News
2 September
With technology at the heart of next month’s Coach & Bus Live show, organisers are using a new software system to encourage industry professionals to attend. The new visitor registration and management system gives organisers a ‘live view’ of who has registered, together with details about where they’re from and what they’re interested in. This information is helping to track and target specific people who have yet to register. “More than 3,500 people have now registered for the show, and most of them will be visiting the dedicated Technology Zone,” says Show Director Mark Griffin. “Demonstrating at first hand how technology can play an important role in delivering business success, our new software system is giving us an instant picture of who’s registered. That’s enabling us to target specific people who have not yet registered, and to give them an understanding of who else is coming from their sector. With this information we’re able to help them justify a day out of the office to attend.” The dedicated Technology Zone brings together around 30 leading technology suppliers in the same area of the show. This is an opportunity for visitors to compare products, talk to industry professionals, and make educated decisions about the technology that will help them drive business forward. “Everyone knows that the last few years have been extremely tough,” says Mark Griffin. “Exhibitions are no different. Those companies who want to survive and grow will innovate with radical marketing campaigns and a customer focused approach to business. We’re trying very hard all year round to do just that and the investments which we are making into the show will underpin that strategy for us. This will be a fantastic showcase for people to see this October. “We are delighted that the Transport Minister will be coming along to see some of the vehicles that have been bought with help from the government’s green Bus Fund. Equally, those coach operators looking to upgrade fleets will have plenty of opportunity to see some of the latest products from a range of leading manufacturers. Our message to those who want to be innovative and survive is to invest in a day at the show. You may just find that solution which can help you take your business forward.” Peter Gomersall, CPT’s Membership Director, says: ”We’re using the show to encourage many of our CPT members to attend. We’re providing a Business Lounge which will enable CPT members and suppliers to use this facility as a member benefit over the two days. The new visitor registration software enables us to identify which of our CPT members are coming along so that we can be fully prepared. Coach & Bus Live is a really key event for us this year, and we look forward to supporting our members with this service during their time in Birmingham.” Coach & Bus Live 2011 will take place on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 October 2011 in halls 17 and 18 at the NEC in Birmingham. More than 200 exhibitors and around 80 vehicles will be on display. Latest product ranges will be on display from exhibitors including ADL, Daimler Buses, EvoBus (UK), MAN, Moseley, Optare, Plaxton, and Volvo. For more information about what’s on at the show, and for visitor registration, go to www.coachandbuslive.com
Technology boost helps attract visitors to Coach & Bus Live 2011
7 July 2011
The national Coach Tourism Awards 2012 will take place on Thursday 10 May 2012. The venue is the Holiday Inn in Stratford-upon-Avon. Full details of the event, and how to enter, vote or nominate, will appear on the Coach Tourism Awards website later in the year. For information about sponsorship opportunities at this industry leading event, contact Julie Hartley on 01926 888123 or email julie.hartley@expom.co.uk
Date announced for the Coach Tourism Awards 2012
6 June 2011
Exhibitions, events and publishing group, Expo Management (Expo), has appointed Sam Warnock to lead the development of the Best of Britain & Ireland (BoBI) travel trade show. For information about booking space at BoBI 2012 contact Harry on harry@bobevents.co.uk. Priority Booking for previous 2011 exhibitors is now open. Bookings for new exhibitors will be open in July.
Expo Management appoints Sam Warnock to lead development of Best of Britain & Ireland (BoBI)
The appointment follows last month’s announcement (13 May) that Expo Management has acquired BoBI from Best of Britain Events (BoB Events).
As Event Director (BoBI and Tourism Events), Sam will be building on work already undertaken in positioning BoBI as the leading domestic travel trade show.
Sam joins Expo at the start of October from regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands, where he was Head of Visitor Marketing, responsible for delivering tourism branding and marketing for the region, working with both domestic and international markets. He has 26 years experience in the tourism industry gained latterly as Head of Regional Communications for the Heart of England Tourist Board, and Public Relations Director with Birmingham Marketing Partnership.
Commenting on Sam’s appointment, Mark Griffin, Managing Director of Expo Management, says:
“I am delighted to welcome Sam to the Expo team. He has a wealth of tourism experience that will help us to take BoBI forwards. He will be working closely with the existing Expo and BoBI event management team of Angie Watson and Harry Simpson, and with key stakeholders across Britain and Ireland to deliver an industry-leading event in 2012 and beyond.
“I am delighted to be taking up the post of Event Director for Best of Britain & Ireland,” says Sam. “I look forward to meeting with key stakeholders to develop the 2012 offering that profiles the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I am committed to delivering an event that exceeds exhibitors expectations, exceeds visitor expectations and excels in bringing real benefit to the bottom line of tourism industries of Britain and Ireland. The Best of Britain & Ireland exhibition is the ultimate ‘must attend’ event of the domestic tourism industry calendar in 2012 and the last major showcase for the industry in the run up to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer. With the industry, we will together, ensure a successful BOBI 2012.”
