Loading...

Category: News

Conwy and Betws-y-Coed go ‘coach friendly’

The popular north Wales destinations of Conwy and Betws-y-Coed have been awarded the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK’s prestigious ‘Coach Friendly Towns, Cities and Villages Status’.

The status, established in 2003, recognises the work and commitment that towns, cities and villages have made to providing coach operators, along with their drivers and passengers, a warm welcome and easy access to key visitor attractions and facilities in their area.

Neighbouring Llandudno was awarded the status in November in 2014.

Commenting, Alf Scrimgour, CPT’s Tourism Executive, says: “These three tourist locations in north Wales, which are all part of the Conwy Development Board, may all be very different in terms of what they have to offer visitors but they each make every effort to both attract and provide a warm welcome to visiting coach groups.

“I am delighted to see that Llandudno continues to go from strength-to-strength, further improving its offer to coaches and coach parties. Despite being much smaller resorts, Conwy and Betws-y-Coed have shown a real understanding of the requirements of coaches and coach groups by developing suitably located coach parking, pick-up and drop-off points close to key attractions and facilities. I have been particularly impressed by the ongoing commitment of the Conwy Development Board in maintaining and improving the overall offer to visiting coach groups.”

Accepting the status on behalf of Conwy, Betws-y-Coed and Llandudno, Councillor Graham Rees, Chairman of the Conwy Strategic Management Board says: “Coach passenger travel is a growing and valued market segment to the tourism industry in Conwy County, and a vital income source to accommodation and service providers of the county. It provides the county with an environmentally friendly mode of transport for visitors especially as they travel around the beauty spots of the county.

“The value of the CPT Coach Friendly status has been clearly identified in our 2015-18 Destination Conwy Action Plan. We see it as a great honour and are very proud to be the first UK destination to have three of its resorts achieve this status. We will strive to have our other resorts and attractions achieve the required standards to obtain these and similar awards.”

Conwy and Betws-y-Coed bring the number of recipients of the award to 27.

Conwy Castle
Conwy and Betws-y-Coed have been awarded the CPT’s ‘Coach Friendly Cities, Towns & Villages Status’. Conwy Castle stands guard over the town

 

 

French trade workshop success

A move by the French region of Seine-et-Marne near Paris to engage more productively with UK group travel professionals has been hailed a success.

A two-day trade workshop held at the Phoenix Artist Club in Covent Garden in central London on 14 and 15 June gave coach operators, tour wholesalers and group travel organisers the opportunity to spend up to an hour with representatives from the Seine-et-Marne region.

Severine Camblong, media and communications manager with Seine-et-Marne Tourism, who led the initiative, says: “We were really pleased to be able to come to London to meet coach operators, tour wholesalers and group travel organisers. The longer one-to-one meetings gave us all more time to discuss group packages. I would like to thank all the coach tourism professionals who took the time to meet with us, and look forward to welcoming them and their groups to Seine-et-Marne soon.”

Mandy Keating, product development manager with Market Harborough-based Diamond Holidays, was one of the UK group travel professionals to attend. Commenting on the workshop she says: “It was great to have time to talk about an area of France that I’m not very familiar with, and beneficial to have a whole hour of one-to-one to really get to know and understand what Seine-et-Marne has to offer. I’ve come away from the workshop with ideas for new tours and new experiences to add to our existing tours.”

The trade workshop is the latest initiative from Seine-et-Marne to encourage more UK group and tour planners to take a closer look at the region that sits just to the east of Paris.
In May the tourist office re-launched its one-stop-booking service that makes it easier for the UK market to find out more information and book tour packages.

Group-friendly attractions include the three chateaux of Fontainebleau, Vaux le Vicomte and Champs-sur-Marne, the medieval walled town of Provins, and the historic town of Meaux.

