Groups, travel organisers and tour operators have been shown around ‘one of the south of England’s undiscovered gems’ for coaches and groups in a bid to bring group travel and tourism to the town. The Watford Group Experience fact-finding event was organised to allow a host of attractions to welcome groups of visitors and showcase their offerings.
A variety of group-friendly sites, restaurants, and top-class shopping, were included in the tour planners’ schedule, to promote in Watford as ‘the perfect coach stop.’
Representatives of the UK touring industry took part and included Quest Travel from the West Midlands, Hanson Travel from Yorkshire and Holiday Club Staycation from London.
Organised by Visit Watford and Watford BID, the showcase event was arranged in conjunction with UK travel trade specialists Steve Reed Tourism of Hampshire and deigned to be an opportunity for Watford tourism and hospitality businesses to encourage new generations of coach parties – and their spending power – to the town.
The delegates met restaurant owners, hoteliers, attractions and other tourism businesses during a ‘meet the tourism industry’ session held at the Watford Jurys Hotel. Maria Manion, CEO of Watford BID, said:
“I would like to thank all of our tourism partners and businesses for their support in putting together the Coach Operators Day. The feedback we are receiving is extremely positive, and everyone, without exception was impressed with Watford and its group offer – with some saying how surprised they were about how much the town had improved. They loved the feel of the town, commenting on how clean and attractive it was, they were also impressed with the access, and being pedestrianised. The bonus being they travelled into the town with ease.”
