The Chancellor announced various measures on 20 March to support businesses during the Coronavirus crisis. These include a scheme to pay 80 per cent of the salaries of ‘furloughed workers’ and deferral of VAT payments. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is available to all UK businesses and HMRC will reimburse 80 per cent of the [...]
In the light of the significant legal and contractual challenges that the Coronavirus crisis has caused, CTA has negotiated an agreement for our operator members to have access to the helpline that is operated by CPT for its BCH members. This may help some members with having access to some initial expert advice in dealing [...]
John Wales, CTA chairman writes: “The travel industry has demonstrated an admirable ability to adapt to some of the most severe conditions. These have ranged from natural disasters to attacks by terrorists. The international pandemic of the Coronavirus COVID-19 does however represent the greatest challenge our businesses have had to face for several generations. At [...]
CTA member Alpine Travel is responding to the current crisis by launching a scheme to help those who are vulnerable and self-isolating in the North Wales coastal region. The company says it aims to avoid compulsory lay-offs or short-time work so Alpine Travel and daughter company Jones Holidays has taken the bold step to maintain [...]
CTA is working through the TIER group, along with other organisations including ABTA and BCH, to urgently request that the government temporarily relax some of the obligations under the Package Travel Directive in respect of refunds to customers in the event of tour cancellation. The organisations are arguing that since these are extraordinary events, there [...]
The Department for Education has clarified the roles that are considered critical to the COVID-19 response, and the process that key workers should follow to ensure their child can continue in education during this period. The key worker roles include Transport, which is defined as: “those who will keep the air, water, road and rail [...]
ACAS are running free webinars for businesses on how to handle the impacts of Coronavirus. The free webinar will provide practical advice for employers to help manage the impact of Coronavirus in the workplace. It includes: steps that can help reduce the spread of the virus effective ways of communicating with employees self-isolating, time off, sickness [...]
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced changes to the Fit Note, now called a "self isolation note”. Employees who are unable to work for more than seven days because of COVID-19 will now be able to obtain an isolation note through a new online service. The isolation note will give the employee [...]
The Senior Traffic Commissioner has issued guidance to operators in respect of various licensing obligations which may be impacted in the short term. FINANCIAL STANDING A traffic commissioner would normally require tangible evidence to show that financial standing can be met in the future but, given the exceptional and short-term circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, [...]
In the light of recent Government advice, and with heavy hearts, Historic Royal Palaces reports that it has made the decision to close its six sites from Friday 20 March until further notice. “Between them, the six extraordinary historic buildings in our care have witnessed 1,000 years of history,” says a spokesperson. “They have survived many [...]
Shakespeare’s Globe has sent the following message to CTA members: “We hope you understand it has been difficult for us to decide how to navigate our way forwards during this unprecedented time. It has been overwhelming to see all your messages of support, and everyone here at the Globe is truly grateful to see all [...]
Salisbury Cathedral has introduced the following measures for the benefit of visitors and staff: a cleaning regime ensuring all surfaces, door handles and touch screens are regularly cleansed with antibacterial products signage carrying government advice on hygiene – Catch it, Bin it, Kill it – in prominent areas, with bins made available for this purpose [...]
English Heritage has informed its travel trade partners about site closures until 1 May 2020. “Our first priority is the health and wellbeing of all our Members, visitors, volunteers and staff. As a charity, we could not survive without their support but we also have a responsibility to them - hence this decision,” says English [...]
Following increasing media coverage and concern about the developing coronavirus situation, the British Tourism & Travel Show has been postponed to The 11 to Fri 12 June 2020 at the NEC Birmingham. The British Coach Tourism Awards has also been moved, to take place on the second day of the show, Friday 12 June at [...]
CTA is once again a Partner with the British Tourism & Travel Show which takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 25-26 March. CTA will be holding a Members’ Reception at 3pm on the first afternoon in the main exhibition hall. No need to book, just drop in and see us. If you haven’t already [...]
CTA members enjoyed a fantastic Fam trip in London earlier this month in an event organised by Shakespeare’s Globe and The View from The Shard. The group enjoyed a guided tour ofThe Globe, a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse, followed by a buffet lunch at The Swan Bar is The Globe’s on-site restaurant with [...]
CTA, in partnership with RB Coaches, Ashford International Hotel, Visit Kent, DFDS and Calais Tourist Office has organised a Fam Trip for CTA members. The itinerary runs from Sunday 26 April until the afternoon of Tuesday 28 April. It includes two nights' accommodation with all breakfasts and dinners included. This is a great opportunity to [...]
