Scotland Reconnect 2020, a virtual B2B workshop, takes place on Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 November. Having missed everyone at this year’s VisitScotland Expo and in these challenging times of Covid-19, the VisitScotland team are working hard to bring you and our Scottish suppliers together under one-virtual roof for Pre-selected 1-2-1 appointments Ad hoc on-the-day [...]
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Tourism has recently created a new group travel video showcase which aims to share positivity in these testing times for everyone in our industry. It has also created a Travel Trade & Group Travel Hub to offer ideas and inspiration for 2021 and beyond. BCP is advising all group organisers to please contact accommodation, [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises is continuing to warmly welcome group travel and coach parties on all services. It has attractive incentives for all pre-booked groups and coach drivers at the Boatman’s Café in Bowness. For passengers, these include 10 per cent discount vouchers to use in the café and gift shop, along with new menus, table [...]
Accor has launched a new B2B group offering, ‘Re-Group with the Love of Leisure’. The promotion aims to give group organisers the confidence and assurance that booking a group visit to one of Accor’s European hotels comes with extra peace of mind and added value. The promotion will offer group organisers additional value such as [...]
The world-famous ‘Imagine’ piano that John Lennon used to compose and record one of the great peace anthems of the 20th century is on loan to Liverpool’s Strawberry Field exhibition courtesy of the estate of the late George Michael. The piano has been delivered to the Liverpool institution to mark what would have been Lennon’s [...]
The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, is delving into its rich and complex past, shining a light on the Black mariners that played a crucial role in its history. A new exhibition Black Greenwich Pensioners explores the hidden histories of the black Royal Navy personnel who formed one of Britain’s earliest black communities when they [...]
Salisbury Cathedral is pleased to still be welcoming groups within the ‘rule of six’, having cautiously added to its capacity to keep pace with demand. A one-way system and social distancing is working well and there has never been a better time to see the cathedral. The chairs have been removed from the Nave and [...]
Historic Royal Palaces reports that it is facing a £98million shortfall in its finances this year, an income reduction of more than 85 per cent. However it remains strongly committed to working with the travel trade and is hard at work to provide opportunities to get clients enthused about future travel and to have something [...]
Well known CTA member Ian Stuart of Stuart Line Cruises passed away on Saturday 3 October. Ian was a great champion of coach tourism and will be missed by his many friends and colleagues across the industry. Stuart Lines’ Lauren and Jake have penned the following tribute: “Ian had been diagnosed with terminal cancer almost [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 05/10/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 5 October 2020 6 October 2020 8 October 2020 5 October 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates Job Retention Bonus Details Announced The Government has published the detailed guidance on the [...]
The City of Edinburgh Council and organisers Underbelly have announced that the Edinburgh Christmas Festival has been cancelled this year and will instead be an online event. The council says that following the recent national restrictions, and taking into consideration the likely additional strain on services over winter, it has been agreed that any sort [...]
CTA’s second Open Zoom meeting took place this week with chair John Wales reporting that operators and suppliers had shown their positivity and creativity in getting some tours and excursions going again despite the challenges. The discussion in this session centred on the need for continued close dialogue between operators, hotel and other suppliers in [...]
CPT has issued an update regarding travel to the areas of local lockdown in Wales. The view of Visit Wales is that the restrictions apply to both residents of the areas in lockdown, and visitors from outside the area. Therefore this means that: Travel in, to or from the area is restricted to anyone with [...]
ETOA’s Global European Marketplace (GEM) which takes place on 30 October this year is operating as a virtual event. CTA has negotiated a special partnership with ETOA which means that operator members can attend the event FREE, and CTA Supplier members qualify for the ETOA member rate. More than 350 delegates have already registered for [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 28/09/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 28 September 2020 1 October 2020 28 September 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: Q&A on Curfew, QR Codes, Rule of Six and Face Coverings Here is an excellent Q&A and that [...]
