GTW provides a taste of what to expect at the Group Leisure and Travel Show, which takes place on October 22, 2015
Focussing on group and coach tourism, the Group Leisure and Travel Show is a national exhibition aimed at group travel organisers, coach operators and the travel trade. It takes place on Thursday, October 22 in Hall 8 at the NEC Birmingham.
Key exhibitors include tour operators, cruise lines, destinations in the UK and abroad, shopping venues, historic properties, gardens, theatre ticketing providers, ferry operators, coach companies, visitor attractions, hotels and accommodation, museums and much more.
Organisers promise that a visit to the show will be a great help to anyone planning group trips with the opportunity to meet existing suppliers and operators face-to-face — and meet plenty of new ones too.
The show continues to be supported by a wide range of companies and organisations, including many new first time exhibitors, as well as exhibitors who are at the show each year.
Bookings for the show include Groups on Track, the Curve Theatre, Dunwood Travel, Visit Blackpool, Fusion Cruises, MSC Cruises, the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton and SEE Tickets to name a few. Entry is free — simply register at www.leisure.com
Exhibitor Highlights
Airkix Indoor Skydiving – Travel Row
Airkix Indoor Skydiving offer a fantastic day out for groups and office socials. They have a range of packages to suit all occasions, plus on-site party rooms and catering facilities.
Bombay Sapphire Distillery - Stand 345
The Bombay Sapphire Distillery at the historic Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire offers visitors the opportunity to see their unique Vapour Infusion distillation process, unearth ten exotic botanicals in their famous Glasshouses and then create a personalized complimentary cocktail to enjoy alongside the beautiful River Test.
World of Wedgwood - Stand 219
World of Wedgwood is set in 240-acres of Staffordshire countryside and combines an array of engaging attractions that bring to life Wedgwood’s 250-year heritage. As well as the museum, visitors can enjoy factory tours, hands-on ceramic making, the stunning design installations and Flagship Store and Factory Outlet - the Wedgwood Tea Room.
#CELEBRATING ITS 15th BIRTHDAY IN 2016
The Eden Project - Travel Row
The Eden Project’s famous Biomes contain the largest Rainforest in captivity, a Mediterranean paradise, plus the fabulously landscaped outdoor gardens provide glorious seasonal colour throughout the year. With fantastic group discounts and an annual events programme, there’s always something new to see.
HF Holidays - Stand 511
HF Holidays has been providing walking and activity holidays in the outdoors for over 100 years. Today over 50,000 guests enjoy walking, scenery, activities and the sociability a HF Holiday. There are 19 locations in the UK, plus many across Europe and Worldwide.
Groups On Track — Travel Row
Groups On Track are the specialists for horse racing events for groups. Working on behalf of over 15 racecourses across the UK, they recommend and advise the best event for your group, including great group rates, upgrade packages and additional extras, including free places for the group organiser and coach driver.
Scotland’s Jute Museum - Stand 261
Scotland's Jute Museum @ Verdant Works is a completely refurbished Jute Mill with working machinery. It tells the story of the rise and fall of the jute industry in Dundee. A new feature in this exhibition is the recently refurbished High Mill, which features a working Boulton & Watt beam engine - one of only four in the world - that kick started the UK's industrial revolution.
Brighton i360 - Stand 345
Brighton i360 is the world's tallest moving observation tower, located on Brighton seafront. Opening in 2016, visitors will be able to glide up to 450-feet with 360-degree views stretching 26-miles across the city, the South Downs and the south coast. At ground level, the Visitor Centre has a 400-seat brasserie, exhibition, shop, tearooms and hospitality spaces for 10 to 1,000 people.
Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks - Stand 231
Howletts Wild Animal Park and Port Lympne Reserve offer wild days out for families and groups of all ages. See the largest herd of African elephants in the UK plus gorillas, big cats and many more.
Bletchley Park Trust - Stand 217
Once Britain's best kept secret, today Bletchley Park is a unique heritage site and vibrant tourist attraction. Visitors can explore, experience and enjoy the top-secret world of the iconic World War Two code breaking huts and blocks set within its atmospheric Victorian estate.
World of Beatrix Potter Attraction - Stand 458
Explore an enchanting world where Beatrix Potter’s magical stories are brought to life in 3D. Meet Peter Rabbit and step into the attraction’s RHS Chelsea award-winning garden. Group lunches enjoy a special appearance from Beatrix Potter or Peter Rabbit. There’s a friendly café and gift shop and everyone can enjoy a bit of Beatrix Potter magic, whatever the weather.