The plans for CTA’s flagship Conference & Workshop are continuing apace and we have secured some excellent speakers and can promise a first-class event with topical conference themes and the opportunity to meet and do business at the workshops and social networking sessions. Bookings are coming in thick and fast, so if you haven’t booked [...]
BTTS returns to the NEC on 25-26 March 2020 and will welcome more than 40 new exhibitors this year. There is still limited stand space available with an opportunity to meet more than 3,000 decision-making coach tour operators, group travel organisers and tour managers, and increase awareness of your business, capture quality data and generate [...]
CTA member Coach Tours UK Magazine is running a free FAM trip for coach operators and GTOs, in Buxton, Derbyshire on Monday 27 April 2020. This promises to be an excellent event with some great things planned, and a chance to explore a new area, with many hidden gems to add to your future tour [...]
Somerset West and Taunton Council is looking to relocate its coach parking spaces from Tangier Car Park in Taunton. There are a number of projects in the town centre and one includes changes to the existing coach car park on Tangier which could be as soon as April 2020. Somerset West and Taunton Council would [...]
Shakespeare’s Globe and The View from The Shard have teamed up with CTA to offer members a rare glance across London’s history within a single day. Join an exclusive familiarisation trip to their iconic venues on 4 February 2020 to experience the Long View of London package. There are a limited number of places available [...]
Bookings are now open for our flagship event for 2020, the Conference & Workshop which takes place on 23-25 February at the Doubletree Hilton York. We have a fantastic location, right on the edge of the city walls, and are planning our best Conference yet with a range of topical speakers alongside the ever-popular Workshop [...]
ITO Tours was delighted with the response it had at its Floriade stand at World Travel Market. It says that its package prices for Floriade 2022 will be published for the UK travel trade around March 2020. And in readiness for that it is planning an exciting Floriade Fam trip around the middle of 2020 which [...]
Registration for the British Tourism & Travel Show is now open! Returning to the NEC on 25-26 March, BTTS will be full of exciting new ideas to help plan your trips and tours for 2020. Register for your free ticket today to discover the best of the British Isles and beyond. BTTS 2020 will feature [...]
Among the new offerings from Historic Royal Palaces is a new ‘Highlights of the Tower’ audio guide which will enable groups to experience all that the Tower of London has to offer in just 60 minutes. And in May 2020, Kensington Palace will be introducing an audio guide tour, and Mandarin will be added as [...]
From February 2020, groups can experience the epic emotion and soaring music of The Prince of Egypt, a new blockbuster musical from Grammy- and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell), writer Philip LaZebnik (Mulan, Pocahontas), choreographer Sean Cheesman and director Scott Schwartz. Journey through the wonders of Ancient Egypt as two young men, raised together as brothers in a [...]
Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets has agreed to sell its 100 per cent interest in Condor Ferries to a new investor consortium – the Columbia Threadneedle European Sustainable Infrastructure Fund, as majority shareholder, along with Brittany Ferries. ESIF has teamed up with Brittany Ferries as the minority shareholder to form the consortium, and Brittany Ferries [...]
For the next few months, starting from 1 December, New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms, south west London is offering short-term parking for a limited number of coaches. A maximum of 30 coaches will be able to park in a designated area of the site between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, for a [...]
VisitScotland invites you to their premier business to business travel trade event, VisitScotland Expo, to be held at the new P&J Live conference centre in Aberdeen on the 1st & 2ndApril 2020. The combination of pre-scheduled appointments and trade show provides an ideal platform for you to develop your Scotland programmes. It gives you the [...]
Following a £15million refurbishment, the new DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa has been officially unveiled by the town’s MP Andrew Jones. Over the last 18-months, the 184-room hotel – which over the years has welcomed royalty, heads of state, Hollywood A-listers and rock superstars - has undergone a full refurbishment of its [...]
Crieff Hydro Resort is promoting a special Christmas package for four nights arriving on 23 December, complete with twinkling trees towering from floor to ceiling and the smell of gingerbread lingering throughout the Winter Garden! The Christmas package will be full board daily with DBB on 23 December and guests will also have a sparkling [...]
Peter Stratton has been appointed as head of new business development for Albatross Group and will focus on business with Disneyland Paris, where there is huge investment planned in the next few years. In addition, Stratton will be looking at acquisitions for the group. Stratton, who has owned travel industry executive recruitment specialist Simpson Recruitment [...]
CTA member Stuart Line Cruises has issued an update to operators with information about ongoing roadworks on Exmouth seafront. Due to ongoing flood defence engineering works, there is a road closure along Exmouth Seafront. Diversions are currently in place. Coach access to the Stuart Line Cruises departure point has not been affected but additional directions [...]
