One hundred coach tourism industry stakeholders attended the CTA AGM & Spring Networking event in Norwich this month. Drawing coach tour operators, wholesalers, and industry suppliers from across the UK and Europe, the weekend helped develop new trips and tours, with a particular focus on Norfolk.

“We estimate the event will generate significant new business, both for coach tour operators and wholesalers, as well as the wide range of suppliers supporting the coach tourism industry,” said CTA Chair, Robert Shaw. “As with all CTA events, Spring Networking matched operators with the industry suppliers they needed to talk to. With a particular focus on coach tourism in Norfolk, we know that operators who don’t already come here are planning new trips and tours as a result.”

“Monday was certainly an eye opener and just shows how much opportunity we have missed in the past, by not finding you sooner,” said Sean Garrett, General Manager at new CTA member, Cromer Pier & Pavillion Theatre, speaking about the Supplier Showcase.

The Supplier Showcase presented hotels, attractions, destinations, and service providers to coach operators and wholesalers, all in one location, with a ready pool of operator and wholesaler ‘buyers’.

Staged at the Kew Green Hotels-managed Holiday Inn Norwich North, CTA Spring Networking also included a presentation about how to organise coach tours to Norfolk. Robert Easton of Easton’s Holidays, based in Norwich, along with Ann Steward of Visit East of England, offered their expert local knowledge. Easton’s Holidays also provided transport for the weekend.

Highlights of the event also included fam trips with a Norfolk Broads cruise courtesy of Broads Tours as well as a visit to the Holkham estate. Both attractions reported strong potential to welcome CTA operators’ holiday groups in future as a result of hosting the trips.

Entertainment over the weekend included a Eurovision Song Contest-themed evening, plus CN Live Productions’ West End Crooners singing hits from leading musicals.

“Strong attendance and vibrant conversations between tour operators and tourism industry suppliers showed the positivity currently reflected in the market, demonstrated in our recent member survey. We’re looking forward to a robust year ahead with a good forecast already for 2026. Industry stakeholders should join us at our next event and capitalise on the new opportunities available,” says Robert Shaw.

CTA’s next event, Winter Networking, will take place 21-24 November in Perthshire, Scotland. Booking information will be published shortly.

See a slideshow of the images below – thanks to Stuart Render for photography.