Over 160 delegates attended the Coach Tourism Association (CTA) winter networking event in Blackpool over the weekend of 23-25 November, with the organisation reporting that its members saw strong business development for future trips and tours.
The gathering included networking sessions between coach tourism industry buyers and suppliers, while a ‘supplier showcase’ matched coach operators and tour wholesalers with hotels, attractions and destinations, and service providers to formalise new products.
Mayor of Blackpool Cllr Peter Hunter addressed the CTA delegation ahead of the event’s networking dinner. He praised coach tourism and noted its longstanding importance to the Lancashire resort.
Familiarisation visits took attendees to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Merlin’s High Jinx Circus, Madame Tussauds, and Sea Life Blackpool Aquarium. A trip was also made to National Trust’s Rufford Old Hall near Ormskirk as well as Visit Blackpool’s Christmas by the Sea event.
Speaking about the gathering, CTA Chair Robert Shaw says: “Strong attendance from operators and wholesalers in Blackpool has driven excellent participation from high-quality suppliers.
“CTA operators were delighted with the opportunities to create new trips and tours. For suppliers, CTA winter networking was a demonstration of the commercial value of attending our industry’s most important business generation event.”
Among sponsors was Merlin Entertainments. Strategic Account Sales Manager Suzie Gildon says that the winter networking event staged by the Association “showed the importance of hosting familiarisation visits to meet coach tourism operators face-to-face to closely understand the needs of coach tour customers.”
She adds: “Participation in CTA winter networking generated a lot of new interest in our attractions, and we look forward to partnering with many new coach operators as a result.”
The Association’s next event is its annual conference and workshop. That will be held on 8-11 February 2025 in Stratford-upon-Avon and will be open to all CTA members.
