Destination UK Autumn 2016

Issue 67 Autumn 2016 £2.75

First successful fund applicants are revealed ...

By Christina Eccles

THE first successful applicants to receive year one funding from VisitEngland’s £40m Discover England fund have been revealed.

Focusing on a wide-range of international markets, including established markets and growth areas, the bids collectively cover the length and breadth of England.

The successful projects are: 1. Golf Tourism England: Golf Tourism England Limited will work with stakeholders to develop an online platform bringing together England’s golf-related businesses for the Asia, Europe and North America markets 2. Telling the Stories of England: Developing Cultural Tourism Products across England for the US Alumni and Affinity Tours: Led by tour operator, UK Countryside Tours, this bid will see the creation of geographic and thematic historical, cultural and countryside tours for the US alumni and special interest markets.

3. Gardens and Gourmet: This new bookable visitor pass will enable visitors from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the US staying in London to explore the gardens and gourmet offer in Cheshire and Kent.

4. South West Coastal Path – Amazing Experiences and Making Memories: Bookable experiences

will be brought together using new technology along the South West Coastal Path, including scenery, activities and accommodation for German and Dutch visitors who want to explore by foot or by bike.

5. England’s Seafood Coast: Inspired by local chef Mitch Tonks and his celebration of local seafood, this bid will see the English Riviera Tourism Company working with DEFRA and local partners to transform the Riviera’s status as an international seafood destination in Western Europe and to scope the development of a new national product to attract international visitors.

6. Incentive England: A bid to grow the volume and value of the incentive travel market in England from China, North America and the Middle East.

7. Self-guided activity app: Compass Holidays’ current mobile app uses a mapping system to guide tourists.

This project will enable them to upgrade their product to provide visitors with rich content on the local area and enable them to make bookings easily.

VisitEngland chief executive Sally Balcombe said: “We are pleased to have chosen some excellent winners who we will now be working closely with to build world-class ‘bookable’ tourism products showcasing the best of England to international and domestic visitors.”

London is voted favourite UK city

The stage adaptation of David Walliams’ The First Hippo on the Moon will begin a major UK tour in December, visiting 30 venues nationwide. The production will be suitable for children aged three and up and will premiere at the historic Eastbourne Hippodrome. David (pictured) said: “I’ve been a long-time admirer of Les Petits Theatre Company and the innovative approach they take to theatre-making so I’m excited to see how they bring my hippo space explorers to life on stage.”

LONDON has won two prestigious accolades at the annual Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2016.

The capital came out on top as Best UK City for the sixth year running, and Best UK City for Restaurants and Bars for the second consecutive year in the reader nominated awards ceremony at Soho’s Ham Yard Hotel.

Julie Chappell, head of Visitlondon.com, the official city guide from London and Partners said: “These awards have come at a perfect time for London, as the capital is primed to stage yet another fantastic blockbuster season of culture – which is the main reason tourists visit the city.

“London’s culinary scene and nightlife are clearly going from strength to strength, with cuisines from every corner of the globe, eclectic and traditional bars and pubs, and 65 Michelin-star restaurants to enjoy – it’s no surprise that Condé Nast readers have voted for the capital’s bars and restaurants.”

DESTINATIONNEWS

Snowdogs to feature in region’s public art trail

By Christina Eccles

SNOWDOGS are coming from all corners of the UK to take part in the largest free public art trail ever to be held in the North East.

Streets, parks and open spaces across Sunderland, Gateshead and Tyneside, will become home to 60 giant Snowdog sculptures, individually decorated by artists and celebrities alike.

Great North Snowdogs, which is the brainchild of creative producers Wild in Art, in partnership with Newcastlebased charity, St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice, is inspired by the story The Snowman and The Snowdog, by Raymond Briggs.

The main Snowdog trail will follow the route of the Tyne and Wear Metro and will be accompanied by a complementary trail of 95 mini Snowdogs, decorated by school children and community groups from the area.

When the trail closes to the public in November, the large Snowdogs will be auctioned to raise funds for the hospice’s children’s service.

Contacts EDITORIAL Judith Halkerston group editor jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Christina Eccles reporter 01226 734463 ce@scriptmedia. co.uk Olivia Taylor reporter 01226 734407 ot@scriptmedia.co.uk Dominic Musgrave production editor dm@scriptmedia.co.uk

PRODUCTION Stewart Holt – studio manager – sth@scriptmedia.co.uk Laura Blackburn – graphic designer lb@scriptmedia.co.uk Scott Firth – graphic designer sf@scriptmedia.co.uk ADVERTISING Tony Barry sales and marketing director 01226 734605 CIRCULATION Kelly Tarff 01226 734695 kt@scriptmedia.co.uk Web: www.destination.uk.com

The large Snowdogs will be auctioned off for charity once the trail closes in November.

