Following the first day of the British Tourism & Travel Show, the prestigious British Coach Tourism Awards will take place at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 21 March. Known as ‘the crème de la crème of coach tourism’, the awards will once again come together to recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation in the coach tourism sector.
As always, a list of big name exhibitors have been shortlisted for an award by a selection of high calibre judges, including Group Tourism & Travel Editor Jessamy Chapman, the Coach Tourism Association’s Chris Wales, former Epsom Coaches MD Steve Whiteway, UKinbound’s Antony Amos, and Blue Badge Guide Leon Preston.
The BTTS exhibitors who have been shortlisted include:
Tour Wholesaler and Industry Supplier
Action Tours
Advantage Now
Encore
Greatdays Travel Group
Groups Direct
ICT Group Travel
Coach Tour Driver of the Year
Shaun Raven – Alfa Travel
Accommodation Provider (Independent Hotels)
Away Resorts – Mill Rythe
Best Western Hotels GB
Hallmark Hotel Preston Leyland
Coach Friendly Destination
Beverley (Visit Hull & East Yorkshire)
Devon (Devon’s Top Attractions)
Coach Friendly Attraction
The World of James Herriot
Cross-Sea Carrier
Condor Ferries
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
Coach Tourism Innovation of the Year
Groups Direct Ltd – The Matinee Shows
Coach Tourism Professional of the Year
Joseph Rawlings – Groups Direct Ltd
John Jacobs – Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
Heritage Railway
Gwili Railway
West Somerset Railway
Accommodation Provider (Hotel Groups)
Hallmark Hotels
Hilton Worldwide
Marriott Hotels UK Ltd
Accommodation Provider (Independent Hotels)
Marine Hotel, Devon
The Metropole Hotel and Spa
European Coach Friendly Attraction
Lovers Canal Cruises
Holiday Programme
Lucketts Travel
Coach Tour Operator – Large Fleet (more than 15 coaches)
Lucketts Travel
Dining Experience (NEW)
Newmarket Racecourses
Tour Wholesaler and Industry Supplier
Norman Allen Group Travel
River and Inland Cruise Operator
Sabrina Boat
Stuart Line Cruises
Ullswater Steamers
To view the full shortlist, please visit – www.britishcoachawards.co.uk/2018-shortlist/.
In addition to the acclaimed awards presentations, guests will enjoy a superb gala dinner and quality entertainment. This year the awards will be compered by the legendary broadcaster John Craven. Perhaps best known as the presented and editor of the popular Newsround, which established him as a household name spanning two generations. He now enjoys a high-profile role as presenter of BBC1’s Countryfile, having spent nearly 30 years with the show. Book your tickets here – www.britishcoachawards.co.uk/ticket-bookings/
Best of luck to all the finalists!
The British Tourism & Travel Show returns to NEC Birmingham on 21-22 March 2018. For further information and to register, please visit www.tourismshow.co.uk. (https://eventdata.uk/Visitor/BTTS2018.aspx?TrackingCode=BTTSPR)