From big business deals, to standing-room only Keynotes, and dazzling entertainment up and down the aisles, the British Tourism & Travel Show wowed the domestic travel trade industry for 2019.
The leading event for domestic tourism was ‘buzzing’ with activity over the two days, with 2837 attending the show last week at the NEC Birmingham – including some of the biggest tour operators, travel organisers, coach operators, and travel agents in the country. They came to meet over 250 leading hotels, visitor attractions, venues, DMOs and popular destinations – all providing inspiration and ideas for group tours and trips around the UK and Europe.
Summing up his show experience, attendee Doug Spencer, group tours organiser at Matlock Travel Society, says: “I have to say that it was an excellent show that exceeded my expectations. This year I came away with plenty of inspiration and new ideas for our group’s future day trips. It was good to meet with new exhibitors and to catch up with exhibitors that we have met with in the past. There was an excellent atmosphere prevailing and the Keynote speakers that I listened to were both extremely interesting and inspiring. A very enjoyable and well worthwhile day.”
From open to close, the show-floor was alive with the sights, sounds, not to mention the aromas, of what Britain and Irish tourism has to offer. Among the networking, meeting, greeting and all important business deals, visitors were entertained by an array of colourful characters and live music acts, including the Jersey Beats, a Welsh folk band, a roaming Only Fools & Horses double act, ska music, Blackpool showgirls, a drag queen, plus a dedicated food and drink trail – giving a taster of what their customers can expect to see and do in group travel holiday hot spots.
David Maguire, the show’s event director says: “The BTTS team are feeling incredibly proud after this year’s British Tourism & Travel Show, which was, once again, a roaring success. The enthusiasm from our exhibitors, the amazing onsite performances, surprise guests, captivating Keynotes and quality visitors made this year’s show one of the best yet.
“Our exhibitors have also been thrilled with the seniority and sheer number of relevant industry group travel organisers and tour operators that they got to meet. So much so, that we’re delighted to report that 60% of exhibitors have already rebooked for next year.
“Huge thanks, as always, to all of our exhibitors, visitors and partners for their continued support, it’s been phenomenal. See you at BTTS 2020!” he says.
Commenting on his exhibiting experience Jack Crozier, digital content manager at Interactive Theatre International says: “It has been great meeting with lots of quality tour operators and group travel bookers. We find that everyone coming to BTTS is exactly the clientele we want to engage with and speak to, which has been extremely useful, as it relates exactly to our field.”
Standing room only Keynotes
Renowned for its wealth of knowledge-based content aimed at the tourism sector – the Keynote theatre drew in standing-room only crowds in sessions from travel expert Simon Calder; Tony Berry, visitor experience director of the National Trust; Nick Hall, CEO of Destination Tourism Think Tank; Adam Milbank, director of Jonas Millbank; John Johnson, commercial director of Johnsons Coach Travel; Meredith Almond from Sparkloft Media; Debbie Marshall from Silver Travel Advisor; and a panel discussion with the AGTO and a Tourism Question Time facilitated by Sean Taggart, non-executive director of The Albatross Group.
Reflecting the buzzing atmosphere, The Independent’s travel editor Simon Calder says that “this show celebrates the best entertainment in the country” during his headline Keynote, which discussed the latest trends, news reports and updates the travel trade should be aware of.
After a few images from his travels around the world with the BBC, from Malta to Brussels, Sydney and France – Calder swiftly moved onto the looming effects of Brexit and reminded the audience about ETIAS visas and driving permits when travelling to the EU after the 29 March. He then discussed how changes in exchange rates could possibly be a good thing for domestic tourism, stating it as “another reason why people are more disposed to stay in the UK, and also why more people will be disposed to come here.”
“It’s a great time to be a traveller, and there are great opportunities here within coach tourism with planned routes like The Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland and The North Coast 500 in Scotland,” he says, when acknowledging the variety of exhibitors across the show floor.
“It’s incredibly important to come to events like the British Tourism & Travel Show, to discover these fantastic exhibitors and to understand what’s going on in the country today. I think the atmosphere here is great, the sense of everybody cooperating with each other and working together to see how they can deliver great experiences, create jobs, and effectively, be important players in tourism and travel; the industries of human happiness,” he adds.
Save the date for 2020
British Tourism & Travel Show returns to the NEC Birmingham on 22-23 September 2021. For further information, please visit www.tourismshow.co.uk.
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