CTA chair Robert Shaw reports that his company, Harry Shaw, has recently brought tourism home to its base in Coventry. To mark UK City of Culture 2021, a group of GTOs were hosted at the luxurious Coombe Abbey Hotel and visited a host of attractions including The Charterhouse, St Mary’s Hall, Cathedral and Transport Museum. [...]
CTA is delighted to welcome the National Trust as a member and can report that many of its properties are once again welcoming coach groups. A list of 55 properties which now accept coach bookings is available here. We will pass on updates on further properties which are re-opening to coach groups. The property website [...]
Encore has provided an update for CTA members on the latest news from West End shows, including Cinderella The Musical, The Drifters Girl and Back to the Future: The Musical. The much-anticipated world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella has begun performances at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. A new romantic musical comedy featuring an original [...]
Southern Wales Tourism’s regular Group and Travel Trade Buyers event went online this year with a virtual Meet the Buyers/Fam Visit on 1 July showing off the area in a new film, and giving an opportunity for accommodation, attractions, activities and food & drink businesses to present what they offer. The event featured well-known sites [...]
Historic Royal Palaces has thanked all those partners who have supported it over the past year by purchasing palace tickets or watching Crowdcast events hosted by Lucy Worsley. “To those who have been waiting in eager anticipation for all restrictions to ease, we look forward to giving your customers a royal standard welcome!” HRP has [...]
Irish Ferries’ Isle of Inishmore is setting sail on its new Dover-Calais route to offer a new choice for travelling across the Channel - once travel restrictions are lifted. The Isle of Inishmore ship has undergone extensive refurbishments for the new service – including an upgraded Club Class Lounge, with 360-degree sea views, and spacious [...]
Accor’s ReGroup Campaign has been extended until March 2022 and more than 900 of its hotels are participating in the campaign. Click here to see the complete list of Participating Hotels. Clients have to to use Accor’s Leasure Online (LOL) to receive the extra Benefits of ReGroup. As LOL is an online tool - you can access it 24x7. Within a few [...]
New CTA member Inspiretec is an established technology partner, providing end-to-end digital solutions to help organisations grow and for the past 28 years has worked with some of the most prestigious brands in the travel industry, including small to large enterprises. Inspiretec says it is completely focused on providing the coach holiday sector with the [...]
The Prince Of Egypt, based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film, returned to London’s Dominion Theatre on 1 July 2021 with standing ovations and an extended 14-minute curtain call. Having been turned down by UK Government for a Culture Recovery Fund grant, producers Michael McCabe and Neil Laidlaw spoke of their long and difficult battle to bring the production back to the stage. [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 05/07/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 5 July 2021 6 July 2021 8 July 2021 5 July 2021 ... Tourism Alliance update: Boris Johnson’s Update The main points from the Prime Minister’s update are: The final decision [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 28/06/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 30 June 2021 1 July 2021 30 June 2021 ... CPT Operations update: CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME CHANGES FROM 1 JULY 2021 When the Chancellor announced that the Coronavirus Job [...]
Visit Wales strengthened its relationship with the Coach Tourism Association by becoming a Partner Member in 2021. The importance of working together on tourism issues and opportunities for Wales in the coach operating sector has been highlighted during the pandemic and Visit Wales is pleased to formalise the already strong relationship with the association through [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 21/06/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 21 June 2021 23 June 2021 25 June 2021 21 June 2021 ... Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance update Easing of Restrictions moved to 5th July (indicative date) to ratified on 1st July Theatres [...]
While Scottish Government travel restrictions are still in place, CalMac Ferries reports that it continues to have restrictions on the number of coaches and passengers on each of its vessels due to social distancing. CalMac has been reviewing the capacity on services and now advises that a total of 35 passengers (including driver and guide) [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 14/06/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 14 June 2021 15 June 2021 16 June 2021 14 June 2021 ... Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance update NI Updates Visitor Pledge - Diane Dodds has today launched a new Visitor Pledge [...]
CTA has established its new consumer-focussed marketing campaign under the WeLoveCoaches brand. We are concentrating on social media for the campaign and aiming to drive traffic to the newly-established WeLoveCoaches website which includes a page for all CTA operator members with direct links to their websites and social channels. Initial reactions and responses to the [...]
Tourism Ireland has welcomed the announcement by the Irish Government about the re-opening of travel to Ireland. Ireland plans to adopt the EU’s new Digital Covid Certificate on 19 July, meaning that travellers bearing the pass – which attests that the holder has either been vaccinated, has had a negative test for COVID-19 or has [...]
