’s iconic Anderton Boat Lift is marking the national Heritage Open Days campaign with free history talks and ‘Walking the Lift’ tours on Saturday 21 September and Sunday 22 September. The history talks will cover the restoration of the lift and the engineering that makes the boat lift worthy of its ‘Scheduled Ancient Monument’ status. [...]
In addition to its range of cruise products, City Cruises Poole has opened its own cafe, the Harbour Station Café. Located directly on the Quay opposite the departure point for the cruises, the café provides a wide range of both hot and cold food, as well as an ice cream station. In addition to regular [...]
CTA is once again working closely with the British Tourism & Travel Show and will be a partner for the show and jointly host a reception for CTA members on the first afternoon. The show, which takes place on 25-26 March 2020 at the NEC, attracts more than 3,000 decision makers and is a great [...]
A spring day out at an RHS Garden offers an unrivalled opportunity for coach groups to see fabulous displays of bulbs, blossoms and special events. From the Royal Horticultural Society’s historic home, RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, to the beautiful RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon, and from RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate to the [...]
Coach Tourism Association members headed down to Brighton for their annual Summer get together and before you could say ‘why is that deckchair so big’ they were looking down on the resort from a great height, thanks to a flight on the British Airways i360. Still, it was just as well the chair was as [...]
CTA members enjoyed fabulous sunshine for their annual summer networking event, held in Brighton on Sunday 28 July. The event, which included a reception at the Old Ship Hotel, courtesy of the hotel and Visit Brighton, before a ‘ride’ on the British Airways i360 and a BBQ, attracted almost 100 delegates. On the following morning, [...]
Devon’s Top Attractions and the CTA have created a fabulous three-night, four-day Devon familiarisation opportunity, exclusive to CTA members on 27-30 October 2019. We have a limited number of places available on the 'Devon Unlocked' FAM trip for CTA coach operator and wholesaler members - so please book early, don't delay! The Fam trip is [...]
CTA member Aerospace Bristol has launched two new tours for groups in 2020. The Concorde Tour gives groups the chance to learn about the supersonic superstar that is Concorde, just across the runway from where all British Concordes were built. As they walk around the last Concorde to be built and the last to fly, [...]
Coach Tours UK magazine, which has just joined CTA as a member, is organising a free event for coach operators and GTOs in a visit to North Norfolk. Working with Creative Tourism Ideas & Solutions, Coach Tours UK Magazine is inviting all coach operators and GTOs to attend this FREE Day event at The Cliftonville [...]
Visit Flanders has alerted us about some events that are taking place in Antwerp in the coming months that will impact on the availability and location of coach parking in the city. During the following times, the usual coach parking will be closed and drivers will be directed to alternative facilities at Gerlachekaai, Antwerp. There [...]
As in previous years, VisitScotland will be holding a Scotland workshop on the morning after the CTA Summer BBQ on Monday 29 July, and will be bringing a fantastic selection of 23 Scottish businesses including members and non-members of the CTA. This is the largest and most varied list of suppliers to attend the workshop [...]
In partnership with Devon’s Top Attractions, CTA has created a superb three-night, four-day Devon familiarisation opportunity, exclusive to CTA coach operators on 27-30 October 2019. We will have a limited number of places available on the 'Devon Unlocked' FAM trip for CTA coach operator members and the booking link will be live shortly, but do [...]
Coach groups are invited to visit Britain’s ‘Sistine Chapel’ at the Old Royal Naval College, the centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and with more than 500 years of history, the Old Royal Naval College, in a spectacular riverside location, boasts some of the most beautiful architecture [...]
Recent travel firm failure highlights trust account operation, says Towergate Following the sad news of a south coast operator’s sudden and unexpected closure, CTA partner Towergate Travel is reminding operators about the changes to trust accounts which were included in the last year’s new Package Travel Directive. The new regulations continue to allow third party-administered [...]
New CTA member Cruise and Maritime Voyages is offering CTA operator members the opportunity to join its groups department to celebrate Christmas at a Festive Dinner and overnight event in London Tilbury on Thursday 19 December 2019. The event is a great opportunity to step aboard Columbus, to view the facilities and cabins, sample the [...]
