A group of GTOs from around the UK enjoyed a get-together in Blackpool recently. Daish’s Blackpool Hotel https://www.daishs.com/blackpool/daishs-blackpool-hotel hosted 49 tour planners for a showcase of the ever-popular resort along with a tour of attractions in the nearby Lake District.

Co-ordinated by travel trade specialists Steve Reed Tourism Ltd, with support from Visit Blackpool and Jennifer Cormack of Windermere Cruises, Merlin Entertainments, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Blackpool Transport, the four-day event took in two full days of coach tours with the southern Lake District commencing the showcase.

A steam train ride on board the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway set the scene, closely followed by a cruise with Windermere Lake Cruises. Next, the attendees visited the Wordsworth Grasmere and Dove Cottage attraction before the event concluded with a tour at the World of Beatrix Potter.

The Blackpool tour also took in some great sites and sights – kindly provided by Merlin Entertainments. These included Blackpool Sealife; Madam Tussauds; the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the Blackpool Tower Circus. Blackpool Pleasure Beach also got into the act with a tour of the rides and attractions in the world-famous pleasure park. And the Blackpool Illuminations were superbly presented to the VIPS by Blackpool Transport who hosted the group with a special tour of the lights on board a double deck tram.

‘We’re greatly appreciate the support of the many people and organisations that helped us to put this enjoyable showcase together,’ says Martin Jenkins of Daish’s Holidays.

‘The tour planners were very impressed by what they saw and experienced – and we discovered that a combination of the Lake District and Blackpool itself makes for a top class and contrasting group tour.’

The next Daish’s group showcase takes place from 7-11 April 2024 in Scarborough and North Yorkshire.