SS Great Britain - Stand 213
Brunel’s SS Great Britain has enjoyed over 170 years of adventure. Now one of the UK’s best-loved visitor attractions, the ship and dockside in Bristol offer a fantastic day out. Explore the decks and experience life on board in 1843. Find out why she was the world’s fastest and most-efficient ocean liner.
Visit Hull & East Yorkshire - Stand 443
Which part of your trip to Hull and East Yorkshire will you and your party remember most — Hull's historic Old Town, the breathtaking scenery of the heritage coastline, boutique shopping in the shadow of Beverley Minster or invigorating walks in the stunning Yorkshire Wolds.
The National Brewery Centre - Stand 313
The National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent incorporates large elements of the original Bass Collection. Learn about the legendary Bass family and their role in the development of brewing. The museum celebrates the social history of brewing, including the real life experiences and stories of the people who helped to build Burton's world-renowned brewing reputation.
Exhibitor List
Airkix Indoor Skydiving Travel Row
Arousing Curiosity in Suffolk Stand 229
Ascot Stand 332
Bamburgh Castle Stand 351
BBC Tours Stand 455
Bede’s World Stand 265
Bellarome Italian Holidays Travel Row
Best Western Hotels Stand 239
The Big Sleep Hotel Stand 237
Birmingham Conservation Trust Stand 452
Birmingham Hippodrome Stand 407
The Bishop’s Palace Stand 331
Black Country Living Museum Stand 309
Blair Castle Stand 261
Blenheim Palace Stand 501
Bletchley Park Stand 217
Bombay Sapphire Distillery Stand 345
Boundary Mill Stores Stand 334
Brend Hotels Stand 223
Brighton i360 Stand 345
Brockhole – The Lake District Visitor Centre Stand 458
Chatsworth Hotel Stand 327
Chester Cathedral Travel Row
Choice Hotels Europe Stand 241
City Sightseeing Worldwide Stand 317
Coach Tours UK Stand 433
Condor Ferries GTOA Area
Cruise Holidays UK Stand 301
Culture Coventry Stand 315
The Curve Theatre Stand 521
Daish’s Holidays Stand 330
David Urquhart Travel Stand 247
daysout.info Stand 421
Destination MK Stand 425
Destination UK Stand 467
Devon Top Attractions Stand 321
Discovery Point & RRS Discovery Stand 261
DJH Go2City Stand 233
Dunwood Travel Coach Display Area
Durham Cathedral Stand 265
easy-breaks.com Travel Row
East Lancashire Railway Travel Row
The Eden Project Travel Row
Efteling Theme Park Resort Stand 341
Encore Tickets Stand 257
Enjoy Dacorum Stand 311
Equiniti International Payments Stand 335
Eurostar Excursions Stand 456
Explore Northumberland Stand 351
Falmouth Exeter Plus Travel Row
Ferris Holidays – Set Travel Stand 515
FerryKnowHow GmbH/St. Peter Line Stand 431
Ford & Etal Estates Stand 351
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Stand 349
Fred. Olsen Travel Group Stand 547
Fusion Cruises Stand 451
Glastonbury Abbey Stand 331
The Grand Theatre Wolverhampton Stand 439
Great Scotland Stand 261
Group Leisure Magazine Stand 529
Group Travel World Stand 336
Groupe Pierre and Vacances Center Parcs Stand 527
Groups On Track Travel Row
GTOA GTOA Area
Guinness Travel Stand 545
Harry Shaw Group Travel Coach Display Area
Hatton Country World Travel Row
Herbert Woods Boatyard Stand 225
HF Holidays Stand 511
Howletts Wild Animal Trust Ltd Stand 231
InterChoice Holidays Coach Display Area
Israel Ministry of Tourism Stand 329
ITO Tours BV Stand 341
Jet2.com/Jet2holidays Stand 235
Just for Groups Stand 449
Keytel International – Historic Hotels Stand 263
Lady Lever Art Gallery Travel Row
Lakeland Motor Museum Stand 458
Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Stand 458
Lancaster & Morecambe Bay Travel Row
Leighton Hall Travel Row
Leisureplex Ltd Stand 253
Leisuretime Stand 441
Lion Hotels Stand 243
Lithuanian Tour Stand 513
Lucketts Travel Stand 401
Majestic Tours Stand 339
Mersey Ferries Stand 429
Methodist Heritage Travel Row
The Metropole Hotel Stand 227
Middleport Pottery Stand 215
Milton Keynes Theatre Stand 425
Monarch Stand 543
MSC Cruises Stand 451
NAR (UK) Ltd Stand 465
The National Brewery Centre Stand 313
National Marine Aquarium Stand 531
New Alexandra Theatre Stand 407
