The Coach Tourism Association (CTA) says its recent Winter Networking event attracted over 160 delegates from the UK coach tourism sector. Based at Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel and held from 23 to 25 November, the event included networking sessions between industry buyers and suppliers. A ‘Supplier Showcase’ also matched coach tour operators and wholesalers with hotels, attractions and destinations, and helped service providers to formalise new tourism products.
“Strong attendance from operators and wholesalers in Blackpool has driven excellent participation from high-quality suppliers,” said CTA Chair Robert Shaw. “CTA operators were delighted with the opportunities to create new trips and tours. For suppliers, CTA Winter Networking was a demonstration of the commercial value of attending our industry’s most important business generation events.”
Ahead of the event’s networking dinner, the Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Peter Hunter, addressed the CTA delegation in praise of coach tourism, speaking of the importance of coach tourism spend for the resort.
Providing an update on local attractions, the event included an afternoon tea experience at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, courtesy of Merlin Entertainments, and delegates also visited Merlin’s High Jinx circus, Madame Tussauds Blackpool, and Sea Life Blackpool Aquarium.
“The weekend showed the importance of hosting fam visits to meet coach tourism operators face-to-face to closely understand the needs of coach tour customers,” said Suzie Gildon of Merlin Entertainments. “Participation in the CTA Winter Networking event generated a lot of new interest in our attractions and we look forward to partnering with many new coach operators as a result.”
The weekend also took in a visit to the National Trust’s Rufford Old Hall near Ormskirk, as well as VisitBlackpool’s Christmas by the Sea festive event. The CTA’s next event will be its annual conference and workshop, taking place from 8 to 11 February in Stratford-upon-Avon. The event is open to all CTA members, and non-members interested in joining the organisation are invited to contact [email protected].