Coach groups visiting London can take in a great comedy afternoon tea and join Lord and Lady Right in A Right Royale Tea, a hilarious, immersive and participatory performance set in the grandeur of the British aristocracy at the Amba Hotel, Charing Cross London on Sundays. Guests will join the fictitious Lord and Lady Right [...]
The Elizabethan Gardens at Kenilworth Castle have been rejuvenated in a £70,000 project to mark the anniversary of the 19-day visit to the castle by Queen Elizabeth 1 in July 1575, and can now be enjoyed by groups visiting this popular Warwickshire attraction. The one-acre walled garden forms part of the greatest love story that [...]
The leading exhibition dedicated to the domestic tourism industry, the British Tourism & Travel Show returns on 25-26 March 2020 at the NEC Birmingham and exhibition space is already 75 per cent sold. The event attracts more than 3,000 decision makers including coach tour operators, group travel organisers and tour managers who attend BTTS to source ideas [...]
The newly re-landscaped Princess Alexandra Gardens at Leeds Castle have been formally opened by patron of the foundation Princess Alexandra, during a day of celebrations for the attraction’s 900th anniversary. The Princess unveiled an official plaque to rename the new garden zones, which are now the second gardens in Kent to boast a royal title. [...]
VisitEngland has launched a new business-to-business digital platform designed to enable tourism suppliers to connect with multiple international distributors. Tourism Exchange Great Britain is a one-stop shop for English tourism suppliers including accommodation providers, visitor attractions and experiences, to link to distributors with international reach who can sell their products overseas. “TXGB will drive bookings [...]
An ingenious structure of treetop nests connected by rope bridges, slides and nets to emulate the natural landscape has been installed at Castle Howard by award-winning designers CAP.Co. The new Skelf Island, designed to engage the next generation with nature, is home to the otherworldly Skelves who have been inhabiting a secret world over the [...]
The Coach Tourism Association has appointed three new directors to its board, following the annual general meeting held in June. The new faces on the board are: Paula Ward, Account Director, Hilton Worldwide Leisure Sales; Andrew Day, Business Development Director at Wrightsure Services, and Dave Parry, Managing Director, Parrys International. Said CTA Chair John Wales: [...]
A beautiful summer evening with a dinner cruise on the Thames in great company with CTA colleagues, what could be better? The 2019 AGM took place on board the MV Mercia, courtesy of CTA member Thames River Services, who put on a lovely evening dinner cruise which was enjoyed by more than 60 delegates. The [...]
CTA tour operator members will be aware that last year saw the introduction of updated regulations on package travel protection with the new Package Travel & Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations coming into force on 1 July 2018. The updated regulations identify the three routes for providing insolvency protection to customers: Bonding through an approved body, such [...]
Silverstone has announced that Shaylor Group, the main building contractor for The Silverstone Experience, has gone into administration. The Silverstone Experience stresses that the project will still go ahead but this development will inevitably cause some delay to the public opening date. All those who have already booked tickets have been contacted directly and a [...]
CTA partner Towergate Travel reports that its “TRIP” financial failure insurance has been approved and recognised by a number of merchant facility providers, including Worldpay, First Data, Trustpay Global & Barclays Merchant Services. Towergate says that the new agreement means the days of merchant facility providers holding cash guarantees or other forms of security are [...]
An innovative conservation scheme has been unveiled by the National Trust for Scotland to protect Hill House in Helensburgh, which is considered to be the finest example of domestic architecture by Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and a major landmark within the history of architecture. The Glasgow publisher Walter Blackie commissioned Mackintosh to design the house [...]
A new wine shop at Waddesdon Manor offers the most comprehensive range of Rothschild wines in the UK and a perfect environment to taste rare Grand Cru wines by the glass. There are 126 Rothschild wines on offer, and a further 50 hand-picked guest wines. As a result of its prestige and global appeal, the [...]
A new audio guide at Cutty Sark is designed to enhance the visitor experience by bringing the story of the ship to life. The guide is currently available in English, other languages being introduced from the summer including German, French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese and Russian. The audio guide is included in [...]
CTA members will be made very welcome at the RDA’s Group Travel Expo which takes place in Cologne on 9-10 July. The annual event brings together trade buyers and suppliers from across the continent with an exclusive focus on coach and group tourism. “As in any industry, the coach travel sector has to keep re-inventing [...]
