Stop press:
Hemmings Coaches wishes to sell on stall tickets to a matinee performance of Love Never Dies, on 5 May. Contact Linda Hemmings on 01237 451282
Chelsea Flower Show: Richmonds Coaches needs tickets for Saturday 29 May. Contact Natalie Richmond on 01763 848226. David Ogden Travel also need tickets to Chelsea for Saturday 29 May. Contact Ann on 01744 740490
Volcanic ash crisis
The CTC’s PR underlined how coaches were unaffected by the cancellation of flights over Europe recently through stories issued through Press Association. The Sun hired a Clarkes of London coach to rescue some of their readers and also promoted the www.findacoachholiday.com as an alternative to going by plane.
Of course while many CTC members provided coaches for major tour operators to bring back thousands of the stranded as an industry it was logistically impossible to put together a coordinated rescue without Government intervention.
As it was more than 100,000 coach passengers came back through Dover over a 4-day period, the majority on pre booked tours to underline how coaches to continue to operate regardless of what is happening – or not – in the skies.
In the meantime with the price of filling up a car with fuel now £60, we will be highlighting the great value of coach tours in press releases. An example of what can be done at a local level is demonstrated by the story attached featuring Jones Holidays.
Visit the Channel Islands
Jersey and Guernsey Tourism is inviting coach operators and group travel organisers to two travel trade workshops – with fam trips also included - to both islands this May. Destination Jersey workshop is from 17-19 May www.destinationjersey.com and the Guernsey workshop from 19-21 May www.guernseytradeworkshop.com
New CTC member Condor Ferries is fully supporting the workshops by offering FOC foot passenger travel to the Jersey and Guernsey events as well as FOC parking at Weymouth Port. It will also put participants in touch with hotel accommodation providers for the duration.
For further information follow the destination links or contact Graham Hopcraft at Condor Ferries graham.hopcraft@condorferries.co.uk (Tel: 07803 074932)
Coach Tourism Awards
The CTC will be among more than thirty organisations taking part in the afternoon Workshop which proceeds the Coach Tourism Awards ceremony at the Holiday Inn, Stratford upon Avon on 20 May. After the workshop there is a networking event on the lawns of the Holiday Inn overlooking the River Avon before the Awards Dinner attended by around 400 guests and including many CTC members, some of whom will no doubt be among the winners. For more information about the Coach Tourism Awards 2010 go to: www.coachtourism-awards.com
Annual French Workshop
Workshop France 2010 organised by Atout France – formerly known as Maison de la France -is a not to be missed event for anyone who has a French tour programme. Taking place on Saturday 5 June at the new Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London it’s a great opportunity for coach tour operators, group travel organisers and wholesalers to meet with 100 key tourism partners in France including tourist boards, hotels, attractions and leisure tourism partners.
There is a charge of £100 to register but as a new incentive this is refundable to tour operators after the event, provided they have attended. This fee includes entrance to the workshop with pre bookable appointments and 1-nights B&B accommodation for either Friday 4 June or Saturday 5 June with lunch and dinner included. To take advantage of this offer register before 7 May with Atout France on 020 7061 6614.
Fam trip to Rockingham as part of CTC AGM event
A fam visit to Rockingham Castle near Market Harborough on Sunday afternoon, 6 June, will be the first part of the 2010 CTC AGM event being held at the Leicester Marriott Hotel. Marriott is generously hosting a pre AGM social and networking event that evening as well as providing members with overnight accommodation.
Following the AGM – and annual elections to the CTC Board - on Monday morning (7 June) there will again be a seminar which this year will cover the burning issue of how hotels treat coach parties and groups and also a presentation on how to get the best out of your websites. This should appeal to both operators and suppliers.
This not to be missed event has become increasingly popular with members in recent years and we are especially grateful to Marriott Hotels for providing everything FREE for coach operators and their partners – YES all the above including accommodation is included - while suppliers will be charged just £35pp for the night.
You can register your attendance now and reserve accommodation for Sunday 6 June by completing the booking form by clicking on this link and then email through to admin@coachtourismcouncil.co.uk
2010 Irish Fam trips
A taste of the best in Irish baking, how to trace your Irish ancestors and how to play an Irish musical instrument such as the tin whistle, are just three of the elements which make up a not to be missed 4-day fam trip to the south west of Ireland with Tourism Ireland from 22 to 25 June.
A visit to Illnacullen at Garinish Island from Glengarriff by ferry to see the beautiful gardens in full bloom, hillwalking on the spectacular Sheeps Head Lighthouse Loop and visits to the harbour town of Kinsale, Bantry Bay, the historic town of Kenmare and Killarney are also included. In Killarney there will be the chance to take a trip through The Gap of Dunloe and lake district, cruise around the Killarney Lakes or take a trip to Dingle. An afternoon workshop will be held at the Brehon Hotel in Killarney and there will be various opportunities during the trip to look at a variety of coach friendly hotels in the region.