Encore has provided an update for CTA members on reopening of West End shows including Mary Poppins, Wicked and Matilda. Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins is returning to the Prince Edward on 7 August. Group rates available for groups of 10+; school rates are also available on 10+ guests. Now back on sale, Wicked: [...]
Hampton Court Palace has reopened with a new exhibition highlighting Tudor treasures. Gold and Glory: Henry VIII and the French King will bring the opulence and spectacle of the Field of Cloth of Gold – Henry VIII’s legendary encounter with his great rival François I - to life at Hampton Court Palace until 5 September [...]
Shakespeare Distillery and Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall have launched an exclusive, limited time offer for your groups, 'A Day out in Stratford-upon-Avon’. The group visit needs to be booked and paid for by 31 October 2021 and features the following itinerary: 11am: Visit to SHAKESPEARE DISTILLERY • Entertaining, informative and amusing talk on the history [...]
Hilton’s latest Leisure Newsletter includes information on recent and forthcoming new hotel openings, including the Hilton Garden Inn, Snowdonia. The newsletter features links to Hilton’s Ready to Travel Series which highlights hotels in separate geographical areas, including group travel in the UK & Ireland and Europe. Hilton’s FlexiTours programme is also included in the newsletter [...]
Following a sold-out installation in summer 2020, the monumental Gaia sculpture is returning to the Old Royal Naval College this summer. Gaia will be displayed in the magnificent Painted Hall for a month, including late night openings. The sculpture by Luke Jerram amazes audiences as it rotates slowly while suspended in mid-air, an exact scale [...]
Visit Kent is encouraging groups to head to the Battle of Britain Memorial, high upon the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone to pay respects to Churchill’s famous “Few” who fought in the skies overhead in 1940 in the Battle of Britain. The Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall lists the names of all those known to have taken part [...]
Strawberry Field, the latest addition to Beatles tourism, marked the 50th anniversary of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ by inviting a student from Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts to play the very piano on which John Lennon composed and recorded ‘Imagine’. The Liverpool Signing Choir, joined by Julia Baird, John Lennon’s sister and Major Kathy [...]
CTA member Valor Hospitality has doubled in size in the UK and is now managing 34 hotels: Crowne Plaza Felbridge - Gatwick Crowne Plaza Leeds Holiday Inn Aylesbury Holiday Inn Basingstoke Holiday Inn Coventry M6 J2 Holiday Inn Fareham Holiday Inn Farnborough Holiday Inn Gatwick London Airport Holiday Inn Gloucester - Cheltenham Holiday Inn Hemel [...]
As summer arrives, it's the perfect time to enjoy the private Rothschild walled garden at Eythrope. Legendary in the horticultural world for its gardening excellence and as a haven for traditional techniques that might otherwise be lost, a visit to Eythrope will intrigue, inform and inspire. The four-acre walled garden, glasshouses and orchard still supply produce [...]
CTA member Almarose Hotels has sent updates for CTA members, including details of an August offer at the DoubleTree Glasgow Westerwood, a Summer 2021 offer at Ashford International Hotel and a midweek and weekend offer at the Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel. Almarose has also prepared a COVID policy for the Q hotels within the [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 07/06/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 7 June 2021 8 June 2021 7 June 2021 ... Tourism Alliance update The Tourism Alliance received almost 500 responses to its employment survey and here is a copy of the [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 31/05/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 1 June 2021 2 June 2021 1 June 2021 ... Tourism Alliance update New CJRS Form A new template has been developed for businesses that have between 16 and 99 people [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 24/05/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 25 May 2021 26 May 2021 25 May 2021 ... Tourism Alliance update Feedback for DCMS With the move to Step 3 last week, DCMS has asked for feedback gather feedback [...]
Coach holidays are back! The world’s first Covid vaccine recipient, Margaret Keenan, is one of the first passengers to enjoy setting off on a coach holiday with the lifting of restrictions on 17 May. Margaret Keenan, with her daughter Sue and son-in-law David, joined other passengers for family-owned firm Harry Shaw’s first coach holiday to [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 17/05/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 17 May 2021 19 May 2021 20 May 2021 17 May 2021 ... CPT Operations update SAFER TRANSPORT GUIDANCE FOR OPERATORS UPDATED 17 MAY The Department for Transport has made some [...]
The latest CTA zoom session took members on an extensive virtual tour of Wales, packed with ideas about attractions and destinations that are keen to welcome coach groups back as the Covid restrictions begin to be lifted. Taking place just a few days before 17 May, which signals a significant moment for operators in England [...]
A warm welcome to new members 2020 Travel Partners, headed by two ex-Shearings Holidays Product managers, Andrew Sowry and Patricia Parry. Together they have 30 years experience of delivering quality, profitable and value-for-money holidays to coach customers. 2020 Travel Partners aims to offer a fresh approach to providing travel product management services with a bespoke [...]