At Script Media, we try to get things right but occasionally, we make mistakes. If you have a complaint about a story featured in our magazine or on our website, please, in the first instance, contact us by email: ce@scriptmedia.co.uk We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice as demanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. For details on the code and what to do should you be unsatisfied with the way we handle your complaint, please visit www.ipso.co.uk

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DESTINATIONNEWS

Scottish holiday homes to embrace the ‘hound pound’

By Christina Eccles A DIGITAL marketing campaign targeting the ‘hound pound’ – money spent by owners who take their pets on holiday – has been awarded £20,000 by VisitScotland.

With the first award from its newlook Growth Fund, the national tourism organisation has matchfunded the £40,000 Paws for a Break campaign led by the Association of Scotland’s SelfCaterers’ Embrace Scotland website.

Embrace Scotland features more than 7,000 self-catering properties throughout the country, all owned or managed by the ASSC’s 600 members.

More than half of these members currently accept pets but the ASSC is keen to encourage more of them to promote their animal-friendly credentials.

VisitScotland research shows almost a third (30 per cent) of holidaymakers base their holiday around how suitable a destination is for their pet, and 72 per cent of dog owners say they would take more holidays in the UK if there were a better attitude towards their canine companions.

Further research showed that holidays with pets had an average extra spend of £126 compared to holidays without pets.

Members will be encouraged to share their ‘pet guest’ stories on Facebook and Twitter and guests will be invited to post photos of their pets on holiday.

Alongside the digital activity, the ASSC will also undertake its first consumer show with a stand at the Family Pet Show in Manchester.

This will be supported by radio advertising in North West England and a competition in conjunction with the show organisers and sponsors, The Co-operative Group, with a prize break in a pet-friendly self-catering property in Scotland.

Chief executive of VisitScotland Malcolm Roughead said: “VisitScotland’s Growth Fund supports collaborative tourism marketing projects that focus on growth in the tourism sector and ensure that visitors experience the true Spirit of Scotland.

“Pet tourism could be worth millions of pounds to Scotland’s visitor economy so we are delighted to help the ASSC as they attempt to unlock this potentially lucrative

Daisy Butcher, aged 10 and her female collie pup Scrabble outside Mansefield House near Loch Lomond, a self-catering property in Argyll that’s part of the Paws for a Break campaign. market through the VisitScotland Growth Fund. The group’s Paws for a Break campaign is an exciting and

innovative way to appeal to those looking to enjoy a holiday with their four-legged friends.”

Windermere Lake Cruises featured at number six on the list of paid for visitor attractions.

Windermere Lake Cruises is one of England’s most visited tourist attractions

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WINDERMERE Lake Cruises has underlined its place as one of the country’s most popular paid for visitor attractions, according to official figures revealed in VisitEngland’s latest Annual Attractions Survey.

Out of the 1,500 English attractions in the survey nationally, Windermere Lake Cruises features at number six on the list of paid for visitor attractions – ahead of other iconic attractions including Stonehenge, London Zoo and the Eden Project.

It is the only Cumbrian attraction,

and one of just five outside London, to appear in the top 10.

Managing director of Winander Leisure Ltd, Nigel Wilkinson, said: “We’re proud to see that Windermere Lake Cruises has maintained its position as one of the top 10 most popular paid for visitor attractions in England, alongside some other truly world-class attractions.

“These latest figures underline the enduring appeal of the Lake District and show that a cruise on Windermere really is regarded as a quintessential experience for both domestic and international visitors.”

DESTINATIONNEWS

The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery.

Experience receives award for second year running THE Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery has been awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the second year running.

Now in its sixth year, the award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is awarded to establishments that consistently achieve great reviews on the world’s leading travel website.

In order to qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of

five for 12 months, have a minimum number of reviews and have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least one year.

General manager Stuart Cassells said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for a second year running.

“There is no greater accolade than the seal of approval from our visitors and it is a testament to the hard work of the entire team at the distillery.”

Cars to reunite for final event

OVER 100 classic cars as well as classics of the future, will reunite at the popular Autumn Classic & Fringe at the British Motor Museum on Sunday, September 25 from 9.30am to 5pm.

This year’s event will see visits from the Jenson Interceptor Club and the Micro Kiers Cars from Japan. Entrance is open to both

clubs and individuals at the cost of £9 per person payable on the day, when they come in a classic car.

Entrants will also receive a free tea or coffee upon arrival and entry to the Museum and Collections Centre.

