Coach Tourism Council eBulletin #49 - June 2011
Coach Tourism Council

Press coverage promoting coach touring continues to increase and was underlined in a double page spread that appeared in the News of the World on 12 June. It was the first time the paper, which has more than six million readers, has given so much space to coach tours. To see the story in full click here

Take That Concert Tickets...

Gold Crest Holidays has 40 tickets for the ‘Take That’ concert in Amsterdam on Monday 18 July – face value is 45 euros per ticket (Cat7 Outer Ring). If anyone is interested in buying the tickets please contact Malcolm Grout: Tel 01943 433337 or malcolm@gold-crest.com


Contents:
  • CTC aims high with new growth strategy

  • 2011 CTC Board elections
  • July events – still time to book
  • August events

  • September/October events

  • Tourism Society Conference

  • London Olympics 2012 news for operators

  • New CTC B2B website launch

  • New members

  • New membership list


  


Diary dates:
  • July 5: Tourism Society Conference

  • July 9: Day out at Ascot Races
  • July 26-28 Cologne: RDA Coach Tourism Workshop 2011
  • July 31: CTC Summer BBQ, Thistle Cheltenham

  • August 3: Houses of Parliament visit and river cruise with City Cruises

  • August 11: Day out at Newmarket Races

  • September 8-11: Northern Ireland fam

  • September 9-11: Floriade 2012 fam

  • October 6-10: Dublin/Ireland fam


CTC aims high with new growth strategy

The CTC has announced a far-reaching development plan which will see its campaigning work grow by more than a third over the next 18 months. The new strategy, launched at the Annual General Meeting, will see the CTC become a limited company while a recruitment drive will aim at adding coach operator and supplier members. A new Partnership Programme will offer an extensive marketing package to five supplier organisations to generate further income.

Speaking to an audience of more than 80 members at the AGM - generously hosted by Accor at the impressive Mercure Albrighton Hall Hotel near Shrewsbury on 6 June - CTC chairman Sean Taggart said a working group would be tasked with drafting the new Articles of Association for the CTC to complete the changes by the end of the year. The outcome would be a properly structured organisation better able to achieve its core aim of promoting coach tourism.

  

Mark and Pauline Wood with CTC chairman Sean Taggart
“For 2011 we raised the supplier membership subscription fees at a rate well above the current rate of inflation, while freezing fees for coach operator members,” he said. “We anticipate that this higher level of subscription fees, combined with our targeted increase in the number of fully paid-up members of the CTC, will generate between £15,000 and £20,000 of the planned £35,000 increase in annual income.”

Mr Taggart added: “This will build a platform so that the CTC is a more powerful voice for its members. Taking the next step will further our direct PR activity and though our membership networking opportunities, help build further on the image of coach tourism.”

The first of the CTC's Partnership Programme members was also announced at the AGM. Wightlink Ferries has taken the first of five places and will get a preferential suite of sponsorship benefits including guaranteed exposure at events.

In the past year the CTC has recruited 65 new members and attracted press exposure for coach tourism in national and regional newspaper and magazines with more than 20 million readers. It has also formed alliances with all the UK's national tourist offices and has a seat on the CPT's Coach Commission.

Chief executive Chris Wales gave a resume of the ‘CTC year’ and Paul Ovington gave an overview of PR activity. Following the AGM Kevin James of IFA Towergate Financial gave a presentation on new company pension schemes while Ali Naqvi of Pellys Transport & Regulatory Law gave up update on new legislation affecting coach operators. The Minutes of the AGM can be downloaded by clicking here

Chocolate aids retirement!
At the end of the meeting retiring CTC treasurer Mark Wood, who stepped down from the CTC Board at the AGM having sold his Woods Coaches business to a management buyout headed by Kevin Brown, was given a surprise when chairman Sean Taggart presented he and his wife Pauline with a photo montage and a specially created chocolate plaque kindly donated by Cadbury World.


CTC Chairman Sean Taggart (left), vice chairman Jane Duffelen (centre)) and chief executive Chris Wales (far right) with the newly elected Board members (from left) Graham Howatson, Stuart Render, Alun Jones and Amanda Harrington.

