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Domestic trade show “to generate £30mâ€
Monday, 26 Feb, 2010
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An estimated £30 million worth of business is expected to be generated for the UK domestic travel industry at next month’s Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum.
Around 2,500 travel trade professionals are expected to attend the event at London’s Olympia on March 17-18.
More than 350 exhibitors will exhibit a range of new products, with 50 new exhibitors including Warner Leisure Hotels, Grand UK Holidays and Longleat.
The success of last year’s launch event, a new venue, new dates and new programmes for 2010 have seen exhibitor demand rise and the event increase in size by 25%.
The event will also act as the launch of a package of new ways to communicate, facilitate and support the involvement of tourism professionals from across the industry with the sporting events of 2012 London Olympic Games year.
The Travel Trade Forum opens on St Patrick’s Day and highlights include an inaugural VIP domestic hosted buyer programme run in partnership with the Coach Tourism Council, Confederation of Passenger Transport, Group Travel Organisers Association and Group Travel Organiser magazine.
This will complement an overseas hosted buyer programme sponsored by VisitBritain.
CTC chief executive Chris Wales said: “This heralds a new era of close co-operation and we are delighted to be wholeheartedly and actively involved in BoBI 2010, helping deliver a major presence from the coach operating community”.
Main stage events debates kick off with Tourism Question Time when delegates have the chance to quiz tourism minister Margaret Hodge along with Liberal Democrat shadow culture secretary Don Foster and a member of the Conservative party.
A Sustainability Suite in collaboration with national tourist boards will bring together presentations, debates and Q&A sessions. The sessions will include a look at how sustainability is taking a central role in tourism and how organisations are responding to the challenge of climate change.
An unprecedented number of leading hotel chains including Accor, Hilton, Barcélo and Marriott will take space on the show floor.
The new Diploma in Travel and Tourism will be launched on March 19. The qualification will prepare young people for a career in travel and tourism and is one of 17 new Diplomas for 14-19 year-olds.
They combine theory and practice to equip students with the skills, knowledge and experience needed for success at college, university and work.
The qualification covers travel and tourism services, passenger transport, visitor attractions, conferences, events and accommodation services. Students will also be able to choose more specialised learning modules.
New for this year’s show are:
- Jools Holland-narrated audio-visual tour at Rochester Cathedral
- A Medieval Pilgrimage – joint ticket for Canterbury Cathedral and Dover Castle
- Self drive car tours from Worcester-based inbound tour operator, Discover Travel & Tours
- Ffestiniog Railway carriage on the showfloor with some special guests!
- The Enchanted Palace – a unique exhibition combining fashion, performance, and dazzling spectacle at Kensington Palace
- Meet King Henry II and Archbishop Thomas Beckett
- “Free flow” tickets for groups at Squerryes Court and Penshurst Place
- Two x 49,000 gross tones state-of-the-art ferries for P&Os’ Dover-Calais service
- Fit for a King exhibition at the Tower of London – a range of customised armour worn by royalty over the centuries.
- Sport for All Seasons Package combining Chelsea FC, Twickenham, Lord’s and Wimbledon
- Downloadable walking tours
- A Big Bus from Big Bus!
- A golf simulator from Ireland
by Phil Davies
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