This weekend, the Coach Tourism Association (CTA) will hold its annual conference and workshop in Newcastle upon Tyne.
About two hundred CTA members—who include wholesalers, coach operators, and other tourist suppliers including hotels and attractions—are anticipated to travel to the city for the event on January 28–30.
The CTA Meet the Buyer Workshop is one of the event’s highlights; it takes place at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead hotel and is thought to be the biggest networking opportunity for the UK coach tourism industry. The training helped buyers and suppliers have about 800 meetings last year.
A wide range of renowned guest speakers are scheduled for this year’s conference.
Deputy England Director at VisitEngland Lyndsey Turner Swift and actor Brendan Sheerin, who starred in Channel 4’s Coach Trip series.
In order to promote cooperation between academia and business, Carol Southall, Head of Staffordshire Business School, will make a proposal for a collaborative research project with CTA.
Ian Thomas, Visitor Economy Director at the NewcastleGateshead Initiative, will highlight the region’s tourism attractions and stress how ready they are to receive coach groups, further strengthening the focus on the area.
Participants will have the chance to take part in familiarization (fam) tours, which will include a tour of Newcastle and excursions to important historical locations such as Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland and Raby Castle in County Durham.
Delegates will also see The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland as a prelude to the main event. Additionally, a post-conference family vacation to Amsterdam is planned, courtesy of CTA partner DFDS.
During a special networking lunch, the event gives CTA’s partners—DFDS, Tourism Ireland, VisitScotland, Visit Wales, and Wrightsure—a chance to interact with CTA members.
“We’re thrilled to be in Newcastle upon Tyne for this year’s Conference and Workshop, which is expected to be one of the most well-attended events in the organization’s history,” said CTA Chair Robert Shaw.
The possibility for commercial development and the chance to talk about important issues affecting the sector are the main reasons for the annual meeting’s rising appeal. The high turnout also serves as an indicator of positivity within the sector.
