Strathmore Hotels is reporting it is coach-ready and all eight of its hotels are open and have rooms available for August, September and October 2020, BB or DBB at great rates. There are Festive packages available in November and December too. Strathmore hotels: Alexandra Hotel- Fort William; Ben Nevis Hotel & Leisure Club - Fort William; Ben [...]
Exhibition organiser Busworld is hosting a webinar on Wed 5 August aimed at coach operators which includes a range of international speakers from CheckMyBus, National Express and Zeelo. The event is designed to provide insights on digital strategies with input from industry professionals and experts. Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8215955779638/WN_Osfgr8RCS0SAgsL8fF-Cng
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 27/07/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 28 July 2020 29 July 2020 28 July 2020 ... CPT operational updates: TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 The Office of the Traffic Commissioners has today (28 July) published the annual [...]
CTA member Acklams Coaches has donated a second coach, through a local charity Jacob’s Well Appeal, for a new life in Burkina Faso, where it will be used for transporting school children in and around Bobo-Dioulasso. John Beynon (CEO of Jacob's Well) is pictured accepting the keys to the Plaxton Excalibur coach from Managing Director, [...]
Over recent weeks Historic Royal Palaces has successfully opened some of its sites and welcomed positive reviews from visitors enjoying the palaces in a safe and secure environment once again. The organisation has now confirmed its plans to travel trade partners and group organisers, giving them the confidence and enabling them to include palace visits [...]
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is reopening The Historic Dockyard Chatham to visitors on Saturday 25 July. The attraction has been closed to the public since March as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst the government took the decision to allow tourism businesses to reopen from the start of July, the Trust has taken [...]
Following CTA contact with Sheringham Chamber of Trade, we have now had a positive response from North Norfolk District Council regarding future arrangements for coach parking in Cromer and Sheringham. The council has confirmed that its amendments to parking spaces is just a temporary arrangement and it will be monitoring demand for coach facilities on [...]
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Tourism has officially signalled the launch of the summer season with a new ‘We Are Tourism’ campaign. Using social media channels, and working with local businesses, the destination is heralding a new dawn for visitors after the disruption triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new campaign emphasises the measures implemented by [...]
Liverpool FC’s stadium tour and museum are now open and ready to welcome groups for the first time since March. Following the Government’s announcement that visitor attractions are able to reopen, the stadium tour and museum team have been working hard to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests in line with social [...]
After months of closure and already halfway through its peak season, the London tourism sector has today joined forces to urge the UK Government to act now or face an economic crisis in the capital. The 10,776 London attractions, restaurants, hotels, industry bodies and event organisers have written to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 06/07/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 13 July 2020 16 July 2020 13 July 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: VAT: reduced rate for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions Guidance is now available, following the government’s announcement that VAT [...]
CTA is hosting a FREE webinar series on social media which aims to help members get the most out of social media campaigns. If you’re a novice to using social media as part of your marketing and sales, or a veteran with the battle scars to prove it, you will certainly all learn something. The [...]
The Scottish Government has confirmed that it has now moved to Phase 3 of its route map out of the Covid crisis, and accommodation and attractions (who are able to and who are following hygiene and distancing guidance) will re-open from 15 July. Over 3,000 Scottish businesses have signed up to the ‘Good to Go’ scheme [...]
Dalata has introduced a new Keep Safe Programme across its 44 hotels which includes a revised cleaning regime in each guest room, and a ‘fogging’ sanitisation treatment using Anolyte to provide an extra level of sterilisation. This is used in ‘Clean Room Technology’ throughout the pharmaceutical sector and some hospitals. Anolyte is electro-chemically activated water which [...]
New CTA member Staycity has re-opened properties to leisure and business guests across its European estate with a new ‘Stay with Confidence’ message backed up by a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols designed to minimise the risk of Covid-19 and deliver high standards of hygiene to both staff and guests. “We have systematically [...]
CTA has been informed that the only hotel in the Fishguard area with the capacity to accommodate coach parties – Fishguard Bay Hotel – is up for sale following the liquidation of the most recent owner’s company. It is an iconic building in a dominant and wonderful position near the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry.
Historic Royal Palaces are testing operations in the first few weeks of opening, and are planning to re-open their website to group bookings within the Government guidelines of group gatherings, in the coming weeks. Further details will be available soon.
