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 [...]
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 [...]
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: [...]