13 May 2011
Best of Britain Events (BoB Events) has announced that it has transferred the rights to the future staging of Best of Britain & Ireland (BoBI), the UK's domestic travel trade and tourism exhibition, to Expo Management, the exhibitions and publishing group. Commenting on the announcement, Rob Mackenzie, Managing Director of BoB Events says: The key elements of BoBI's success including its influential industry Steering Group, its VIP Domestic Hosted Buyer Programme, and the new, parallel VIP Overseas Hosted Buyer Programme, will all be retained and enhanced by Expo Management. Expo Management's portfolio includes the trade exhibitions Euro Bus Expo and Coach & Bus Live, trade magazines Coach Monthly and routeONE, and the Coach Tourism Awards. Mark Griffin, Managing Director of Expo Management says: Sean Taggart, Chairman of the Coach Tourism Council, says: Simon Posner, Chief Executive, Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, says: Phil Moon, Chairman, Group Travel Organisers Association, says: More information about BoBI at www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk
Expo Management acquires Best of Britain & Ireland
"BoBI 2011 was undoubtedly a real success for all our exhibitors and visitors, so this is a sad day for us as our team has worked extremely hard to develop BoBI in close partnership with the industry. Like many companies, the changes taking place to the structure of the tourism industry in the UK have meant it has been necessary for me to look at the future direction for my own company. With BoBI now being picked up by Expo Management, this gives me the opportunity to explore new opportunities. Unfortunately, our company has been caught up in the sudden announcement of Visit London's administration, and the very substantial bad debt that this inflicted on us has forced me to conclude that now is the correct moment to pass the organisation of BoBI to new owners. We're nevertheless delighted to be able to ensure that BoBI has a bright, secure future in the very capable hands of Expo Management whose intimate knowledge and close links with the tourism industry made them an obvious choice for us to approach as the best custodian for the industry's flagship event. Our relationship with Expo Management, which people will remember began in competition with the launch of Travel Trade Britain, has, over the past two years, evolved into an extremely positive and productive partnership. TTB was merged into BoBI in August 2009 and, since that time, both companies have worked together closely on BoBI. Expo Management's Managing Director, Mark Griffin, actively served on BoBI's Steering Group and ensured all his company's publications, databases and contacts within the market were enthusiastically harnessed for BoBI's benefit."
"We're delighted to be acquiring BoBI and are looking forward to working closely with all sectors of the market to continue BoBI's development as the centrepiece of the UK's domestic tourism industry. I have the greatest respect for all that the BoBI team have achieved, culminating in the great success of BoBI 2011. We have many new ideas which we will be discussing after the Steering Group's feedback in the coming months. The current BoBI team will be working closely with us over the next few months to ensure a smooth, professional handover. With more than 150 years of combined coach and group tourism industry experience in Expo we believe passionately that the UK domestic tourism industry has so much to offer. Those fortunate enough to have taken holidays and breaks in Britain and Ireland in recent weeks will confirm just that. We aim to continue to develop BoBI as a key trade only show and we look forward to getting the sales launch for 2012 underway in the coming weeks when we shall be out meeting customers to see how we can deliver their aspirations."
"The CTC has been proud to have developed the Domestic Hosted Buyer Programme with the BoBI team over the last two years, making Best of Britain & Ireland a must-attend annual event for the coach tourism industry. Working with Expo Management will make the offering even stronger and we look forward to continuing to support both the Hosted Buyer initiative and the 2012 event. We also wish the BoBI team well, we worked together to enhance the events standing in the coach tourism industry and achieved a great step forward."
"This is really positive news for the coach industry. The team at Expo Management have a strong reputation for putting on great trade shows. I'm sure that they will be working really hard to ensure that this show helps to continue to raise the profile of coach travel and tourism in the UK. CPT will continue to support this show as BoBI remains an important event in the calendar for our members, their businesses and everyone associated with this key sector of the UK economy."
"It has been a delight to work with Angie and the rest of the BoBI team over the last three years. Together we have created a solid platform for group travel organisers at BoBI, inviting them on the Domestic Hosted Buyer Programme and welcoming them as a vital part of the domestic travel trade. It will be good to work with Angie and the new team over the next few months to develop 2012 with the intention of producing an even better opportunity for our members and the industry."
