St Fagans National Museum of History near Cardiff has welcomed the opening of its newest attraction, The Vulcan Hotel. The Vulcan Hotel was built on Adam Street in Cardiff in 1853 to serve the mainly Irish community of what was then called Newtown. During its long history, it saw major changes as Cardiff grew to [...]
The Celtic Collection has added a new sustainable hotel to its portfolio. Tŷ Newport, which is now open, offers 146 bedrooms, a Mediterranean-inspired dining experience, and a gym. It's located a short drive from Newport city centre, just off the M4 motorway. The hotel operator says it will set new sustainability standards as the largest [...]
Vale of Rheidol Railway has opened a new museum and event space at the engine shed building in Aberystwyth. The repurposed building offers 5,000 square feet of display space for some of the railway’s priceless collection, alongside exhibits from around the world. The new museum tells the story of how Wales led the way in [...]
New CTA member Trust My Travel offers travel providers an all-in-one solution to protect customers’ travel plans. Trust My Travel combines financial protection for travellers’ global payment processing, and compliance with the package travel regulations, meaning just one application for both financial protection and payment processing. Trust My Travel says its managed solution allows operators [...]
Daniel Thwaites Hotels is offering groups some fabulous locations for Easter trips and tours in 2025. With hot cross buns on arrival, an Easter Sunday lunch with all the trimmings, and an Easter egg, guests can stay at a choice of great locations in the 10-hotel group. Hotels are located in the north of England, [...]
Visit Essex is inviting CTA members to its next group travel organisers’ familiarisation trip, taking place on Tuesday 24 September, visiting Saffron Walden. Saffron Walden is a delightful medieval market town with a rich heritage of old buildings, with popular market days that have been taking place in the town since 1141. The trip will [...]
Continuum Attractions is introducing the Emmerdale Village Tour & Harewood House combination for groups. Guests can embark on a fully guided, 80-minute outdoor walking tour of the iconic Emmerdale village. Following the Emmerdale tour, guests will be transported to Harewood House, just a short distance away, to explore the exquisite 18th-century mansion, set among more [...]
West Midlands Safari Park is an award-winning visitor attraction located in Worcestershire, and is home to a variety of all-weather attractions, including four miles of drive-through safari, thrilling dinosaur exhibits, wildlife trails, and a theme park. The safari park is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and critically endangered animals, and includes giraffes, [...]
This Christmas, groups are welcomed to Harewood House, the eighteenth century country house and grounds in West Yorkshire, to step into a magical festive world of Mischief at the Mansion where history and imagination intertwine. As part of a magical makeover by the internationally celebrated artists, Studio McGuire, the display will reveal Harewood’s history and [...]
Strathmore Hotels’ Ben Nevis Hotel & Leisure Club in Fort William is hosting a Ceilidh Party Weekend from 29 November 2024, offering a two or three-night stay. The itinerary includes Friday arrival with a meal followed by an evening of entertainment with music and dancing. Saturday is the main event, starting with a hearty Scottish [...]
The Coach Tourism Association’s (CTA) Spring Networking event in Oxford attracted nearly 120 coach tour operators, wholesalers, and industry suppliers for a weekend of business development. Held between 18 and 20 May, the event’s fam trips and Supplier Showcase generated new trips and tours, while the seminar programme advised on marketing technology, and the zero-emissions [...]
Coach tour operators, wholesalers, and industry suppliers are gathering in Oxford this weekend for CTA Spring Networking, 19-20 May. The sell-out event welcomes more than 100 members for an engaging fam trip, seminar, and Supplier Showcase line up. Hosted at Holiday Inn Oxford, CTA Spring Networking will include fam trips to Blenheim Palace, The Bodleian [...]
CTA Winter Networking will take place in Blackpool, 24-25 November, and will include a special visit to the famous Blackpool Tower. Based at The Imperial Hotel Blackpool, the weekend will feature fam trip visits courtesy of Merlin Attractions, including The Blackpool Tower, comprising its iconic ballroom and sounds of the Wurlitzer organ. Booking details for [...]
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust has announced that His Majesty The King has confirmed his Patronage of the award winning charity, continuing the role he first took up in 2006 as HRH The Prince of Wales. Charles began his association with Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust on a visit to open the new Royal Dockyard Library in [...]
The UK coach tourism industry’s biggest annual event, The CTA Conference & Workshop, will take place next year in Stratford-upon-Avon. Held from 9-11 February 2025, Shakespeare’s town and the surrounding area will host a variety of engaging fam trips to boost operator product and supplier bookings. The event will also include the Meet the Buyer [...]
The Dramatic Heart of Wales, the tourism team at Neath Port Talbot Council, has launched group travel itineraries designed to present new options for groups. With suggestions for group hotels, coach parking, group-friendly activities and attractions, the itineraries can be tailored to suit group sizes and preferences while showcasing the wonders of the Dramatic Heart [...]
Loving Welsh Food is partnering with The Welsh House in Cardiff as the new venue for this year’s Taste of Wales evenings. The Welsh House is an independent regional restaurant and bar showcasing the very best food and drink from within Wales, and Taste of Wales evenings can be tailored for groups on request. Events [...]