Tour planners wanting more information should email Marjorie Sebille at sebille@tourisme77.fr, or go to www.visit.pariswhatelse.fr

The Phoenix Artist Club, located under the Phoenix Theatre in Charing Cross Road in Covent Garden in central London offers tour planners an unusual venue for pre-West End show meals. For more information, go to www.phoenixartistclub.com

Seine et Marne workshop - 14 June 2016
Seine-et-Marne tourism visited London on 14/15 June to meet with UK tour planners. The workshop was held at the Phoenix Artist Club in Charing Cross Road. Mandy Keating (right) from Diamond Holidays, is seen here with Florian Chenet from Meaux Tourism, and Severine Camblong, from Seine-et-Marne Tourism

CPT scores in French minimum wages dispute

UK-based coach operators travelling in France stand to benefit from a major concession to new French rules on minimum wages and conditions thanks to the role played by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK’s director of policy development, Steven Salmon.

At a high level meeting in Brussels on 9 June, the French Government conceded that “closed door” tours from the UK (and other countries) with non-French customers should be considered as transit operations, and should therefore be exempt from the requirement to match French wages and conditions. This applies whether the tour simply goes from England to France and back, or visits France as part of a longer itinerary including over-night stays.

Steven Salmon says: “The rules originally proposed by the French Government would have placed considerable financial and administrative burdens on CPT coach operator members running tours and short trips to France. The French government representatives accepted that there is no French customer for this work so there is no basis under the Posting of Workers Directive for controls on the pay and conditions of workers carrying it out.

“This issue has been a major cloud hanging over our coach operator members for the last couple of months. This concession will be a huge relief and will enable them to maintain their competitiveness and keep tour prices down for passengers.”

CPT’s chief executive Simon Posner paid tribute to the role Steven Salmon played in securing this major win.
“The key role Steven has played cannot be over emphasised and I know will be warmly welcomed by CPT’s coaching members,” he says. “This success comes close on the heels of France backing down from its unwelcome new interpretation of the EU rules on breaks when two drivers are working together, which was secured by CPT, IRU and other trade bodies working collaboratively to score a major goal for UK coach operators. Once again, the prominent role of CPT in the industry’s relations with the European institutions has paid off, ensuring that our members are able to operate successfully on the Continent.”

i360 to open in July

The British Airways i360 in Brighton is understood to be on track to open in time for the school summer holidays in July.

The passenger ‘pod’ is now in place and testing it up and down the tower will begin in the next few weeks.

The British Airways i360, which has attracted considerable interest from coach tour operators and group travel organisers, was due to start testing in March. However, it is understood that the delay has been caused by what the attraction says has been a re-ordering of the schedule of activity on the site.

Talking to The Argus newspaper, Eleanor Harris, the i360’s chief executive, says: “British Airways i360 is on track to open this summer, in time for the school summer holidays. Tickets will go on sale next month when we announce our exact opening date. Over the next month we will also see the pod start to move and the lights will be switched on, which we are very excited about.”

More information at www.britishairwaysi360.com

British Airways i360
A webcam showing live pictures of the base of the tower can be seen at http://britishairwaysi360.com/latest-news/webcam/

More coach parking at Stonehenge

English Heritage is to increase the number of coach parking spaces at Stonehenge.

The move follows concerns over a lack of space at peak times and congestion caused by coaches having to double park. The plans, which have yet to be approved, will see the number of permanent coach parking spaces increase to 53. The plans also include the provision of a new toilet at the coach welcome centre, and parking for 26 motorhomes.

English Heritage says 60% of the 1.3 million people who visit the site each year now arrive by coach, a figure far higher than originally planned.

The increase in demand has also brought the end of the fleet of land trains as they were unable to cope. A shuttle bus now provides the visitor transport between the visitor centre and the Stones. A new turning facility is to be built at the visitor centre.

Commenting on the development, Stonehenge general manager Kate Davies says: “Our own experience since we opened our new facilities at Stonehenge in December 2013, together with feedback from industry colleagues and visitors and extensive research have all shown that these key improvements could make a massive difference in the future, whilst maintaining the integrity of the World Heritage Site. This is about English Heritage being able to provide the best possible welcome for coaches visiting Stonehenge.”