It’s great to welcome Irish Ferries as a new member of CTA. They are a leading ferry operator in Ireland and operate ferry services between the UK (Holyhead to Dublin, and Pembroke to Rosslare) and Ireland, plus a new English Channel route between Dover and Calais (launching June 2021) giving access from the UK to destinations across Europe. Irish Ferries has [...]
There is still an opportunity for coach tour operators to join a great fam trip this October to discover what northern France has to offer as a group-friendly destination. Many coach and tour operators have already signed up for the trip but there are still a few places left. The four-day fam trip, being delivered [...]
The lights are coming on again in the coming weeks at a number of West End shows, and Encore has released an update of the opening dates and group prices. Clearly, since theatres are currently updating their information about going back on sale fairly regularly, this is a work in progress. There are a few [...]
Parrys International was featured recently on BBC Midlands Today including coverage of one of its first day trips that took passengers keen to get away on a visit to Shrewsbury. The film was a very positive bit of PR for the coach tourism sector and featured interviews with Dave Parry as well as his driver [...]
With the government announcing that large scale events, including conferences and trade shows, are set to return, the British Tourism & Travel Show organisers are looking forward to welcoming visitors and exhibitors to the NEC on 22-23 September. “We are delighted that this means we can bring our exhibitors, visitors and partners back together safely this [...]
Last month Thames River Sightseeing restarted services every Saturday & Sunday on one route between Westminster, Embankment, Tower of London (St Katharine’s) and Greenwich, with plans to resume full services shortly. Here is a link to its timetable. www.thamesriversightseeing.com
Online booking has now reopened at Royal Collection Trust. Tickets are available to book for all of the royal residences, including more tickets released for the summer opening of Buckingham Palace Garden. Further dates are also now available for Buckingham Palace Garden Guided Tours. The Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh reopened to visitors on [...]
CTA member Coast & Country Hotel Collection, a newly-formed collection of former Shearings Hotels, is set to reopen under a new brand aimed at showcasing the great locations of the properties incorporated within the portfolio. The hotels are spread across 33 leisure destinations in England, Scotland and Wales and include the Windermere Hotel in Windermere, [...]
Mersey Ferries is restarting its daily River Explorer sightseeing cruises from Monday 17 May 2021. The River Explorer Cruise is a great way for groups to experience Liverpool and the UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront from the deck of the Mersey Ferry. Guided by expert recorded commentary throughout the 50 minute trip, the cruise offers an unrivalled Liverpool [...]
ETOA’s workshop City Fair 2021 takes place on 8 June and special deals are available for CTA operators and supplier members. The 2021 event will take place again online via the ETOA event portal Celestina and will see more than 150 European suppliers connecting with international buyers. Registrations are already open and can be made here. Attendance is free [...]
The Tony & Olivier Award-winning show, Wicked returns to London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre from 15 September. The iconic musical - seen by over 10 million people in London alone - celebrates its 15th anniversary in its West End home this year and tickets are on sale from 10am on 17 May 2021. London performances will resume [...]
Waddesdon is reopening to visitors as Covid restrictions in the UK ease and from 19 May it plans to welcome visitors back into the House, the Manor Restaurant and the Five Arrows Hotel. Guided tours to the private Rothschild walled garden at Eythrope are available to book now. Visitors can discover the four-acre walled garden, glasshouses and orchard at Eythrope [...]
Salisbury Cathedral is keen to welcome coach groups back and has a number of special exhibitions to help tempt them, including a new embroidery exhibition, Threads through Creation, runs from 17 - 27 August featuring local embroiderer Jacqui Parkinson whose work comprises twelve pieces inspired by the Book of Genesis, highlighting the human experiences of hope and [...]
The Beatles Story first opened its doors on 3 May 1990 and with the 30th anniversary celebrations obviously curtailed last year due to Covid 19, it is aiming to continue the festivities into 2021, when it reopens on Monday 17 May. The leading attraction welcomes record-breaking numbers of visitors each year from Merseyside and beyond, and is considered a ‘must-visit’ [...]
CTA member South Devon Railway has a hit movie on its hands with a charming pony’s-eye view of the railway and the surrounding countryside and attractions that can be enjoyed. It’s a lovely romp through the beautiful Devon countryside in the company of Albert and Ernie. The video has just been released on Facebook and [...]
CTA member Grand UK Holidays has reported a strong increase in bookings on the back of an expected Staycation boost this summer. Sales and marketing manager, Sally Hubble-Button, says: ‘In a recent survey we conducted, the majority of our customers told us that they would feel more confident holidaying in the UK than going further afield, [...]
