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, [...]
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 [...]
Salisbury Cathedral is continuing its 2020 celebrations online as it marks its 800th anniversary. A range of activities are planned for the weekend Friday 29 - Saturday 31 May, including music sessions, yoga, children's workshops, sports training, quizzes, talks and virtual exhibitions. The Cathedral’s online art tour Celebrating 800 years of Spirit and Endeavour was included in the BBC's [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 25/05/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 26 May 2020 27 May 2020 28 May 2020 26 May 2020 ... CPT Operational update: COVID-19 STATUTORY SICK PAY REBATE SCHEME - LIVE FOR APPLICATIONS TODAY Employers with fewer [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 18/05/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 19 May 2020 20 May 2020 22 May 2020 19 May 2020 ... ETOA webinar Here is the link to the ETOA webinar Crisis and Recover: UK Employment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjxW7QF4yIs [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 11/05/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 11 May 2020 12 May 2020 13 May 2020 14 May 2020 15 May 2020 11 May 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: How to Treat Certain Expenses [...]
Following the Government’s briefing on new conditions for lockdown, Castle Howard re-opened its Garden Centre to the public this week. After a period of closure the Garden Centre reopens from Wednesday 13 May, Monday – Sunday, 10am -5pm.To protect staff and customers with social distancing measures the Garden Centre is cashless, and there will be [...]
The Sordevolo Passion Play is a performance with two centuries of history, played every five years in Sordevolo, a beautiful hill village in the Province of Biella in the Italian region Piedmont, which is famous for its cultural treasures, unspoiled nature and many wine and food specialties. The Passion Play is a unique show of its [...]
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum has been awarded Scotland’s ‘Best Heritage Tourism Experience’ at the Thistle Awards National final in March. The museum is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland and is perfect for groups. Visitors can see the 16th century thatched cottage where Robert Burns was born and explore the modern museum [...]
The Royal Collection Trust has announced that due to the operational challenges of social distancing, it has decided not to open the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, Frogmore House and Clarence House to the public this summer. All pre-booked tickets for visits to Buckingham Palace between the dates of 25 July and 4 October 2020; to Frogmore House and Clarence [...]
Although it’s not possible to visit in person at the present time, the Old Royal Naval College, part of Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, has ensured that the public can still marvel at the iconic Painted Hall. A free 360-degree interactive virtual tour of the Painted Hall has been launched to provide visitors with [...]
Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is to provide emergency funding to support local retail, tourism and hospitality businesses impacted by Covid-19. Working in partnership with Visit Herts and Crowdfunder, a Small Business Innovation Fund, has launched to support small and micro businesses within the tourism, leisure, hospitality, retail, arts and cultural sectors. In Hertfordshire, the [...]
Members of Devon’s Top Attractions are all currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there’s no date yet when they can re-open their doors for the season, but there’s still plenty going on behind the scenes and the member attractions have been active in supporting their local communities. Before lockdown, Devon’s Top Attractions were [...]
Wembley Stadium has announced new visitor enhancements including free coach parking, new onsite photography and new changing rooms, which will all be in place when the tour re-opens later this year. The additions, which were undertaken before social distancing was put in place, are part of a range of enhancements initially intended for the Euro [...]
CTA member National Garden Scheme has launched new films to help demonstrated the powerful and positive benefits of gardens to health and wellbeing. The campaign is led by gardening broadcaster and National Garden Scheme ambassador, Rachel de Thame, with a film telling how her garden was crucial during 2018 and 2019 when she was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for [...]
The death of Diana, Princess of Wales, 9/11 or the Boxing Day Tsunami…our subconscious is littered with poignant dates that shaped the world and many others beside that are deeply personal! Forever etched with the when, our whereabouts and what we were doing! Covid-19 will make the shortlist too and for the bus and coach [...]
The Department for Transport has today (12 May) released new and revised guidance for Transport Operators to help them ensure they provide safer workplaces and services for themselves, their workers and passengers across all modes of public transport. The Department expects that individual transport providers translate the principles and examples in this guidance into specific [...]
CPT is calling on the Government to provide a support package worth £65million each month for the coach tourism industry. CPT has warned that the industry is in a fight for its future because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the spring and summer being the peak period only 2 per cent of coaches that are [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 04/05/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 4 May 2020 4 May 2020 ... CTA members can access the latest webinar and presentation from Elman Wall: Elman Wall had more than 350 registrations and after a marathon 3¾ [...]