19 April 2011
Finalists The votes have been counted for the destinations and supplier awards, and the judges have made their decisions in the operator, product and people categories. Thank you to everyone who took part. Here are the finalists (shown in each category in alphabetical order). The winners will be announced at the awards evening on 19 May. For tickets please call Kate Stenger on 01926 833058 or email kate@expom.co.uk. Good luck! Coach Friendly Town or City of the Year Bury UK Coach Friendly Attraction of the Year Ascot Racecourse European Coach Friendly Attraction of the Year Cité Europe Cross-Sea Carrier of the Year Brittany Ferries Accommodation Provider of the Year Accor Hotels Ticket Supplier of the Year Encore Tickets Tour Wholesaler of the Year Albatross Travel Group UK Coach Holiday Programme of the Year Angela Holidays European Coach Holiday Programme of the Year Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel Day Excursion Programme of the Year Eastons Coaches Brochure of the Year David Palmer Travel Coach Tour Operator Website of the Year Door2Tour.com Coach Tourism Professional of the Year Suzanne Evans - Boons Calibre Travel Coach Drivers’ Club award for ‘Coach Tour Driver of the Year’ Steve Clarke – Kings Coaches European Coach Tour Operator of the Year Eddie Brown Tours UK Coach Tour Operator of the Year – 1 to 10 vehicles Coliseum Coaches UK Coach Tour Operator of the Year – over 10 vehicles Eddie Brown Tours
Coach Tourism Awards Finalists announced
Rochester
Shaftesbury
Southport
Stamford
York
Burghley House
Bury Market
Dickens Christmas Market
Gretna Green – World Famous Blacksmiths Shop
Loch Lomond Sealife Centre
West Midland Safari Park
Disneyland Paris
Europa Park
Keukenhof
Paris
Eurotunnel
P&O Ferries
SeaFrance
Stena Line
Wightlink
Barcelo Hotels
Hilton Worldwide
Marriott Hotels
Menzies Hotels
The Esplanade, Newquay
Tynedale Hotel, Llandudno
Warner Leisure Hotels
Group Line
See Tickets
Ticketmaster
CITO
Greatdays Travel Group
ICT
Norman Allen Group Travel
Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel
Galloway Coach Travel
Glenton
Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel
Shaws Coaches
Shearings Holidays
Crusader Holidays
Edwards Coach Holidays
Glenton
Harrison Holidays
Lucketts Travel
Shearings Holidays
Eddie Brown Tours
Gardiners NMC
Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel
Shaws Coaches
Woods Travel
Worthing Coaches
Eastons Coaches
Eddie Brown Tours
Harrison Holidays
Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel
Lucketts Travel
Parrys International
The UK Holiday Group
Eddie Brown Tours
Interchoice Holidays
Lucketts Travel
Shearings Holidays
Richard Hill – Coaches Excetera
Maria Pond - Lucketts Travel
Lisa Popely - Jay & Kay Coach Tours
Dee Tilbury - Worthing Coaches
Dawn Waite - Amadeus Coachways
Damian McNeill - Ulsterbus Tours
Andrew Nash – Rayleigh Roadways
Adrian Pointon - Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel
Nicholas Waite - Amadeus Coachways
Galloway Coach Travel
Harrison Holidays
Interchoice Holidays
Lucketts Travel
Parrys International
Shearings Holidays
Craig-y-Don Travel
David Palmer Travel
Jay & Kay Coach Tours
Edwards Coach Holidays
Galloway Coach Travel
Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel
Lucketts Travel
Maynes Coaches
Parrys International
Shearings Holidays
Ulsterbus
1 December 2010
Lincoln Christmas Market cancelled
Lincoln Christmas Market has been cancelled due to the severe weather conditions in the city and the wider region. Snow has fallen in Lincolnshire and across the country for most of the week, with more snow predicted into the weekend. Taking advice from partners, including Lincolnshire Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Lincolnshire County Council Highways, organisers at City of Lincoln Council have taken the decision to cancel the event.
Rob Bradley from the City Council is in charge of safety at the event. He said: “It is with extreme regret that we have taken the decision to cancel the Lincoln Christmas Market this year. It has taken extreme weather conditions to do this, the first time it’s happened in the history of the market. Safety is our absolute priority. Police advice is for people not to travel at all unless it is absolutely necessary, so we don’t want to encourage visitors and stallholders to travel to come along and risk getting stuck on the roads, or worse. The decision to cancel the event was a unanimous decision of all partners on the market’s safety advisory group. We work with many other organisations to stage this event, including the police, fire and ambulance services and county highways. All of these organisations are working flat out to deal with the severe weather conditions already. With more snow predicted for the coming days, we have taken this decision as early as possible, so people can rearrange their plans. I apologise to all those visitors and stallholders who are disappointed, but with the weather as it is, there wasn’t another option.”
Councillor Darren Grice, Leader of City of Lincoln Council, said: “Obviously, we’re incredibly sad to have to cancel the Christmas Market for the first time. The event is extremely popular, and attracts visitors from all over the country and beyond. However, the safety of our local residents, visitors, stallholders and staff is the most important thing, and we don’t want to put people at risk.”
Chief Inspector Kieron English, said: “Our overriding concern is public safety, and due to the atrocious conditions over the last couple of days and potentially over the next couple of days, we can’t guarantee that safety.”
Enquiries can be emailed to christmasmarket@lincoln.gov.uk .
12 August 2010
Coach Tourism Awards date announced
The Coach Tourism Awards 2011 will take place on Thursday 19 May at the Holiday Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon.
During the afternoon the Coach Tourism Workshop will give operators the opportunity to meet a range of suppliers and destinations.
Full details of the awards, including how to enter the coach tour operator categories, and how to vote for your favourite supplier and destination, will appear in the January issue of Coach Monthly.
Full details will also be available on the Coach Tourism Awards website
www.coachtourism-awards.com.
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