CTA member Hospitality Line has launched summer group rates for its On the Coast product including The Mary Rose Museum, Spinnaker Tower & 2 Course Lunch at Café Rouge, Portsmouth, and British Airways i360, Brighton Pavilion & 2 Course Lunch at The King and Queen, Brighton. The attraction visits and meals are designed to show [...]
There is still time to book for the CTA Summer BBQ which takes place in Brighton on Sunday 28 July, followed by a Visit Scotland workshop on the Monday morning. We are staying at the beautiful Old Ship Hotel on the seafront with a drinks reception at 5pm sponsored very generously by Visit Brighton. Then [...]
Visit Scotland’s latest travel trade bulletin includes information on a number of events and attractions including the forthcoming Solheim Cup, the biggest event in women’s golf, which takes place at PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, Perthshire from 9 – 15 September 2019, fascinating whisky tour opportunities at The Spirit of Ardnahoe on Islay, and Glencoe’s [...]
Jane Duffelen has sent this message to CTA members in respect of the amount raised at the CTA Conference in memory of Chris Wales. “Thank you all for your patience whilst I waited for the final donation to arrive - a staggering £3,275 raised at the CTA's annual conference, which brought the final total to [...]
Visit Kent have launched their brand new #SummerInKent 2019 campaign, along with three exciting campaign videos. Inviting Londoners, commuters, tourists and residents across the South East to discover more of the Garden of England, the digital marketing campaign will be published online across a range of publications (including the Metro, Time Out, and The Guardian), as [...]
RHS Gardens are offering dedicated packages for groups including the impressive festive ‘Glow Illuminations’, special winter walking tours and festive feasting options, to enable visitors to enjoy the best of the winter season with a group visit to one of the four RHS Gardens in the lead up to Christmas. Groups can get the best [...]
Continuum Attractions is running a Fam trip for coach operators at Emmerdale Studio Experience later this month and has some places remaining which will be of interest to CTA members. The event is on Saturday 22 June at 10:20 am at Emmerdale Studio Experience on Burley Road in Leeds and offers a chance to experience [...]
CTA member Borde Hill Garden in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, is gearing up for a summer of entertainment including hosting the Sussex Festival of Gin and performances of Open-Air Opera - all set within the Estate’s bloom-filled gardens. The Estate hosts the Sussex Gin Festival on Saturday 13 July in the South Park. Sussex is [...]
Greatdays has launched a new ‘Secrets of the City’ bus tour to celebrate Manchester’s innovative spirit and reveal stories about the city and its people. The 90-minute tour features a live commentary delivered by Blue Badge Tourist Guides and passengers will hear more than 100 unusual facts and quirky tales about Manchester’s buildings, heritage, transport, [...]
A statue of Prince Albert as a Greek warrior and a painting of bathing maidens are just a few of the extravagant gifts exchanged between Queen Victoria and her husband now on display at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. English Heritage is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the births of the royal couple this [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises, which has recently joined CTA, is making a multi-million pound investment in a brand-new 300-seat boat to add to its existing fleet. MV ‘Swift’ is expected to be in service from the mid 2020 season, making it the largest craft to be ‘launched’ on to Windermere for more than 80 years. The [...]
Free familiarisation visit to Aerospace Bristol Aerospace Bristol is home of the last Concorde ever to fly and a fantastic destination for groups. Situated just off the M5, the museum offers free parking, free entry for the group leader and coach driver, and guided tours. To discover Aerospace Bristol for yourself, CTA Operator Members can [...]
Accor Hotels is offering Staff Rates for CTA Operator Members to stay at their hotels Staff Rate logins: Go to www.accorhotels.com Enter the destination you require with arrival and departure date. Enter number of rooms/adults/children Under Business Travel with a contract enter the following codes then click search: Client code: SC396089195 Access Code: ST524FR871 Click [...]
BAi360 would like to offer all CTA members who were unable to attend the CTA Summer BBQ a free ticket to have a flight on the BAi360. CTA members who did not attend the CTA BBQ: One ticket per CTA member Proof of membership Valid 31st December 2019 Opening times available on our website Additional [...]
Castle Howard is offering complimentary admission – available to Operator and Supplier Members! This offer is limited to two staff member tickets per visit. Bookings need to be made direct with Gayl Ripley, Admissions Supervisor. T: 01653 648647 E: gripley@castlehoward.co.uk (Tickets not available during Countryfile Live)
