Where: Hall 8, NEC, Birmingham
When: Wednesday 21 – Thursday 22 March
What time: 1000-1700hrs on Wednesday; 1000-1600hrs on Thursday
Register for free entry: tourismshow.co.uk
British Tourism & Travel Show (BTTS) returns to the NEC this month for another bumper edition of the group travel industry’s favourite two-day event.
Over 90 new exhibitors have been confirmed for the show, which attracts over 270 exhibitors and over 2,500 visitors.
Key new names to the show include Cornwall Gold, Bateaux London, Visit Blackpool, Port Sunlight, Enjoy Tees Valley, Lovers Canal Cruises, Visit Coventry & Warwickshire, Chester Zoo, Dreamland, Visit Brussels, Marketing Manchester, Lincoln Christmas Market, Up at the O2 and Land Rover Experience Solihull, to name a few.
“BTTS is where the thriving group travel sector does business,” says David Maguire, Show Director. “We’re so excited to have so many fantastic attractions, destinations, hotels and suppliers on board, and hope they’ll make the most of this unrivalled annual opportunity to meet professional group travel organisers and tour operators.”
For the first time, BTTS will feature an exciting food and drink trail at the show.
Traditional food and drink products, influenced by history and heritage, are a key part of tourism and travel around the British Isles. That’s why this year, visitors can follow their noses and their tastebuds when looking for new places to take their groups.
From Cornish fudge to Scottish whisky, the trail is an exciting way to meet the exhibitors and sample classic cuisines from around the country.
A map will be provided in the printed show guide, showing which relevant stands to visit.
Once again, BTTS will play host to regional pavilions for Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Visit Wales is celebrating its Year of the Sea in 2018. It will bring new exhibitors to the pavilion, including Welsh Water Visitor Attractions, South West Wales, Great Little Trains of Wales, and Rhondda Heritage Park.
VisitScotland is promoting the Year of Young People, a 12-month programme of events, activities and ideas for young people and those who are ‘young at heart’. New exhibitors to the Scotland pavilion include Love Loch Lomond, Forth Boat Tours, New Lanark Mills and Visit Aberdeen.
Tourism Ireland is promoting its Wild Atlantic Way through the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which used several parts of Ireland’s beautiful coast for filming, including Skellig Michael, Loop Head, and the Dingle Peninsula.
“What better time to visit BTTS than during English Tourism Week,” says Kim Hall, Marketing Manager at Cogges Manor Farm. “We're keen to celebrate the fabulous hidden gems of the English countryside. And we're looking forward to having the opportunity to really champion Cogges, and the region, for its beauty and heritage at the show.”
The second day of BTTS is National GTO Day, and it will see the presentation of the inaugural BTTS Group Travel Organiser Special Recognition Award. For details, visit tourismshow.co.uk/gto