Individual car entries for owners to show off their vehicles are very much welcomed.

BBC One’s One of Us is the latest thriller to be set in Edinburgh.

This is Edinburgh celebrates drama with crime guide

By Christina Eccles

THIS is Edinburgh – the official guide to the Scottish capital – celebrated the launch of BBC One’s One of Us with a new city guide, detailing the locations of famous films and TV programmes that have led to Edinburgh becoming home to British crime drama.

With record numbers of visitors travelling to south Sweden following the success of The Bridge and Wallander, This is Edinburgh hopes the new crime drama location guide will help locals and visitors retrace their favourite scenes and walk in the footsteps of famous stars, including David Tennant (Escape Artist) and Ken Stott (Rebus).

One of Us is a tense thriller following the twists and aftermath of the brutal murder of two childhood sweethearts just back from honeymoon.

The BBC drama based its preproduction in Edinburgh, before its three month filming schedule in the city and the Scottish Borders,

where the scenic backdrop doubled for the Highlands of Scotland.

Film Edinburgh, the region’s local Film Commission, has revealed that of the 200 plus dramas filmed in Edinburgh over the last 25 years, as a genre, crime dramas have made up more than 20 per cent.

However, it was 2012 when they hit their peak, when a massive 43 per cent of all dramas filmed in the region were crime.

Film manager for Film Edinburgh Rosie Ellison said: “Edinburgh has an amazing history of crime drama, but it was really from the nineties that Edinburgh became popular as the backdrop for crime productions.

“The appetite for the genre across the globe is stronger than ever and with 40 per cent of all visitors choosing to come to a destination they have seen on screen, the new crime drama guide is a perfect opportunity for locals and visitors to seek out some of the city’s most iconic locations from across the decades.”

The green bench at Wembley Stadium.

London tour for replica Commons green bench

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THE Visit Parliament team has taken a replica House of Commons green bench on a whistle-stop tour of London to highlight that Parliament is open to UK and overseas visitors.

The bench visited Wembley Stadium, the Royal Albert Hall and Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square and will appear at other events and exhibitions in the coming months.

Visit Parliament’s marketing and travel trade manager Ian Lacey

said: “We wanted to do something different to highlight that the Houses of Parliament are open to visitors all year round.

“Taking the replica bench on a tour of London venues was only possible because of the fantastic support we received from our hosts at Wembley Stadium Tours and the Football Association, Royal Albert Hall Tours and Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.”

A rare set of red panda twins has been born at Longleat. It’s only the second time the species, which is endangered in the wild, has bred successfully at the Wiltshire wildlife attraction. Dad Ajenda, which means ‘King of the mountain’, came to Longleat from Germany in 2012 and mum Rufina, meaning ‘Red-haired’, arrived from Italy just over a year later. Keeper Sam Allworthy said: “We’re delighted with how well Rufina is looking after the young cubs and both mother and babies are doing brilliantly.”

DESTINATIONWORLD TRAVEL MARKET PREVIEW

Two new areas added to Excursions™ 2017 FOR the first time Excursions™ 2017 will be offering exhibitors the chance to take a stand in new themed sections dedicated to Christmas Markets and Food and Drink.

The premier group travel exhibition will be held at Alexandra Palace, North London on Saturday, January 28 between 10.30am and 4pm.

Amongst the first to take a stand in the new areas is David Urquhart Travel, who will be promoting their December 2017 festive coach trips to Christmas markets in European cities including Bruges, Lille, Ostend and the Rhine Valley as well as Liverpool, York, Bath and the Longleat Festival of Light in the UK. Nicholson’s pubs will also be recreating a traditional British pub at Excursions™ 2017.

Since the Nicholson brothers opened their first pub in 1873, they have continued to offer warm and inviting hospitality, with quality food and drink, in a historic collection of iconic pubs.

Another first for Excursions™ is the decision by the Association of Group Travel Organisers (AGTO) to hold its AGM at Excursions™ 2017 in a large members’ only area.

After the formalities, Denbies Wine Estate, England’s largest wine producer based in Surrey, will be hosting a ticketed wine tasting and talk in the area for visitors to the show.

Delivering more than 40 years of inspiration to group travel organisers and itinerary planners, Excursions™ is notably the longest established national group travel trade show.

It will bring together some 300 exhibitors from the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and more than 1,200 quality group buyers and inbound/outbound itinerary planners, under one roof.

Online visitor registration will open from mid-September 2016 and the free, pre-booked coach transfers will operate a similar programme to last year with return journeys from around 60 UK locations into Alexandra Palace.

Visit the show’s website www. excursions2017.com for the latest news and updates or call 023 8062 5516.