Stonehenge
Stonehenge has announced plans to increase the number of coach parking spaces

Group Travel Awards shortlist announced

The nominees for this year’s Group Travel Awards have been announced.

The event, which takes place on Friday 3 June at the Park Plaza Riverbank, London, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary, is organised by Landor Travel Publications and GTO magazine.

The 25 awards categories all focus on recognising excellence for groups and include best destination, event, canal or riverboat operator, group dining experience, hotel, and European attraction and destination.

16 coach operators will battle it out to win the award for ‘Best Coach Operator for Groups’ (small and large fleet) while there are nine nominees for Best Group Tour Operator.

For the full list of nominees and details of how to book tickets, go to www.grouptravelawards.com

The Group Travel Awards 2016

CPT starts London coach parking trial

The Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) has teamed up with bus operator Go-Ahead to provide an extra 1,000 coach parking spaces in central London this spring.

Starting on Monday 16 May, 30 coach parking spaces will be available to CPT members each day at Go-Ahead’s Camberwell (20) and Stockwell (10) bus depots for a six-week trial period (ends Friday 24 June).

The coach parking facilities will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and charged at £35 per day (plus an administration charge of £1.50 plus VAT).

Speaking about the trial, CPT’s chief executive, Simon Posner says: “I’m delighted that we’ve reached an agreement with Go-Ahead to provide CPT members with an extra 30 coach parking spaces each day in London at a time when other facilities are either being removed or having restrictions placed on them.

“Coach parking and the picking-up and setting-down of passengers has long been a contentious issue for operators visiting the Capital, and I hope this announcement goes some way to addressing their concerns while also ensuring that coaches can continue to operate in this great city.

“I am confident that a successful six-week trial will be the catalyst for further initiatives and we will certainly be looking to make the arrangement with Go-Ahead at Camberwell and Stockwell a permanent one.

“I hope that CPT members will take advantage of the coach parking spaces on offer and I look forward to receiving their feedback on both the facility provided and the payment and booking system.”

Bookings can be made by calling a dedicated credit card hotline on 020 7257 2507 (open from 10am to 4pm on Monday to Friday), or by emailing parkmycoach@cpt-uk.org. All bookings and payments must be made in advance.

Seine-et-Marne targets UK tour planners

The French region of Seine-et-Marne to the east of Paris is launching a new campaign to attract more groups from the UK.

The campaign is being run under the ‘Paris What Else’ branding, highlighting the close proximity of the area to the French capital, and encouraging tour planners to look at the region’s attractions when refreshing a Paris-based itinerary.

The Seine-et-Marne tourist office is also relaunching its central information and booking service to make it easier for coach tour operators and group travel organisers to understand what the region has to offer groups.

Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Florence Bruaux, head of tourism at Seine-et-Marne Tourisme, says: “Our region is already well known in the UK because it is home to Disneyland Paris. But there is much more to discover, including the Châteaux of Fontainebleau, Vaux le Vicomte and Champs-sur-Marne, the medieval walled town of Provins and the Museum of the Great War in Meaux.

“Under our marketing brand of ‘Paris What Else’ we want to highlight the possibilities for groups to combine a visit to Paris with visits to our wonderful attractions. The region also has a number of quality, group-friendly hotels that give tour planners the option to stay in one of our charming towns, and then travel into Paris.

“Our central information and booking service means that coach tour operators and group travel organisers can contact us for information about places to visit, and where to stay. We will then make all the arrangements. We want to encourage more UK groups to visit us, so we’re making it as easy as possible for this to happen.”

As part of the campaign, the tourist office is holding a trade workshop in central London on 14 and 15 June. For more information on the workshop email stuart@stuartrendertourism.co.uk.

