The Coach Tourism Association (CTA) recorded its highest-event attendance at its annual Conference and Workshop on 28-30 January, with more than 200 members meeting at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel.
The event’s formal business networking session also set a record, with 860 10-minute meetings between coach tour operators and wholesalers, and industry suppliers, including attractions and hotels, taking place at the the “Meet and Buyer Workshop”.
Members also had chance for more informal networking, as well as familiarisation trips around the North East, which led to several immediate bookings from operators.
Trips were laid on to The Auckland Project, Bamburgh Castle, Raby Castle, as well as a tour of Newcastle.
“We believe the high visitor number was a result of the new fam trips on offer, combined with a format that enables operators and wholesalers to meet suppliers from across the whole supply chain, all at a single event,” says CTA Chair Robert Shaw. “The business development generated over the weekend also confirmed the value of participation from the hotels, attractions, and wider suppliers involved.”
At the conference, Ian Thomas, Director of Visitor Economy at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, explained North East England’s role as the country’s first “Destination Development Partnership” amid plans to double the region’s visitor economy over the next 10 years.
Carol Southall, Head of Staffordshire Business School, Staffordshire University, spoke about a proposed research project which will be carried out in conjunction with CTA and its members, to assess coach tourism volumes and value added, as well as perceptions of the industry.
Debate at the conference presentations, chaired by Louise Fitzpatrick of Albatross Travel, included the challenge of attracting a younger age demographic while maintaining product for the current customer core.
Mr Shaw adds: “Momentum is gathering for the need to develop new product, focusing on the customer experience for a broader generational span. This will increasingly be a focus for the market, and a key issue for CTA’s future discussions.”
Brendan Sheerin of Channel 4’s Coach Trip was after-dinner speaker on the first night of the conference, on which £2,000 was St Oswald’s Hospice.
The next CTA event is the Spring Networking on 19-20 May in Oxford. Bookings will be launched shortly here.