CTA has joined with a range of trade associations in issuing a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking him to urgently change civil servants’ interpretation of his Coronavirus Business Rates Relief Scheme, launched to support the UK’s hospitality and leisure industries. The letter is summarised in the following joint press release: Tourist [...]
The Competition and Markets Authority has made a statement today (30 April) that should be noted by tour operators. The CMA has responded to what it claims is an increasing number of complaints regarding cancellations and refunds. The CMA says: “4 out of 5 complaints being received into the Taskforce so far include concerns about [...]
The body representing bus and coach industry passengers, Bus Users has written a strong letter to the local government minister to support the coach industry’s case to be regarded as part of the leisure sector when it comes to consideration for government support during the crisis. Bus Users Claire Walters said in an open letter [...]
CTA member Maynes Coaches has completed what it believes is one of the longest key worker transfers by coach with a round trip from Aberdeen to Falmouth! Maynes Coaches reports: “We were called in again to head to Falmouth to ensure key workers were returned back to Scotland over the weekend. “The passengers were transported [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 27/04/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 27 April 2020 28 April 2020 29 April 2020 30 April 2020 27 April 2020 ... Transport Committee invites contributions on impact of coronavirus on UK transport The Commons Transport Committee [...]
CTA member Alpine Travel’s Chris Owens reports on the company’s successful re-focusing of its work towards supporting its local community: “When this pandemic started to hit mid-March it was very apparent that we were going to have a large number of fantastic loyal people within the business with very little for them to do, and [...]
CTA member Anu Desai from ITO Tours has sent the following message to CTA coach operator members: “Since I sent out my email to all of our group bookers saying ITO Tours UK were open during these challenging times, I wanted just to let you know how things are going. “We have been fortunate that [...]
CTA member Edwards Coaches showed its support for the Royal Glamorgan Hospital last week when they took part in the weekly Clap for Carers. Nine coaches and buses, including the Red Dragon coach which is used by the Wales rugby team as well as luxury Red Dragon Holidays, arrived at the hospital with Edwards staff [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises are donating food and drink from its vessels and pier cafes to Morecambe Bay’s hospitals, as a gesture of goodwill to the frontline NHS key workers working to keep local people safe. In line with government instructions not to operate due to the Coronavirus crisis, the attraction is donating snacks and beverages [...]
Castle Howard has been named winner of the award for 'Best Large Attraction' at the Visit York Tourism Awards 2020 which were broadcast live on Minster FM on 23 April. The awards celebrate achievements by businesses who contribute towards the tourism offer in and around York. Castle Howard was shortlisted along with the Jorvik Viking [...]
CTA member Waddesdon Manor has enabled a little escapism with a new virtual tour, which might be exactly what's needed at the moment. From stories about the Manor's past and about the Rothschild family to information on how the collections are managed and are still growing, there is a wealth of content to delight and inform. You [...]
A survey by Cumbria Tourism predicts that by the end of May, the Coronavirus pandemic will have cost the tourism industry in the county £1.45billion in revenue – almost half of tourism-related income for the county for the year. Hundreds of tourism businesses reported an average 91 per cent cancellations for May, June and July [...]
WTM has launched a new virtual platform, Global Hub. WTM organiser Reed Expo says: “More than ever, it’s important to stay connected, so we’d like to introduce a brand new virtual hub to help you keep the conversation going”. The WTM Global Hub gives access to exclusive webinars with industry experts. The first one will [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 20/04/20 Here is a further update of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 20 April 2020 21 April 2020 22 April 2020 23 April 2020 24 April 2020 20 April 2020 ... CPT operational updates: CORONAVIRUS JOB [...]
CTA members raised a fantastic £1,423 at a raffle during our Conference in February (doesn’t that seem a long time ago!). The money was donated to Martin House in Wetherby and we have just received a lovely reply from the hospice which demonstrates how timely this donation was, given the challenges for the sector with [...]
CTA members have been fielding a huge volume of enquiries from their customers and contacts and here’s an excellent example of how to communicate from one of our members, ITO Tours: Dear Group Organisers “The message today is that WE ARE OPEN all day, and every day from today onwards. We will phone as many [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 13/04/20 Here is a further update of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 14 April 2020 15 April 2020 16 April 2020 17 April 2020 14 April 2020 ... Update from Tourism Alliance: The DCMS Select Committee have launched an inquiry [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 06/04/20 Here is a further update of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 6 April 2020 7 April 2020 8 April 2020 9 April 2020 6 April 2020 ... Received from Tourism Alliance: Tourism Alliance has been working with the Local Government [...]