Sheringham Chamber of Trade in North Norfolk wants to hear from coach operators to establish how many coach tour companies are planning to operate excursions to the area in the coming three months. This relates to a recent decision to change coach parking bays in the main car park into car parking bays, as the [...]
Johnsons Coach Travel has been actively surveying its customers to find out their responses to the re-starting of tours and excursions, having published a new set of operating procedures to account for new Covid safety measures. John Johnson is happy for other members to see the results in case it helps them in their planning [...]
CTA operator members John Johnson, Daniel Kirby and Shirley Winn took part in a Zoom call with Group Leisure and Travel editor Keeley Rodgers recently and the resulting website feature is here and here is a link to the video call.
Following its acquisition of the Shearings brand and website and social media assets, Leger has moved quickly to put new Shearings UK and continental tours on sale. Lucy Osborne, UK product manager, Leger Holidays, describes it as “the start of a new chapter for the iconic brand of Shearings!” For anyone interested in partnering with [...]
Hospitality Line is looking forward to welcoming back customers and has been working closely with its supplier partners to ensure all the required hygiene and social distancing measures are in place to ensure the health and well-being of all its guests. One positive piece of news is that Warner Bros. Studios tickets are now on [...]
The Old Royal Naval College, part of Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, is reopening from Monday 13 July. This stunning London landmark will once again offer public access to its buildings and expansive grounds with visitor and staff safety measures in place. Groups are welcome to visit, but will be limited to a maximum [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises is operating some services again with a circular (non landing) 60-minute cruise from its three main piers, Bowness (up to every 15 mins), Ambleside (up to every 45 minutes), and Lakeside (every 90 minutes). These trips can include the steam train with a combined ticket available. Windermere Lake Cruises’ Jennifer Cormack says: [...]
The Silverstone Experience will reopen its doors on 20 July, giving motorsport fans the chance to get their racing fix after months of lockdown. Visitors will be able to get close to cars and bikes from seven decades of motorsport history and experience the Ultimate Lap – an immersive cinema show. The Silverstone Experience will [...]
Royal Collection Trust is re-opening Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and The Queen’s Galleries in London and Edinburgh on Thursday 23 July. They will be open five days a week, from Thursday to Monday but only for direct booking individuals and 1-Year-Pass holders. Royal Collection Trust says that it would [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 06/07/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 6 July 2020 8 July 2020 9 July 2020 6 July 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: Quarantine arrangements The Government has confirmed that: passengers returning to or visiting England from certain [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 29/06/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 29 June 2020 30 June 2020 29 June 2020 ... Tourism Alliance update: Advice to use direct web links to Guidance and Protocols With businesses busy putting together their [...]
VisitEngland’s 'We’re Good to Go' mark is now live so that businesses can register their property as being managed in a Covid safe manner. https://goodtogo.visitbritain.com/ This mark is available to businesses in all parts of the UK with businesses being assessed according to their respective national guidance including the social distancing and cleanliness protocols that [...]
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has given provisional dates for phase 3 of releasing the lockdown in Scotland. This is when tourism businesses can reopen, but VisitScotland’s Lauren Hogg points out that its marketing plan approved by government only allows for the promotion of day and overnight trips to Scottish residents during this period. Day and overnight [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 22/06/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 22 June 2020 23 June 2020 24 June 2020 25 June 2020 26 June 2020 22 June 2020 ... Tourism Alliance update: VisitEngland recovery webinars for businesses VisitEngland is hosting [...]
CTA member Rendezvous hotel has been actively communicating with customers throughout the lockdown by continuing to market the hotel and its new electric dining boat, Graceful Swan. The hotel team have been sharing its positive motto and true Yorkshire spirit to lift the mood and capture people's attention. Unfortunately before lockdown it was only possible [...]
The gardens and outdoor spaces at Hampton Court Palace and Hillsborough Castle have now been re-opened by Historic Royal Palaces. In order to open spaces safely, it has had to reduce the number of people it can welcome at any one time, so everyone (including our members and supporters) will need to book in advance. Currently, the reduced capacity [...]
CTA partner Towergate reminds members that it has provided an exceptionally useful hub which has updates on a whole range of issues surrounding Covid-19. Its latest update reinforces the fact that as businesses reopen, duty of care is as important as it ever has been. A recent bulletin from Towergate provided detail around the risk control [...]
