The eagerly-awaited shortlist for the British Coach Tourism Awards (BCTAs) has been announced.
The panel of expert judges put their heads together last week to judge the very best coach tour operators in the business, along with the most coach-friendly attractions, destinations, hotels and suppliers.
The shortlist is:
Coach Friendly Destination
- Beverley
- Bournemouth
- Burnham-on-Sea
- Devon
- Guildford
- Otley
- Wells
Coach Friendly Attraction
- Alton Towers
- Belleek Pottery
- Dyffryn Gardens (National Trust)
- Longleat
- National Memorial Arboretum
- RHS Wisley, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor & Harlow Carr
- Scampston Hall & Walled Garden
- Scone Palace
- The World of James Herriot
- Woburn Abbey & Gardens
European Coach Friendly Attraction
- Cambrai Tank Museum
- Disneyland Paris
- Jersey Zoo
- Keukenhof
- Lovers Canal Cruises
Cross-Sea Carrier
- Condor Ferries
- Eurotunnel le Shuttle
- P&O Ferries
- Irish Ferries
River and Inland Cruise Operator
- Broads Tours
- MBNA Thames Clippers
- Sabrina Boat
- Stuart Line Cruises
- Trent River Cruises Ltd
- Ullswater Steamers
Heritage Railway
- Gwili Railway
- Kirklees Light Railway
- Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Vale of Rheidol Railway
- West Somerset Railway
Accommodation Provider (independent hotels)
- Marine Hotel
- Rendezvous Hotel
- Away Resorts – Mill Rythe
- The Metropole Hotel & Spa
- Hallmark Hotel Preston Leyland
Accommodation Provider (hotel groups)
- Best Western Hotels
- Hallmark Hotels
- Hilton Worldwide
- Marriott Hotels UK
Tour Wholesaler and Industry Supplier
- Action Tours
- Advantage Now
- Encore
- Greatdays Travel Group
- Groups Direct
- Hospitality Line
- ICT Group Travel
- Norman Allen Group Travel
Dining Experience (NEW)
- Bateaux London
- Newmarket Racecourses
- Planet Hollywood
- Poplars Garden Centre
- Waxy O’Connors
Theatre Production – reader’s choice award (NEW)
- 42nd Street
- Aladdin
- An American in Paris
- Kinky Boots
- Kynren
- Matilda
- School of Rock
- Wicked
Holiday Programme
- Bakers Dolphin
- Eastons Holidays
- Gardiners NMC
- Kirbys Coaches
- Lucketts Travel
- Roberts Travel Group
- Shaws of Maxey
- Woods Travel Ltd
Day Excursion Programme
- Bakers Dolphin
- Eastons Holidays
- Gardiners NMC
- Roberts Travel Group
- Shaws of Maxey
- Woods Travel Ltd
Coach Tourism Innovation of the Year
- Groups Direct Ltd – The Matinee Shows
- Harry Shaw City Cruises Holiday Ltd – Social media
- Rendezvous Hotel – TRYE campaign
- Skills Group – Holiday brands
- Spot Travel Services – Business change
- Travel by Knight – Mini sleeper coach
Coach Tourism Professional of the Year
- Suzanne Evans – Boons Calibre Travel
- Team Devon – Devon4Groups
- Martin Slater – GreatDays Travel Group
- Joseph Rawlings – Groups Direct Ltd
- Adrian Smith, Melanie Cox, Alistair Scott – Gardiners NMC
- John Jacobs – Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
Coach Tour Driver of the Year
- Michael Blowers – Bakers Dolphin
- Team Eastons 2017 – Eastons Holidays
- Jones Holiday Drivers – Alpine Travel
- Henry McCarrison – Glenton Holidays
- Shaun Raven – Alfa Travel
- Miriam Unsworth – self employed
Coach Tour Operator – Small Fleet (1-5 coaches)
- Acklams Coaches Ltd
- Dunwood Travel
- Hough’s of Lincolnshire
- IOW Tours
Coach Tour Operator – Medium Fleet (6-15 coaches)
- Bayliss Executive Travel
- Bluebird Coaches (Weymouth) Ltd
- Caradoc Coaches
- Eastons Holidays
- Roberts Travel Group
- Woods Travel Ltd
Coach Tour Operator – Large Fleet (more than 15 coaches)
- Bakers Dolphin
- Edwards Coaches Ltd
- Glenton Holidays
- Lucketts Travel
- Shearings Holidays
This year’s bumper crop of entries were judged to rigorous standards by Group Tourism & Travel Editor Jessamy Chapman, along with the Coach Tourism Association’s Chris Wales, former Epsom Coaches MD Steve Whiteway, UKinbound’s Antony Amos, and Blue Badge Guide Leon Preston.
The BCTAs takes place at the National Motorcycle Museum on 21 March 2018.
It’s the most hotly-anticipated night of the coach tourism calendar, attended by over 400 coach tour operators and suppliers every year, and is renowned for its fantastic entertainment and its unrivalled networking opportunity.
The celebrity presenter for the BCTAs will be announced in the January issue of Group Tourism & Travel.
Congratulations to all the finalists.
To book tickets to the BCTAs, visit britishcoachawards.co.uk/ticket-bookings