Alternatively, follow on Twitter at @ Excursionsshow or visit the show’s Facebook page at ‘Excursions: Group Travel Trade Exhibition’.

Denbies Wine Estate will be hosting a ticketed wine tasting and talk at Excursions 2017.

AGTO to stage AGM at ExcursionsTM 2017 THE Association of Group Travel Organisers (AGTO) has announced that its AGM will be held at the Excursions trade show at Alexandra Palace on Saturday, January 28 2017.

The meeting will be staged in a large AGTO area that only members can gain access to for the AGM. However, the AGTO area will be open to all visitors to the show for the rest of the day and the Association together with Tourism South East (TSE) is arranging presentations that will be of interest to group organisers.

Commenting on the development, AGTO’s CEO, Mike Bugsgang, said: “This is something of a departure from our usual AGM event as in the recent past we have held the meeting over a weekend.

But following feedback from our members, the majority of whom attend the Excursions show and take advantage of the special travel arrangements, we believe this is the best option.

“We are excited about this move and especially grateful to ‘made tourism marketing’ for their sponsorship of the AGTO area at Excursions 2017.

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Mike Bugsgang “We are working closely with ‘made’ and TSE on the content of the presentations and more details will be announced in due course.”

Nigel Smith, chief executive, Tourism South East said: “We are delighted that AGTO has decided to hold its AGM at Excursions and feel sure that this will encourage more of its members to travel to the show and as a result, boost visitor numbers.”

DESTINATIONNEWS

The magic of market shopping in Swansea

Lake District officially named Britain’s top walking destination THE Lake District, Cumbria, is officially the most popular destination for walking in Britain, according to a new nationwide poll

by Ordnance Survey.

Their OS Maps service analysed more than 500,000 routes over 10 years and revealed that the Lake District has topped the country’s league table, with Keswick and Ambleside being the most popular locations for walkers.

Of the 20 most popular places to create a walking route across Britain, an impressive 18 of them are within

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MANY British children are more familiar with the latest technology than nature, according to research commissioned by Isle of Man Tourism, as part of a drive to promote the island as a place for family adventure.

The study revealed that while the Pokémon Go phenomenon may have helped get both young and old outdoors recently, it doesn’t seem to be improving children’s knowledge of British wildlife.

81 per cent of kids can correctly identify a Pikachu compared to just 55 per cent who can spot a sparrow; likely linked to the fact that 87 per cent of children have never gone birdwatching.

Despite this, the appetite to explore nature is clearly there, with almost half (49 per cent) of the children questioned stating they enjoy holidays as they get to spend lots of time outside.

Mums agreed with their kids, with 40 per cent saying they wished their children spent more time outside, with 71 per cent feeling that playing outside is important for their child’s

chalets line the street and offer the best choice of arts, crafts, handmade gifts, fine foods, unique and personalised Christmas decorations and so much more.

Sample some local specialities such as seaweed gin; stop and watch the art of glass blowing; treat yourself to delicious crepes or handmade fudge; try a camel burger, with cumin and apricot or simply soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the entertainment.

For more information on visiting Swansea City Centre and to book your group visit, please contact Swansea City Centre Management on 01792 633090 / citycentremanagement@swansea. gov.uk

the core areas of the Lake District National Park.

Managing director for Cumbria Tourism Ian Stephens said: “This is the ultimate place to enjoy the great outdoors and this latest Ordnance Survey research confirms that the Lake District, Cumbria, is indeed the UK’s adventure capital.

“With a network of just under 2,000 miles of Rights of Way and some of the most spectacular scenery you are likely to find, it’s great to see that the Lake District remains a firm favourite.”

Kids can identify Pokémon over native species

By Christina Eccles

SWANSEA Market is the largest indoor market in Wales and one of the finest in Britain.

Easily reached via Junction 42 of the M4 and at the heart of the City Centre, Swansea Market has over 100 stalls.

It’s open six days a week and sells everything from unique jewellery and gifts to its famous cockles and laverbread.

Combined with the hot Welsh cakes straight from the griddle, it certainly provides a true taste of Wales!

Plan a visit between Thursday, November 24 and Wednesday, December 21 and you can also experience the fantastic Christmas Market.

Decorative green and red wooden

development.

The results discovered an alarming 45 per cent of under-16s spend less than fours hours a week playing outside with one in five spending less than two hours enjoying the fresh air each week.

The findings are in stark contrast to the outdoor pursuits of their parents who, at their age, spent an average of 8.5 hours a week playing outdoors.

Head of Isle of Man Tourism Angela Byrne said: “This research really highlights how unconnected to nature we’re becoming in Britain but also the desire all ages have to reconnect and spend more time enjoying the great outdoors.