The world-famous RHS Flower Shows and Flower Festivals bring a burst of colour to the group calendar from April onwards. Ranging from the world’s most famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, to the fabulous RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and inspirational RHS Flower Shows at Tatton Park and Chatsworth, every show is brimming with vibrant [...]
Transport for London is hosting an information session on Thursday 21 November for coach operators who are either based in or regularly visit London to explain in more detail what the upcoming changes to the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) mean including the introduction off a Euro VI requirement for coaches over 5tonnes GVW. The session [...]
Mersey Ferries is launching an exciting new cruise product for 2020 following a successful trial this year with 14 Liverpool Bay Cruises scheduled between June and August. The three-hour sightseeing cruise into Liverpool Bay offers breathtaking views from the deck of a Mersey Ferry. During the three-hour cruise, groups will enjoy great scenery and learn [...]
Road closures and diversions are expected in Chester city centre until 24 November as a result of site investigation work being carried out on behalf of the council to confirm the location of services such as gas, electric, water and telecoms as well as ground conditions for necessary infrastructure works. Work will take place from [...]
York’s Chocolate Story is working in partnership with Nestle to bring KitKat Chocolatory to York, the UK’s home of KitKat. The KitKat Chocolatory is a luxury experience where visitors get the chance to create their own eight-finger KitKat using different flavour combinations and a host of diverse ingredients including shortbread pieces, mini marshmallows, honeycomb and [...]
The View from The Shard has announced the return of The Slide, an exhilarating 360-degree Virtual Reality experience which is back by popular demand for a limited period. Visitors to London’s highest attraction will be able to enjoy the thrill of ‘The Slide’ travelling at up to 100mph down and around the iconic building, using [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises, England’s fifth most popular ‘paid for’ attraction will be marking its 40th anniversary year at WTM London, providing clients with information about its fleet of vessels, the lake and surrounding attractions and accommodation providers. The event will also be used as an opportunity to showcase the attraction’s new 300-seat ‘MV Swift’, which [...]
Tatton Park at Christmas offers a host of festive activities to help everyone get into the Christmas spirit – all available for groups of fifteen or more. Visitors can start in the stunning Winter Gardens – recently voted the ‘Best Garden in the North West’ by readers of Garden News magazine – and see the [...]
CTA communications director Helen Bowron took part in the recent Fáilte Ireland Fam Trip which proved to be a cracking event with visits to some fascinating attractions and destinations that would love to welcome your groups. Read Helen’s account of the trip: CTA members know that Ireland is a great destination for coach tour holidays [...]
CTA is once again a partner with World Travel Market London and will host our regular reception at 11am on 4 November at the Fox bar, Excel London. CTA members get access to the invitation-only Monday in addition to the show open days. Here is your exclusive registration for you to book as a CTA [...]
CTA has negotiated a special partnership rate for CTA Supplier members who want to take part in BIM, Britain & Ireland Marketplace, organised by ETOA. BIM is ETOA’s B2B workshop dedicated to UK and Irish product, and takes place on Tuesday 28 January at the London Hilton on Park Lane. The event presents the best [...]
CTA member ITO Tours UK is keen to talk to fellow operator members about visits to Floriade Expo 2022 which will be held in Almere near Amsterdam for 180 days from April to October in 2022. ITO Tours is now starting to introduce the Floriade Expo 2022 to the travel trade and wants to get in touch [...]
The much-awaited Silverstone Experience is opening on 25 October. The attraction will take visitors on an exciting journey through the past, present and future of Silverstone and British motorsport. "We are expecting a lot of interest from the coach market," says Gillian Bell who is responsible for trade sales. "It promises a fascinating half-day of [...]
CTA member Groups Direct has some great winter offers to help coach operators fill their coaches over the winter months. A free group organiser place is available with every 20 paid customers to deliver a reasonably-priced day out that can help group organisers and coach operators offer clients something during the winter months. The following winter warmers [...]
A glimpse of the Downton Abbey grandeur at our National Trust for Scotland properties From the television series to the big screen blockbuster, the Crawley family and their servants at Downton Abbey have caught the public’s imagination. But coach groups can also get a feel for Downton life at some of the grand houses the [...]
Westminster Abbey marks the 750th anniversary of the consecration of Henry III’s church this autumn. Henry III was devoted to Saint Edward the Confessor, and in his honour he rebuilt Edward’s 11th century Abbey in the then new Gothic style of architecture. Work started in 1245 and the consecration of the Church took place on [...]
