The British Tourism and Travel Show 2026 has opened its speaker application process, with coach tour operators and group travel professionals invited to share their expertise at the sector’s key meeting place on 19 March 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.
A call for proposals follows strong engagement with that initiative ahead of this year’s event. The British Tourism and Travel Show regularly brings together over 2,000 professionals and more than 200 exhibitors at the NEC. Alongside the exhibition, the theatre offers a platform to share ideas, insights and practical guidance on issues affecting the industry.
All professionals across coach operations and group travel eligible to apply, whether they bring many years of experience or fresh ideas. Proposals are welcome in various formats, including keynote presentations, panel conversations, lightning talks, case studies, and interviews.
Organiser Diversified UK and Europe advises potential applicants that submissions should focus on sharing knowledge, best practice and lived experiences, rather than promoting individual businesses or services.
Key topic areas and themes of interest include:
- Collaborations and partnerships
- Customer engagement and retention
- Diversity and inclusion
- Marketing strategies
- Market trends and forecasts
- Operational challenges
- Policy changes and regulations
- Sustainability in group travel
- Technology and innovation
- Themed travel experiences.
Proposals outside those areas will also be considered if they offer value to group travel professionals.
Speaking about the call for submissions, British Tourism and Travel Show Event Manager Lloyd Jones says: “The programme is a key feature of the show and it works best when it reflects what is happening across the industry.
“We are looking for people with real and valuable experience to share – whether that is through data, examples, new approaches, or lessons learned. If it can help others to do things differently, we want to hear about it.”
The deadline for submissions is 5 November. Applications can be made via an online speaker portal at the British Tourism and Travel Show website.