We are running another Social Media Training Session for CTA members on Wed 7 October - 1400-1600hrs. The session will once again be delivered by Justine Perry, Cariad Marketing with the title 'No-cost/Low-cost ways to market your business online'. You can't afford to miss this one! To register for the event, please complete the form [...]
An important and welcome clarification has been received from government regarding the operation of coach tours. The Tourism Alliance, of which CTA is a member, has been in contact with DCMS and has provided the following summary: Update to coach operators and whether coach tours can go ahead “If it is possible to ensure that [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 14/09/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 16 September 2020 16 September 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: Consumer tracker report from VisitBritain (Week 14) Visitbritain has published the latest UK COVID-19 Consumer Tracker Report for week 14, based on fieldwork [...]
CTA members took part in an Open Zoom Session focused on exchanging practical information as tours and excursions get underway. The meeting was very positive with many operators reporting tours already delivered, including the first to Lake Garda in Italy as well as Wales, Northern Ireland and around the UK. The Open Zoom format will [...]
Further clarification on the new ‘Rule of Six’ regulations confirms that coach tours are not affected by these measures. The Department for Transport has confirmed to CPT this morning that the new regulations have no direct impact on the number of passengers that can be carried in a vehicle and operators should continue to follow [...]
The serious challenges for the coach tour sector were highlighted by MPs during a House of Commons debate on 11 September. A number of MPs mentioned the problems for the coach sector following the long lockdown and the lack of support from government during the backbench debate, attended by tourism minister Nigel Huddlestone. The coach [...]
CTA is delighted to welcome VisitAberdeenshire as a new member. Situated in the north east of Scotland, Aberdeen and the surrounding area Aberdeenshire offer a truly authentic Scottish experience. A vibrant city, distilleries, castles, food and drink experiences and stunning scenery await. A wide range of group-friendly accommodation is available, from budget city centre hotels to [...]
Strawberry Field is an inspirational heritage attraction, immortalised by John Lennon in The Beatles hit Strawberry Fields Forever, which opened in September 2019. The attraction, which has achieved the Good to Go’ accreditation, and its famous garden and new exhibition welcomes pre-booked groups. One of The Guardian’s ‘Fab Finds of the Year’, Strawberry Field won ‘Tourist Attraction of The Year’ at the inaugural Staycation [...]
Margaret Palmer, formerly of David Palmer Coaches sadly passed away on Saturday 22 August following a long battle against cancer. Margaret and her husband David started out back in the late 1970s with a minibus. Business boomed so they bought a coach and became founder members of the CTC (now CTA) where Margaret was a [...]
CTA Partner Towergate Travel is pleased to announce COVID-19 Cover extension to its tailored travel insurance scheme solutions. Available to existing and new clients with immediate effect. Steve Browne, Senior Account Executive at Towergate Travel, says: “Following careful and lengthy negotiations with our insurer capacity, we are delighted to be able to offer this to [...]
Hovertravel welcomed its first group visit from Johnsons Coaches following careful planning to ensure the visit was conducted in accordance with all current COVID-secure guidelines. The customers enjoyed a private Hover Experience charter and several hours on the Isle of Wight. “We have recommenced our first day excursions since March,” says Barry Cobb, Tours Manager, [...]
London Transport Museum reopened its doors to visitors on 7 September after closing for an unprecedented 173 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. Families, culture lovers and transport fans will once again be able to enjoy the Museum’s stunning exhibits, historic vehicles and world-famous posters, which together reveal how public transport has shaped life in [...]
English Heritage has re-opened six of its most popular attractions for pre-booked travel trade and group visits. They join Stonehenge, which has now been successfully welcoming pre-booked groups since early July. It has introduced a central booking system which is now open for travel trade and groups to visit the following sites: · 1066 Battle of [...]
Royal Museums Greenwich can now accept groups of up to 30 at both the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark. Following the successful reopening of Cutty Sark on 20 July, the Royal Observatory on 3 August, and the Queen’s House on 10 August, Royal Museums Greenwich are pleased now to be in a position to welcome [...]
