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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