Doors open at 10am on Wednesday at the NEC Birmingham
British Tourism & Travel Show is set to welcome thousands of domestic travel trade professionals when doors open at the NEC Birmingham later this week, on 21-22 March.
Domestic tour operators, travel organisers and leading tourism operators from across the country will be packing the aisles checking out the latest destinations, attractions, tours, packages and incentives from over 270 leading exhibitors.
Albatross Travel Group, Expedia, National Trust, BBC Countryfile, British Airways, Buyagift, Thomas Cook, National Express, Eurostar Travel & Tourism, English Holiday Cruises, Houses of Parliament, Meridian Travel, Virgin Trains, Wanup, Rondo Travel, Great Rail Journeys, Johnson Coach Travel, Groupon, Just Go Holidays, Sunway Tours, Secret Escapes, JAC Travel, Telegraph, National Holidays, Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel, and The UK Holiday Group and are just some of the big name companies preparing to attend.
Event director David Maguire says: “The British Tourism & Travel Show is the largest domestic tourism showcase for the UK and Ireland’s travel trade, which is why so many operators and travel professionals recommend it and call it their favourite show of the year. We’re looking forward to a very busy and productive two days.”
“The British Tourism & Travel Show is a truly excellent way of meeting those involved in travel tourism in one place, with a great atmosphere,” says Peter Bradley, director of administration and development at London Tourist Coach Operators Association.
“An excellent show with a good variety of exhibitors; we were able to get some great ideas for planning our programme of day visits. The ease to get around and talk to exhibitors, that were of particular interest to us, and the enthusiasm of the exhibitors was very helpful,” says Douglas Spencer, group tours organiser at Matlock Travel Society.
“Our company has been attending The British Tourism & Travel Show for many years. We’re always looking for both new trends and suppliers. Although we are based in Germany, it is one of the most important shows for us. With our long-term partners and friends, all in the same hall, it feels like coming home,” says Mario Lenz, deputy head of UK/Ireland department at Service-Reisen Giessen.
“A great showcase of regional products that it would be otherwise really hard to meet on a one to one basis around the UK,” says Flavia Messina, B2B executive at VisitBritain.
“My first-time experience of the show was an eye opener, with so many potential opportunities, and real visual growth to progress within the travel industry. I look forward to the 2018 show,” says Sarabjit Singh Ahir, operations manager at Maya Travel Limited.
Show features
Returning regional pavilions include: Visit Scotland – who are celebrating the ‘year of young people’; Visit Wales – who are celebrating the ‘year of the sea’; and Tourism Ireland – who will be highlighting iconic experiences along the Wild Atlantic Way.
As well as meeting exhibitors from the British Isles, visitors to the show can also discover further afield in the new Destination Europe area. Appealing to key decision makers who plan and book itineraries for both international and domestic tourists, the area will feature a number of diverse attractions, destinations and hotels across Europe including: Belgium Tourist Office – Wallonia, Dutch Cruise Line, Lovers Canal Cruises, Swarovski Crystal Worlds Austria, Europlan, Berlin Television Tower, Visit Brussels, Eurotours International, CzechTourism, Puy du Fou, Explore-Aveiro Tours, and ITO Tours.
To view the full exhibitor list, please visit www.tourismshow.co.uk/who-exhibits.
This year the show will also feature its first food and drink trail. From Cornish fudge to Scottish whisky, the trail is an exciting way to meet the exhibitors and sample classic cuisines from around the British Isles and Europe. A map will be provided in the printed show guide, showing which relevant stands to visit and what food and drink to expect. For more information, please visit www.tourismshow.co.uk/food-drink-trail/.
Big name Keynotes
The show’s extensive free seminar line-up features a host of big name speakers discussing the key issues, op-opportunities and unmissable hot topics facing the domestic tourism sector today. Speakers in the 2018 line-up include: award winning broadcast journalist and presenter Angela Rippon; Google’s head of travel Ruairidh Robert; Justin East, director of innovation at Merlin Entertainments; Jody Farrer, VP of marketing at Chute; Max Sinclair, founder of Ecocompanion; Andy Headington, CEO of Adido; Andy Woodward, Quality in Tourism; and panel discussions from the AGTO and the ALVA.
For more information and timings, please visit www.tourismshow.co.uk/education/.
Free visitor registration
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)
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Media enquiries and press pass requests to:
Please apply for press accreditation via this link: https://registration.n200.com/survey/30gpaao9va5ve
Sharna Waid, PR Executive
t: +44 (0)1273 645144
e: [email protected]
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
Event enquiries:
David Maguire, Group Event Director
t: +44 (0)1273 645127
e: [email protected]
Website: www.tourismshow.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tourism_show
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TourismTravelShow
Exhibitor enquiries:
Lloyd Jones, Sales Manager
t: +44 (0)1733 889 684
e: [email protected]
Notes:
BTTS 2018 logo: http://www.tourismshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/btts_2018_logo.png
High res images can be downloaded below. More available on request:
http://www.tourismshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/BTTS_Highlights-044.jpg
http://www.tourismshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/BTTS_Busy-039.jpg
http://www.tourismshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/BTTS_Highlights-053-1.jpg
Diversified Communications UK (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough and Nailsworth. In addition to The British Tourism & Travel show, Diversified UK’s portfolio includes: British Coach Tourism Awards; Group Tourism & Travel magazine; CDC News; miniplus; CDC Coach Tourism Yearbook; Coach & Bus UK; Euro Bus Expo; routeone magazine; routeone Awards; Accountex; lunch!; Casual Dining; Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards; Commercial Kitchen; Natural & Organic Products Europe; Natural and Organic Awards; Nordic Organic Food Fair & Natural Products Scandinavia in Malmö, Sweden; SITS – The Service Desk & IT Support Show; GEO Business; Capturing Reality; Ocean Business; and MARELEC Marine Electromagnetics conference. For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products Diversified Communications connects, educates and strengthens business communities in over 14 industries including: food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, business management and technology. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business (www.divcom.com).