To contact the central information and booking service email Marjorie Sebille at sebille@tourisme77.fr or go to www.visit.pariswhatelse.fr

www.Paris-whatelse.com is a brand of Tourism 77, the official tourism booking agency for the Eastern Paris region. With its head office in the historic city of Fontainebleau it has specialised in creating packages for groups for the past 25 years and packages for individuals since 2003. The new website provides unique tour packages dedicated to Paris and the Champagne-Ardenne region for groups, couples, families, corporate groups and individuals.

Florence Bruaux, head of tourism at Seine-et-Marne Tourism. The tourist organisation has launched a new campaign to encourage UK groups to visit the region
Florence Bruaux, head of tourism at Seine-et-Marne Tourism. The tourist organisation has launched a new campaign to encourage UK groups to visit the region

 

 

 

 

Gretna Green awarded Coach Friendly Attraction status

Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop has been awarded the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK’s new Coach Friendly Attraction status.

This is the fourth attraction, and the first in Scotland, to receive the status since the scheme was launched at the British Tourism & Travel Show in March. The status was presented to the attraction at VisitScotland expo last week.

Alf Scrimgour, CPT’s Operations & Tourism Executive says: “CPT is delighted to welcome Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop to this new scheme. The status recognises the commitment the attraction has made to making sure that coach parties receive a very warm welcome when visiting. The attraction is obviously extremely well known nationally and internationally and it has never wavered in its commitment to make sure that their offer is second to none. CPT congratulates it on being the first attraction in Scotland to be awarded the new status.”

Commenting on the status, Lynda Denton from the attraction says: “We are delighted to have received this award from the CPT. As an independent family business we very much value nurturing relationships within the tourism industry and a big part of that is not only building close bonds with those who plan tour itineraries but ensuring that we have products and services that their clients find enriching. At the end of the day that is who we all serve.

“We have created experiences for visitors to Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop so that even those that are not here to marry take away special memories of good times spent at our historic and very romantic attraction.”

Previous recipients of the status are Woburn Abbey and Gardens, West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, and Sabrina Boat in Shrewsbury.

Malcolm Roughhead and Lynda Denton. Photo (c) Chris Watt Tel: 07887 554 193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com
Lynda Denton of Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop is seen with Malcolm Roughhead OBE, chief executive of VisitScotland. Photo (c) Chris Watt/Cumbria Crack
Tel: 07887 554 193
info@chriswatt.com
www.chriswatt.com

Emmerdale studio tours to start this summer

The studio complex in Leeds where ITV soap Emmerdale is filmed is to open for tours later this summer.

The Burley Road complex, situated just over a mile west of the city centre, will be home to the ‘Emmerdale Studio Experience’, giving groups the opportunity to see behind the scenes.

The new attraction is being delivered by Continuum Attractions in partnership with ITV. Continuum Attractions is the company responsible for the successful ‘Coronation Street The Tour’ in Manchester, and the introduction in 2015 of group visits to Emmerdale’s exterior filming sets on the Harewood Estate between Leeds and Harrogate.

Continuum Attractions says: “Continuum Attractions is pleased to confirm the intent to deliver the ‘Emmerdale Studio Experience’, in partnership with ITV. Subject to planning, the Burley Road Studios in central Leeds will open to the public in the late summer of 2016 to showcase a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of one of ITV’s best loved soaps. Following the resounding success of ‘Coronation Street The Tour’, Continuum Attractions is delighted to continue its working relationship with ITV.”

Details of how to buy tickets will be released in May.

Continuum Attractions operates an award-winning portfolio of visitor experiences across the UK including Emirates Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, The Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh, York’s Chocolate Story, Oxford Castle Unlocked and The Canterbury Tales. The company is also working with The Royal Mint in South Wales to deliver ‘The Royal Mint Experience’, a new factory experience and interactive exhibition that’s due to open on 18 May.

Emmerdale's interior filming sets are due to open to the public later this year
After the exterior filming sets of ITV soap ‘Emmerdale’ were opened to groups in 2015, the interior filming sets in Leeds are due to open to the public later this year
1 … 5 6 7 8
Built by Jigowatt | Copyright © 2024 Stuart Render Tourism. All rights reserved.