Around 200 Coach Tourism Association (CTA) members are heading to Newcastle upon Tyne this weekend for the organisation’s annual Conference & Workshop. From 28-30 January, coach operators, wholesalers and tourism suppliers from attractions to hotels will attend.

The event is based at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead hotel and includes the CTA Meet the Buyer Workshop, the UK coach tourism industry’s biggest opportunity for networking. Last year’s event featured 800 meetings between buyers and suppliers.

Guest speakers at the event will include Lyndsey Turner Swift, Deputy England Director at VisitEngland, as well as the star of Channel 4’s Coach Trip series, Brendan Sheerin.

The Conference session features Carol Southall, Head of Staffordshire Business School, who will discuss a proposal for a research project in collaboration with CTA. Ian Thomas, Visitor Economy Director, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, will also highlight the tourism attractions in the region keen to welcome coach groups.

The event’s fam trips include a Newcastle tour, as well as visits to Raby Castle, County Durham, and Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland. Ahead of the Conference weekend, event delegates are also visiting The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland. Following the Conference, DFDS is providing a Fam trip to Amsterdam.

CTA’s Partners, including DFDS, Tourism Ireland, VisitScotland, Visit Wales and Wrightsure, will also present to CTA members during a Networking lunch.

“This year’s Conference & Workshop is set to be one of the best subscribed events in the organisation’s history, and we’re delighted to be in Newcastle upon Tyne,” says CTA Chair, Robert Shaw. “The annual meeting’s growing popularity is thanks to its business development potential, as well as the opportunity to discuss key issues facing the industry. The strong attendance is also a reflection on the positivity within the sector.”

For more information on the Conference & Workshop, visit https://coachtourismassociation.co.uk/newcastle-itinerary/

PHOTO: Ray Bilclif