Kynren, the multi-award-winning outdoor live theatre event taking place in Bishop Auckland throughout the summer, from 27 July to 14 September, has added a new dining package, as well as new travel by coach information. Kynren’s exclusive dining package offers visitors the chance to enjoy a three-course meal in the spectacular Arches Hall, while pre-dinner [...]
Wicked, the West End stage musical phenomenon that tells the story of the Witches of Oz, has become the 10th longest-running West End show in British history. Wicked surpasses the run of the legendary farce, No Sex Please, We’re British, which ran from June 1971 until September 1987, playing a total 6,761 performances. The musical, [...]
Sapphire Group Solutions, specialising in providing accommodation for tour operators and group organisers, is promoting group offers for a number of UK events this year. The wholesale accommodation provider has 2024 offers remaining for the Chelsea Flower Show, as well as sporting events including the British Grand Prix. Sapphire is also supporting group accommodation needs [...]
St Mary’s Guildhall in Coventry has been recognised for making heritage more accessible at a ceremony celebrating the region’s tourism industry. Operated by No Ordinary Hospitality, the venue has been given the Silver award in the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism category at the West Midlands Tourism Awards 2024, held at the Bear Grylls Adventure, National [...]
The Nethybridge Hotel in Speyside, near Inverness, has opened group bookings for its 2024 Turkey & Tinsel events. Part of Strathmore Hotels, the Nethybridge Hotel is offering four-night and three-night group breaks in November. Providing an atmospheric Highland setting for the festive period, the hotel presents great surrounding views and is well situated to explore [...]
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has provided an update on its expanding range of flower shows taking place, helping operators schedule up to 2027. After this summer’s 25th anniversary show, the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will be back every three years, returning in 2027 to celebrate gardening in the North West. Still in the [...]
Coach operators and group organisers looking to arrange a trip to a National Trust property or location should visit the organisation’s website groups page, comprising full information to help plan the day. The National Trust looks after over 500 special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, from the stones of the Giant’s Causeway, to [...]
Visit Isle of Man has launched a new campaign to encourage bookings to the 2024 Isle of Man TT Races and inspire visitors to explore the Island beyond the racing. The campaign, ‘The Isle of Man, There’s More to iTT’, is a collaborative effort between Visit Isle of Man and the Department for Enterprise Motorsport [...]
Raby Castle has secured a silver award at the Green Tourism awards in recognition of its commitment to sustainability. The Green Tourism awards are acknowledged as an indicator of good environmentally friendly practice. Raby Castle submitted evidence across criteria including investments in renewable energy at The Rising scheme, which include the Geothermal Heating Network. The [...]
This summer, groups are being offered after-hours access for guided tours to the medieval Duke Humfrey’s library at Oxford’s famous Bodleian Library. Tour guides will also guide groups through underground tunnels and reading rooms, into the iconic Oxford landmark, the Radcliffe Camera. Until 1 June, groups have priority booking before sales open to the public, [...]
Offering cinematic beauty, off-the-beaten-track experiences, and beautiful coastal scenery, the Wild Atlantic Way has been one of the island of Ireland’s most successful tourism stories. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the world’s longest-defined coastal touring route. The Wild Atlantic Way is an internationally acclaimed waymarked road trip, stretching 2,500 kilometres along the contours [...]
Caffi Cyfle at Alyn Waters Country Park, located close to Wrexham, is keen to attract coach groups for light refreshments and stop-offs. Offering an ideal outdoor break on a tour of Wrexham and North Wales, Caffi Cyfle, just three miles from Wrexham, can provide refreshments tailored to budget that can be eaten in or pre-boxed [...]
Manchester City has marked an important phase in the development of the Etihad Stadium expansion with the arrival and installation of the first steels in recent weeks. The £300million project, which will increase the stadium’s capacity to over 60,000 during the 2025/26 season, is now starting to take shape with the initial steel framework in [...]
Excursions is welcoming back group travel organisers and travel trade operators to Wembley Stadium for 2025 on Saturday 1 February and is providing a discount for early-booking exhibitors. Booking now, exhibitors benefit from a 10% Early Bird discount, and also ensure their preferred location in Wembley’s Great Hall. Early booking is available until 31 July. [...]
VisitAberdeenshire is presenting product and itinerary suggestions on agricultural tourism, or agritourism, specifically aimed at the groups market. From Highland cattle to Clydesdale horses, sheepdogs to berry picking, Aberdeenshire has both modern and historical approaches to farming. This culture can be discovered through the county’s presentation of agritourism. Details on all of Aberdeen’s agritourism offerings [...]
English Heritage has provided arrangements for coach groups travelling to the Stonehenge Summer Solstice, taking place on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 June 2024. Commercial vehicles requiring access during Summer Solstice must pre-book via the Travel Trade Team at traveltrade@english-heritage.org.uk by Wednesday 22 May 2024 to apply for Solstice access and parking. Entry to the [...]