The gardens at Lowther Castle have re-opened once again from 10am-5pm. The 130 acres of gardens including the Great Yew Avenue, Ancient Apple Orchards, Summerhouses, the Gardens in the Castle Ruins, the Tapestry Gardens and the Western Terrace with views over the Lowther Valley and Lake District fells are all looking at their very best. [...]
CTA member Shakespeare Distillery has been busy during the lockdown producing a new range of hand sanitiser. Alongside its usual gin production, what better use of the distillery, alcohol and expertise at their disposal than to produce much-needed hand sanitiser? It has been producing an 80 per cent (WHO recommended formula) hand rub to help [...]
Hilton is introducing a new Hilton CleanStay programme designed to help safely impact every aspect of the hotel experience and reinforcing its commitment to the wellbeing of colleagues, guests and team members. The global programme includes a new standard of hotel cleanliness and disinfection to ensure Hilton guests enjoy an even cleaner and safer stay. Hilton CleanStay has been developed with experts from [...]
New guidance has been published for re-opening Scotland's hospitality businesses. UKHospitality’s Scottish COVID-19 advice for hospitality and tourism businesses on COVID safe operation. It includes Protocols for accommodation, attractions, events, pubs and restaurant businesses). These guidelines have been published for Scottish businesses which are due to reopen from 15 July. However, businesses in England that [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 15/06/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 15 June 2020 16 June 2020 17 June 2020 19 June 2020 15 June 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: Treatment of Employee Expenses HMRC has update a couple of pieces [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 08/06/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 8 June 2020 9 June 2020 11 June 2020 8 June 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: Daily Government press briefing Today’s briefing was led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, joined [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 01/06/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 1 June 2020 2 June 2020 4 June 2020 5 June 2020 1 June 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME - OVERVIEW OF CHANGES On Friday 29th May, [...]
Coach operators who failed to receive funding via the Business Rates Relief Scheme can now apply for grants of up to £25,000 from the new £617 million Discretionary Grant Fund. Following discussions between The Tourism Alliance and the Local Government Association coach/tour operators have now been added to the list of businesses who can apply [...]
The Guardian has highlighted the need for urgent government support for the coach tourism sector in an article published online following an interview with CTA. The article includes extensive quotes from CTA chair John Wales who argued for coach tour businesses to be treated the same as other leisure industries that have received state fiscal [...]
The collapse of Specialist Leisure Group Limited, including its leading coach holiday brand Shearings, which has a history stretching back around a hundred years, is a tragedy for its dedicated staff across the country, its many suppliers across the country, and of course for its customers, says CTA. Coach customers of Shearings who have booked [...]
The Elman Wall team is hosting its 3rd session predominantly for travel industry clients and friends, so you are invited to join them, at a special Zoom Conference Covid-19 Update Webinar: Changes, Challenges & Recovery on Tuesday 2 June at 2pm. The rules on extended furlough arrangements until the end of October are to be [...]
CTA supplier members can get access to ETOA’s City Fair event for a preferential rate of £650, compared to the standard non-member rate of £950. For 2020, the event is being staged in an innovative virtual format where buyers and sellers have an online meeting with the system geared to automatically take you to your [...]
CTA member Johnsons Coaches has published new safety measures for coach travel during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic for group leaders and school groups. The new safety measures are designed to aid local businesses in safely transporting employees who cannot work from home. Johnsons Coaches are implementing social distancing measures and rigorous cleaning procedures aboard [...]
This year’s British Tourism & Travel Show (BTTS) has been postponed until 24-25 March 2021, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The show had previously been postponed until October, following an earlier postponement from its regular March slot. However, the magnitude and unprecedented scale of the Covid-19 outbreak and the subsequent government restrictions have hit [...]
To mark English Tourism Week (25-31 May) the Tourism Society is hosting an online discussion forum on Friday 29 May at 12 pm to discuss the future of English Tourism post Covid. The Society has recently released a paper giving its thoughts which you can read here. Richard Denman of the Tourism Society and Kevin Kaley, chairman, both contributors to the paper, [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises has donated more than 600 items of food and drink from its onboard and on-shore shops and cafes to the Morecambe Bay Foodbank. Following reports of an increase in the need for foodbank services during the Covid-19 pandemic, staff at the attraction emptied their shops of stock which would otherwise have gone [...]
