The CTA Conference & Workshop 2025 achieved its best-ever attendance as 200 members came to Stratford-upon-Avon last weekend, 8-11 February. The main business session saw a record number of 1,200 meetings at the Meet the Buyer Workshop.
See a slideshow of the photos from the event below … thanks to Stuart Render and Allan Scott for images.
With Gold Sponsor DFDS and Silver Sponsor Trust My Travel supporting the event, early attendees on Saturday were welcomed at Vine Hotels’ Clarion Charlecote Pheasant hotel before transfer to the main host venue, Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon.
The raffle held on Sunday evening raised an amazing total of £1,835 for Stratford-upon-Avon Samaritans. We received a lovely message from the Samaritans:
Thank you very much indeed for your recent donation of £1,835 to Stratford-upon-Avon Samaritans, on behalf of the Coach Tourism Association. Your generosity is truly appreciated, and we are sincerely thankful for your support. Please do share our appreciation with your members.
Your donation will have a meaningful impact on our ability to provide vital emotional support to people at their times of greatest need. Whilst Stratford-upon-Avon Samaritans relies entirely on charitable donations to maintain our traditional listening services, we are also actively pursuing new opportunities to reach out to those for whom telephone and email are not the most appropriate means of communication. Your support will help us to fund these outreach programmes, which in turn will ensure that we can make a positive difference in the lives of more individuals who are facing emotional challenges, wherever they may be.
Again, thank you for your kindness and generosity. Your donation plays a crucial role in helping us create a world where no one has to face their struggles alone.
The main action began on Sunday with a fam trip to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and an orientation tour of Shakespeare’s houses, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, led by Blue Badge Guide Roger Bailey with transport by Johnsons Coaches. In the afternoon, delegates participated in a tour and guided tasting session at Shakespeare Distillery, home to production of gin and rum. The Shakespearean theme continued in the evening with performances by Events From History, including a 20-minute version of Romeo & Juliet.
Monday’s Meet The Buyer Workshop, the biggest business generation event in the coach tourism calendar, received record attendance as operator and wholesaler buyers hosted pre-arranged meetings with industry suppliers, from hotels to insurance providers. Meeting customers new and existing, the Workshop has continued to grow in priority for tourism industry buyers and sellers as the premier annual event to plan future product.
Moving to the Conference session, transport correspondent and former BBC reporter Peter Plisner engaged well-travelled TV presenter Anthea Turner in a captivating interview. Commenting on the sector, Anthea advised members to focus on ‘doing what you do best’, and spoke in support of promoting the high standards of quality of coach holidays.
An operator panel featuring David Blake, Blakes Coaches; Roger Bull, RB Travel/Taurus Holidays; Jason Edwards, Jason Edwards Travel; Louise Webster, Acklams Coaches then faced a Question & Answer session, focussing on issues around attracting a younger audience and workforce, service levels at hotels and ports, plus changing the coach tourism image. The evening was capped off with a trip to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall, followed by dinner at RSC Stratford Rooftop restaurant.
The event concluded on Tuesday with a fam trip to St Mary’s Guildhall Coventry, again hosted by Blue Badge Guide Roger Bailey. Home to over 700 years of history and a one-time host of The Crown Jewels, St Mary’s Guildhall is one of the finest surviving medieval guildhalls in the country.
Thanks to all members who attended the event.
Forthcoming CTA events:
CTA Member Networking at BTTS including CTA Keynote Session – 19-20 March
CTA Spring Networking 2025 – 17-19 May, Norwich
CTA Networking event at WTM 2025 – Tue 4 November, ExCeL London
CTA Winter Networking 2025 – 21-24 November, Perthshire
Derry-Londonderry, 7-10 February 2026
Booking details will be available soon at this link: https://coachtourismassociation.co.uk/cta-events/