Norman Allen Group Travel GTOA Area
North Wales Tourism Stand 523
Original Shrewsbury Stand 307
P & J The Chocolate Factory Stand 450
Port Sunlight Garden Centre Travel Row
Port Sunlight Museum Travel Row
Potters Resort Stand 447
Powderham Castle Stand 321
The Quays Stand 429
Richardsons Stand 259
Ripley’s Believe It or Not GTOA Area
The River Cruise Line Stand 415
Robinsons Holidays Coach Display Area
The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises Stand 435
The Royal Mint Stand 461
The Royal Victoria Hotel Stand 221
Ryanair Ltd Stand 457
SAGA323 School Travel Organiser Stand 529
Scone Palace Stand 261
Scotland’s Jute Museum @ Verdant Works Stand 261
SEE Tickets Stand 357
Set Travel Viatges SA Stand 515
Severn Valley Railway Stand 347
South Devon Railway Stand 321
South Quay Travel & Leisure Stand 333
Southport – England’s Classic Resort Stand 343
SS Great Britain Stand 213
Steve Reed Tourism Stand 503
Strathmore Hotels Stand 537
Stuart Line Cruises Stand 321
Success Tours Stand 463
Superbreak Stand 249
Switzerland Travel Centre GTOA Area
Ticket Tree Travel Row
Ticketmaster Stand 255
TLH Leisure Resort Stand 448
Tourism SE Stand 345
Town Hall Symphony Birmingham Stand 407
Trafalgar Stand 445
The Travel Adventure Stand 335A
Travelpack Stand 301
Travelsphere Groups Stand 507
Twristiaeth Ceredigion Tourism Stand 325
University of St Andrews Stand 324
Vilnius Grand Resort Stand 513
Virgin Trains Stand 413
Visit Blackpool Stand 226
Visit Buckinghamshire Stand 502
Visit Canterbury Travel Row
Visit Flanders Stand 245
Visit Hull & East Yorkshire Stand 443
Visit Portsmouth And The Museum Of The Royal Navy Stand 345
Waddesdon Manor Stand 501
Wakacje Inaczej Stand 403
Warner Leisure Hotels Stand 437
The Waterside Theatre Stand 502
Wells Cathedral Stand 331
Wendy Wu Tours Travel Row
West Somerset Railway Stand 337
White Hotel Group Of Ireland Stand 251
White Funnel Ltd Stand 525
Windermere Lake Cruises Stand 458
Windermere Manor Hotel Travel Row
The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction Stand 458
The World of James Herriot Stand 453
The World of Wedgwood Stand 219
Wyre Council Stand 439
Xscape MK Stand 425
Yarn Market Hotel Stand 337
Yorkshire Arboretum Travel Row
Seminar Programme
Each of the four seminars are free to attend.
1115hrs – Jasmine Birtles
Saving Money and Getting Value With Groups
Jasmine Birtles is a financial expert, TV presenter, author and business commentator. She has tips on money saving and money making ideas, as well as wise spending habits.
1200hrs - Jane Archer
An Expert’s Guide To Ocean And River Cruise Holidays
As the UK’s cruise expert, Jane Archer spends around 150 days a year either sailing the oceans or exploring the world’s rivers. Her travels have taken her around the globe, from the Arctic to Antarctica and numerous ports in between. She is the Telegraph Travel cruise expert and writes for a variety of consumer and trade magazines.
1315hrs – Q&A With Simon Reeve
Simon is an adventurer, TV presenter and New York Times bestselling author with a passion for travel, wildlife, history, current affairs, conservation and the environment. He has been around the world three times for the BBC series Equator, Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer. He recently presented Caribbean with Simon Reeve on the BBC and has travelled extensively in more than 110 countries.
1400hrs – Joe Swift
Let’s Talk About Gardens
Joe Swift has been presenting BBC2’s Gardeners’ World since 1998 and regularly appears in the BBC’s coverage of RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Gardeners’ World Live and Tatton Park Flower Shows. Visitors will be able to quiz Joe about his favourite gardens to visit.
Essential Visitor Info
- The show opens at 1000hrs and closes at 1600hrs. As well as free entry to the show, visitors benefit from:
- *Free parking at the NEC (pre-registered)
- *A free bacon butty for visitors before 1100hrs (subject to availability)
*Free UK coach transport (terms and conditions apply).
- *Discounted rail fares with Virgin Trains
TIP: Arrive early to get the most out of your day.
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