  

2011 CTC Board elections

 A third of member companies voted in the annual elections for four places on the Coach Tourism Council Board which attracted an excellent cross section of nine candidates from across the coach tourism industry. In a closely fought contest with literally a handful of votes again separately several candidates the following were elected:

Jones Holidays - Alun Jones was re-elected for a further three years while three member companies were elected to the Board for the first time. They are Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel (Amanda Harrington), Coach Monthly/Expo Management (Stuart Render) and Stena Line (Graham Howatson).

Sean Taggart (Albatross Travel Group) and Jane Duffelen (Shaws Coaches), were unanimously re-elected as chairman and vice chairman respectively.

July events – still time to book

5 July: Tourism Society Annual Conference 2011 Beaulieu

The Tourism Society has a special offer for CTC members who would like to attend their Conference taking place on Tuesday 5 July at CTC member attraction Beaulieu in Hampshire. The theme for the day is Innovation & Reinvention in Tourism and big names from a wide range of industry sectors will be speaking including David Quarmby CBE, Chair of the English Tourism Intelligence Partnership, Patricia Yates (VisitBritain), Claire Riches (Norwegian Cruise Line), Brigid Simmonds (British Beer & Pub Association) and Georgina Kelly (Warwick Castle/Merlin Entertainments). Sessions will cover five key sectors: Transport, Food and Beverage, Accommodation, Technology and Destinations/Attractions. As a special offer, Coach Tourism Council members can book tickets at the Tourism Society member rate of just £78 (a saving of £20),which includes lunch and refreshments. For full details and booking information, visit here.

 




 

Saturday 9 July: Ascot races fam trip

 Coach tour members are invited to come and experience the World’s most famous racecourse on Saturday 9 July. Enjoy lunch and afternoon tea as guests of Jacky Birch who is kindly inviting operators and their partners to join her in the hospitality boxes in the magnificent Grandstand. Enjoy the day to the full and forget about driving too and stay at the contemporary Hilton Reading Hotel, just off the M4 opposite the Madejski Stadium. DBB at the hotel is available on both Friday and Saturday nights (8 and 9 July) for the special rate of just £50 per room (£25pp for those sharing). We will be arranging a coach transfer from the hotel to the race course on the Saturday morning and return after the races.

You can register your attendance now and reserve overnight accommodation in Reading by completing the booking form via this link, and then email it through to admin@coachtourismcouncil.co.uk There will be a registration charge of £25pp.

26-28 July RDA-Workshop 2011

The RDA-Workshop is THE MUST ATTEND coach and group tourism sales, purchasing and networking trade exhibition event of the year and is the biggest show for coach tourism in Europe. ‘Creating trends, generating groups‘, is the motto for this year’s exhibition in Cologne which will be held from Tuesday 26 July through to Thursday 28 July. A number of CTC members will be exhibiting at the RDA-Workshop 2011 and the event will offer trade visitors with plenty of ideas for building new coach and group travel programmes.
Go to www.rda-workshop.de for further information on how to attend.

  



 

Sunday 31 July, CTC Summer BBQ, Cheltenham

With more than two dozen member companies already registered the CTC Summer BBQ again promises to be a well attended and not to be missed event. It will be hosted by Thistle on Sunday 31 July at their 4 star Thistle Cheltenham Hotel, set in landscaped grounds just outside Cheltenham. Welcome Pimms, BBQ with wine, entertainment and overnight B&B accommodation will all be included. Nuria Vinuesa has generously arranged for operators and wholesalers to attend FOC and there will be a special rate of £80pp (inclusive of VAT) for suppliers. If not staying overnight the evening only rate is £30pp.

You can register by completing the booking form via this link and then email it to admin@coachtourismcouncil.co.uk

August events – book now

Wednesday 3 August: Houses of Parliament and Thames River cruise

One of London’s most popular attractions, the iconic Houses of Parliament, is inviting CTC members and their guests to an exclusive fam visit to the palace on 3 August. Staring at midday, it includes a Blue Badge guided tour of the famous buildings followed by drinks and a light lunch in one of the private rooms in Portcullis House. Guests then have the option of taking a 90 minute sightseeing cruise on the river Thames from Westminster Pier, courtesy of City Cruises. To book a place for you and a partner/colleague, send your contact details with full names, stating if you would like to go on the river cruise via email to Tom Hulse at tom@hulsepr.co.uk

Places are limited so book asap.
  