After recently re-opening to the public, Hever Castle & Gardens is delighted to be starting to work with group organisers and travel trade partners again. Bookings will now be taken with changes to processes and procedures in line with the government’s COVID-19 regulations. Christmas bookings (21, 22 and 28 November and 6,12, 14, 15, 17 [...]
CTA partner Towergate has provided an update on the importance of cyber insurance: The role of cyber/data and crime/fraud insurance in an overall insurance portfolio has never been as important as it is at the current time. It is widely agreed that we could have never reasonably foreseen the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak and the impact [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 17/08/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 17 August 2020 19 August 2020 20 August 2020 17 August 2020 ... CPT operational update: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised that France has been removed from the [...]
The listings below were originally compiled in summer/autumn 2020 to provide updates on procedures for those suppliers able to welcome groups at their hotels and attractions as well as booking procedures and direct contacts. We are currently in the process of inviting suppliers to review and update the information for the re-starting of coach tours [...]
Following suggestions and requests from members, we have now expanded the previous CTA Coach Operators Facebook Group to include all members. This is to help all members network more easily and especially for operators to be able to check which attractions and venues are able to take their coach groups. The group provides an opportunity [...]
CTA members have already been putting new social media techniques into practice following a series of training sessions delivered for us by Justine Perry of Cariad. The sessions on facebook and instagram were very well received and participants received all the guidance notes and their own playbook following the webinars. One member who attended, Geoff [...]
It is great to see some coach tours and excursions getting under way again. Parry’s International had two trips running on the first weekend in August and the passengers loved it! Following the trip, Dave Parry received the following message from a satisfied customer: “We have just returned from our one night Mystery Weekend and [...]
Liverpool Football Club stadium tour and museum has launched a new tour, The Anfield Origins. This is an historical walking tour which takes in the external surroundings of the stadium learning about the hidden history and architecture surrounding the club from the late 19th century to the present day. The Anfield Origins Tour is around the perimeter of Anfield [...]
CTA member Wrightsure has launched a new Covid-19 travel insurance for coach tour operators. The insurance, which covers Covid-related cancellation and medical expenses, forms part of Wrightsure’s existing holiday travel insurance. The product has been designed for coach tour operators looking to offer added reassurance for their clients. It offers protection should a coach tour [...]
Mersey Ferries is now very much looking forward to the 2021 season with its Manchester Ship Canal Cruise and Liverpool Bay Cruise programmes now available for group bookings and reservations. The Manchester Ship Canal Cruise offers a fascinating full-day cruise between Liverpool and Manchester and the new Liverpool Bay Cruise offers a unique view of [...]
As lockdown lifts, traveltrade@nts.org.uk - the trade’s one-stop shop at the National Trust for Scotland - is now open for business. Headed up by Sandrine Contier-Lawrie and supported by Peter Stewart, this tailored service aims to match your itinerary to the perfect attraction. Whether you are looking for a world-beating experience like Culloden, or fancy a hidden [...]
CTA hotel member Cairn Group has launched a new ‘Coach with Confidence’ programme to provide operators with reassurance that group stays will take place in a safe and healthy environment with the strictest hygiene procedures. The ‘Coach with Confidence’ programme follows all advice from the government and WHO and includes a range of new cleaning [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 10/08/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 10 August 2020 12 August 2020 10 August 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: LGA Guidance to Local Authorities on Outdoor Events The LGA has just published new guidance for local authorities [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 03/08/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 3 August 2020 5 August 2020 7 August 2020 3 August 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: The Government has issued the following new guidance on where masks should be worn. This [...]
CTA operator members were out in force during the Honk for Hope event in London on 20 July. The campaign has aimed to highlight the plight of operators with a large majority having been unable to get access to any of the Covid rate support grants and now facing challenging finance repayments for vehicles that [...]
VisitScotland has launched a £3million marketing campaign with an emotive film welcoming back Scottish tourism and reminding us what a beautiful country we have right on our doorsteps. The film, which is covered on TV and radio stations across Scotland has the clear message that ‘Only in Scotland can travelling so little make such a [...]
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 [...]
