We grab a word with David Maguire, Show Director of BTTS
How long have you worked on BTTS?
Two years, but I’ve worked at parent company Diversified Communications UK for six years. BTTS was an exciting show for me to get involved with.
Over the years the show has gone in a few different directions – some have been successful and others not too successful. I’ve tried to immerse myself in the industry and listen to our exhibitors, visitors and associations, to better understand what they want from the event. We want to work with everyone to build an event for the entire domestic tourism industry.
Why should coach tour operators attend BTTS?
It’s their place to find the latest ideas and inspiration for their groups, to offer great experiences for the people who book their tours. It’s an opportunity to see the whole of the British Isles under one roof for two days. They can use it to ensure their itineraries are up to date, and get access to education from our Keynote Theatre – they can learn from that, learn from their peers, and network with the community.
Anything new to see this year?
We’ve got 60+ new exhibitors at the show, as diverse as the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the Emmerdale Tour, Destination Film and the World of Beatrix Potter.
We’ve also revamped the Meeting Planner, which is something big for the show, allowing visitors to plan their time effectively. We’ve listened to the feedback and invested in it to make it the most up-to-date and slickest meeting planner you can have.
The other main thing is our really strong speakers in the Keynote Theatre. We’re trying to incorporate people and companies of profile at the event, because it generates such a buzz – you could see it last year with Michael Portillo. Getting those speakers celebrating the very best of Britain and Ireland is something we’ll always be really proud of.
What makes BTTS different from other shows?
I think it’s the support. It sounds cheesy, but we’re uniting the entire community. We’ve got the biggest number of exhibitors, the most visitors, and we are at the only two-day event dedicated to domestic tourism.