 

Thursday 11 August: Newmarket races fam visit

Enjoy a summer’s day at the races at the famous Newmarket track on Thursday 11 August as guests of Newmarket Racecourses. Start the day with an optional visit to The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket High Street and discover all there is to know about the Sport of Kings before coming on to the Racecourses for a tour of the course, welcome drinks and lunch and afternoon tea in one of the hospitality marquees.
For those who want to enjoy the hospitality to the full we have arranged overnight accommodation at the Rutland Arms Hotel. Member Oxford Hotels & Inns is offering a special rate of £55 for a double room for B&B for the night of 11 August.

You can register your attendance now and reserve overnight accommodation in Newmarket for Thursday 11 August by completing the booking form via this link, and then email it through to admin@coachtourismcouncil.co.uk There will be a registration charge of £25pp.

September/October events

9-11 September: Floriade 2012
Floriade only comes around every 10 years and will take place in 2012 from early April through to early October. It’s a fantastic spectacle and will be a major attraction and a must for tour programmes next year. CTC Members can find out about Floriade 2012 on a fam visit with Netherlands Tourism and Stena Line from 9-11 September. Enjoy an overnight crossing on one of Stena Line’s new superferries from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, a day visit to Floriade with lunch and return evening crossing to Harwich. To register email Graham Howatson at Stena Line graham.howatson@stenaline.com

8-11 September: Northern Ireland fam trip
The organiser is Elaine Murray. For full details e mail Elaine via emurray@tourismireland.com

6-10 October: Dublin and the East coast
The organiser is Dermot Hogan. For full details e mail Dermot at dhogan@tourismireland.com




 

London Olympics 2012: News affecting operators

 Olympic Torch Relay Evening Celebration Towns & Cities
LOCOG recently announced details of which towns and cities will be hosting Olympic Torch Relay evening celebrations in the months leading up to the Olympic Games. As each town or city will be holding a large scale event in the evening an increase in demand for transport is expected. To find out more, a comprehensive list of locations can be found here

Local authorities are taking responsibility for planning and delivering these events along with the associated transport arrangements so to find out their plans contact the local authority in your area.
London 2012 Coach Parking rates

Competitive parking rates will be made available to private charter coach operators during the London 2012 Games, according to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

For further details download this press release

New CTC B2B website coming soon

The new CTC B2B website will be going live very soon. It’s been completely rebuilt and we are sure you will find it much more user friendly and easier to navigate with open access to almost everything from the homepage.

A NEW feature will provide suppliers and operators the opportunity to promote news and new products to the membership.

Suppliers who would like their latest news and information considered for inclusion in the News from Suppliers section should email details of their news (note entries will be restricted to no more than 120 words) to admin@coachtourismcouncil.co.uk
  





 

NEW members

 We are delighted to welcome several new members. Windsor Attractions Group is made up around 20 visitor attractions in Windsor (with its own dedicated coach park) and the Royal Borough. Clarks Village in Street has more than 90 stores with top designer labels and high street favourites like Gap, Monsoon, Coast, Marks & Spencer, Next, Clarks and Nike. Leicester Shire Promotions is the Destination Management Organisation for Leicester and Leicestershire representing tourism partners and also running a range of fam trips throughout the year.

We are delighted to welcome back to membership award winning Parrys International which operates a year round tour programme from the West Midlands in both the UK and Europe. Also joining is Drury Holidays, which has a door to door holiday programme with departures from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

With 35 hotels in England and Scotland, Akkeron Hotels has a great choice of locations and hotels styles to suit all tastes and budgets including a choice of Holiday Inn Express, Best Western and Ramada.

New membership list now available on Excel

An updated version of the CTC membership list for 2011 in Excel format is now available to all paid up members. It contains all contact details for those companies - operators and suppliers - who have renewed their membership or joined the CTC during the year to date If you would like a copy please e mail admin@coachtourismcouncil.co.uk