Bookings are now live for the CTA Spring Networking event which takes place on 19-20 May in Oxford. We are based at the Holiday Inn Oxford and the event includes Fam trips to Bodleian Libraries and Blenheim Palace, including a Blue Badge Guide tour courtesy of Roger Bailey. Blenheim has a host of events this [...]
CTA members are encouraged to attend the CTA Spring Networking event in Oxford on 19-20 May which promises to be a great opportunity for operators to develop business by enhancing their day trip and tour programmes, and for operators to present their latest news and innovations. The event includes CTA’s AGM, followed by a business [...]
CTA exhibited at VisitScotland Connect last week in Aberdeen, Scotland’s flagship travel trade event. The workshop-style travel trade event took place at the city’s P&J Live arena on 17 and 18 April. More than 250 domestic and international tour operators and travel advisors, representing 23 countries and global markets including the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, [...]
CTA member, Jason Edwards, of Jason Edwards Travel, as well as CTA Chair, Robert Shaw, were interviewed by ITV Wales and included on recent news coverage. ITV Wales made the interviews as part of a news story on the importance of coaches to the tourism economy, as well as the advantages of travel by coach. [...]
Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire, is presenting four unforgettable nights of concerts, from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 July, with its Music At The Manor performances. Group bookings are now open to hear hit music from some of Britain's top tribute artists. The lineup includes: Thursday 11 July - Bootleg Beatles supported by Le Freak, Friday 12 [...]
English Heritage advises visitors to Stonehenge this spring and summer that the A360 faces a temporary road closure. The works form part of the A303 Stonehenge (Amesbury to Berwick Down) scheme, with preliminary works scheduled to take place which involve temporarily closing the A360. Please see this link for further information regarding the temporary closure [...]
Shakespeare Distillery's Gin School has been named Experience of the Year in the West Midlands Tourism Awards. The independent artisan spirit producer, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, picked up the gold award at a ceremony on 20 March at Bear Grylls Adventure in Solihull. As a gold winner, Shakespeare Distillery will automatically be entered into the national [...]
Discover Durham is presenting outdoor attractions for groups this spring and summer, from hidden gardens in the heart of the city, to group-friendly outdoor attractions and countryside parks. In Durham City, visitors can stroll along the city’s riverbanks and see Durham Castle and Cathedral, as well as Durham University Botanic Garden. Groups can also visit [...]
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is presenting the exhibition Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians. The display charts the Georgians’ style story with paintings, prints, and drawings by artists including Gainsborough, Zoffany, and Hogarth, as well as luxurious textiles, sparkling jewellery, and a range of accessories from snuff boxes to swords. The exhibition reveals how the [...]
Historic Royal Palaces is presenting a range of updates for group visitors across 2024. The Orangery at Kensington Palace, now re-opened to visitors, was once a party house for Queen Anne. Groups can experience this unique building and its displays, including intricate carvings, while enjoying afternoon tea, or relax outside in the newly created terrace. [...]
Oxford Castle & Prison, which provides guided visits of the city’s iconic building, is also presenting Murder Mystery evenings and is welcoming groups to participate. The Murder Mystery is set around the Castle & Prison historic site, involving the atmospheric Norman crypt, Victorian D-wing cells, and eighteenth-century Debtor’s Tower. Costumed actors engage with the group, [...]
Kynren, the dramatic live performance that takes a trip through Britain’s history, is set to include a rare breed of horse as a new cast member. Knutsford Cosmopolitan, a majestic grey shire horse known as Cosmo to his friends, has been welcomed at 11Arches, the organisation behind Kynren, as he joins the equine team. Cosmo [...]
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is open for 2024 and the attraction is looking forward to welcoming groups to experience a great day out. Alongside its daily services, the railway has a full calendar of events, as well as the launch of an exciting new film trail this summer. Key upcoming events include the Spring, [...]
Visit Essex is keen to welcome coach groups in 2024 and beyond, and has packaged a range of attractions and destinations that celebrate the best of coast, countryside, and heritage cities and towns. Essex offers a 350-mile coastline, and coach groups can discover seaside towns such as Southend-on-Sea, home to the longest pier in the [...]
The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall is welcoming groups this Spring as well as looking ahead to events later in the year. Mindful of coach operator requirements, the impressive garden attraction near Mevagissey is also ready to help plan product for next year’s brochures. This month, the National Collection of Heligan’s Camellias and Rhododendrons [...]
Visit Isle of Man has welcomed Claire McColgan of Liverpool City Council to the organisation’s Non-Executive Board. Claire’s expansive background in destination making will assist in shaping the Visit Isle of Man Visitor Economy Strategy. Claire is Director of Culture and Major Events at Liverpool City Council and is responsible for Culture Liverpool, Marketing Liverpool, [...]
Visit Aberdeenshire is promoting Garioch Heritage Centre to groups, combined with fine group accommodation in Aberdeen. Garioch Heritage Centre showcases an architecturally acclaimed conversion of a former industrial building, originally part of the Inverurie Locomotive Works, which played a key role in the social and economic development of the area. Groups can explore the history [...]