This is one of two Tourism Ireland fam trips and workshops this year – the second will be to Northern Ireland in early September – open to CTC members. In the first instance contact Dermot Hogan at Tourism Ireland in London for further details – DHogan@tourismireland.com
More new members
More than 20 new members have joined the CTC since the start of 2010, the latest being coach operators Jay and Kay Coaches based in Crayford, Kent which has its own holiday programme and inbound and outbound tour operator Centurion Tours Travel in Northumberland.
A warm welcome too to the Classic Britain Hotel Consortium which represents more than 200 privately owned hotels throughout the UK and Newmarket Racecourses who are keen to welcome coaches and groups to their 19 race meetings throughout the year.
Also keen to work with groups is Tourism South East, the tourist board for Visit South East England made up of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and the Isle of Wight.
Last but not least well known industry figures Jonathan Mountford and Roger Simmonds have joined through their new company made, which specialises in tourism marketing, representation and PR.
News from operators and suppliers
HOTELS:
Expanding its hotel portfolio is Grand UK Hotels which has acquired the Grade-II listed Daunceys Hotel on the seafront in Weston-super-Mare. The hotel with 73 en suite bedrooms, is Grand UK’s 10th hotel and close to the landmark Grand Pier, which re-opens this summer after a £34 million investment following a fire in 2008.
Alfa Travel through its sister company Leisureplex, has bought its 18th hotel, the Seabank Hotel in the south Wales resort of Porthcawl. It intends to increase capacity of the seafront hotel from 67 bedrooms to 90 and in addition to using for its own Alfa holiday tour programme will welcome other coach operators and groups.
Canterbury hotel offer
If you’re travelling to Dover and need an en route stop then stay at the The Holiday Inn Express in Canterbury (www.hiexpresscanterbury.co.uk) which is offering CTC operator members a special rate for 2010 of £49 per room per night on a bed & breakfast basis for one or two people sharing a room. To take advantage of this offer call 01227 865000 or email canterbury@exbhi.co.uk and quote CTC Members Rate when making a booking.
ATTRACTIONS
ZSL London Zoo’s Rainforest Life
Over one hundred masked guests enjoyed an evening of food, tropical mojitos and a very warm welcome in the rainforest at the exclusive travel trade launch of ZSL London Zoo’s Rainforest Life/Night Life exhibit. The zoo’s new flagship experience allows visitors to experience real rain, living trees, tropical climates and a host of endangered animals. The forest will be kept at a sweltering 80°F so that the trees and plants, including exotic living trumpet trees and yellow rattle shaker plants, brought to London from Costa Rica, can be kept alive all year round.
The Imperial War Museum London launches the Explore History Centre on 21 May, a specially-designed public space where anyone can drop in for free and immediately access parts of the Museum’s vast collection of digitised photos, film, sound recordings, documents, art, ephemera and books. To whet the appetite of history buffs and beginners, a special display will open alongside the new space.
Pictured at the event are (left to right) Harry Lockyear (See Tickets), Gwyn Davis (ZSL London Zoo), Louisa Myers (Visit London), Russell Pearce (Ticketmaster), Anna Lancaster (Dewynters)
Explore History 1940 marks the 70th anniversary of Second World War events such as the introduction of rationing, Churchill’s rise to power, the evacuation of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the Blitz to showcase the breadth, depth and diversity of the Museum’s Collections. For a free FAM visit call Laura Wilkinson on 020 7091 3039 or email groupsandtraveltrade@iwm.org.uk.
Historic Royal Palaces has opened a 4 metre high wine fountain, a copy of the one which Henry VIII built at The Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, at Hampton Court Palace. Visitors can see the original painting and learn more about Henry’s parties in an exhibition, Young Henry in the Wolsey rooms while also viewing the magnificent restored tapestries of the King. The new fountain will flow with red and white wine and groups will be encouraged to join in the celebrations and purchase a glass of wine between 4.30pm and 5.30pm each day throughout the summer. To book your group for a tipple or two call 0844 482 7770.
Best of Britain & Ireland 2010
The CTC had one of the most visible ‘stands’ at the Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum in the form of a Plaxton Elite coach – featuring CTC and www.findacoachholiday.com livery. The show was voted a big success by the hosted buyers who attended and took part in various presentations and events hosted by Welcome to Yorkshire, Tourism Ireland, Visit London and a party at the Kensington Roof Gardens, hosted by BoBI and See Tickets. The two day event concluded with afternoon tea at the House of Commons.
Pictured (from left) are Andy Warrender of Plaxtons, Steve Moore of ICT, Chris Roberts of Diamond Holidays and Steve Whiteway of Epsom Coaches.
New membership certificates and coach decals
A newly designed membership certificate will be sent to all members shortly while we also have new coach window decals for operator members.
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