The Excursions 2017 group travel show, which took place at London’s Alexandra Palace on Saturday, January 28, has continued to show steady growth. According to organisers Tourism South East, the one-day event attracted 1,150 visitors – up from 1,100 in 2016.
Approximately half of those who attended did so for the first time, keen to discover what exhibitors had to offer and clearly demonstrating that there is still a huge need for conducting business face-to-face, even in a digital age.
Visitors were also given a preview of the revitalised new branding for Excursions 2018, to be held at Alexandra Palace on Saturday, January 27.
Delighted with Excursions ongoing success, organiser Anna Wilson-Barnes, Travel Trade Marketing Manager at Tourism South East, said: “There was a great buzz about this year’s show with packed aisles, new contacts being made and business conducted at a high level. We were also very pleased to see so many new and younger visitors, changing some of the long held preconceptions about group travel being just for an older market. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2018.”
Tourism South East Chief Executive, Nigel Smith, commented: “We have consistently sustained visitor numbers over the years. We have achieved this by combining database marketing and traditional advertising with free coach transfers, as well as arranging fam trips and bringing in VIP coaches. All added value ways of getting trade visitors to attend. For the first time this year, AGTO also held their AGM at Excursions.”
Nicholson’s pop-up pub proved to be a great draw for visitors, eager to sample a selection of their beers, while the tickets for the free wine tasting by Denbies were quickly taken up. The presentation by Alexandra Palace on their future plans and tours of the venue also attracted considerable interest.