“On the Isle of Man, we have some very unique wildlife and natural environments, combined with an incredibly low crime rate; making this a safe and exciting place for families to come and explore the outdoors together.”

To help British families get back to nature, the Isle of Man has created a round-up of outdoor adventures and activities for families on the Island, which is available to download online.

Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel is celebrating a £150,000 refurbishment of its luxury suites. The five-star, 129 bedroom retreat, located in the heart of the historic and picturesque city of Bath, has added three sumptuous new suites where guests can enjoy a pampering experience including a butler service delivering champagne and canapés to the room and a bathing ritual experience with Molton Brown body products. Regional managing director of Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Jonathan Dawson, said: “The new suites offer something for everyone – be it a sensual soak in a roll top bath or a luxurious night’s sleep in a four poster bed, these rooms are the perfect place for a little luxury.”

‘Poldark Factor’ set to drive boom for Cornwall tourism THOUSANDS of tourists are expected to visit Cornwall this autumn, thanks to the return of BBC One’s popular period drama, Poldark.

The series thrust the region into the spotlight, telling the story of the epic romance between Ross and Demelza, played out on the dramatic cliffs and moors of Cornwall.

Travel experts at Stay In Cornwall now say, based on what happened during series one and two, the region can look forward to a further surge in holiday bookings – driven by the Poldark Factor.

The tourism sites have revealed that when the series are shown,

visits to their Cornish travel sites increase, and also people search more often for for romantic breaks.

Emma Seymour-Sloan, from Stay in Cornwall, said: “The Poldark Factor is huge for Cornwall – interest in holidaying in Cornwall increases greatly when Poldark is on air.

“The series showcases the stunning Cornish landscape at its most romantic. It’s no wonder it put people in the mood for some Cornish romance.

“Visitors would be wise to book their favourite Cornish retreat as soon as possible to avoid missing out.”

DESTINATIONCHRISTMAS

Feel festive at the Gorgeous craft fair EXPERIENCE an early taste of Christmas at Gorgeous, a contemporary designer craft fair held in Enginuity at Coalbrookdale, one of Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge Museums on November 19 and 20.

Hosted in conjunction with the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft, the event will see skilled craftspeople and artisans from across the West Midlands showcasing a huge variety of handmade designs and individual artworks.

There will be a wealth of Christmas gift ideas with items to suit all pockets from magnificent one-off designer pieces to affordable goods.

Designer-makers will be selling their exquisite and unusual pieces of jewellery, glassware, ceramics, textiles, fine furniture, prints and metal work in the festively decked main hall, while talking to visitors about their trade. In addition, tasty delights from a selection of the region’s renowned food producers will also be on offer.

Throughout the weekend visitors can also enjoy watching a range of expert demonstrations delivered by master craftspeople.

This year exhibitors include Emily Richard, who makes jewellery in precious metals and is influenced

by geometric patterns and shapes, and Amanda Hillier whose limited edition linoprints, cards and gifts are inspired by Shropshire. There will also be a selection of unusual handmade glass and gemstone beadwork jewellery created by Sam Hemming.

Now in its 12th year, Gorgeous is a celebration of creative skills, promoting the work of designers and craftsmen in the region, many of whom enjoy status as internationally recognised artists.

It also builds on The Gorge’s rich heritage of creativity; the place where early industrialists mined for raw materials to make iron, tiles and porcelain goods, many of which are still produced and displayed at the museum sites today.

Gorgeous is open 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4.30pm on Sunday. Entry is £2.50 per person (all ages), under fives free, including admission into the Enginuity hands-on interactive design and technology centre; admission is also free for Ironbridge Annual Passport ticket holders For further information, contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).

The Great Hall at Castle Howard.

Photo credit: Andy Bulmer

CASTLE Howard will bring the outside in this Christmas, as the house is festooned with fresh fruits, berries and foliage gathered from the estate, from Saturday, November 19 to Friday, December 23.

New for 2016 – Castle Howard reimagined in gingerbread by contemporary artists Bompas and Parr, festive daily indoor market, and Christmas afternoon tea.

Soaring fresh trees sparkle with

lights, garlands and wreaths of greenery intertwine with cinnamon and orange and branches of oak hand cut from the estate glisten with baubles.

Plus private group dining options and live music make Castle Howard the perfect Christmas experience Included in admission, group rates available.

Call 01653 648621 to make a group booking.

Castle Howard at Christmas

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DESTINATIONGROUP LEISURE AND TRAVEL SHOW PREVIEW

Show set to expand for its 20th presentation THE Group Leisure & Travel Show, which takes place at the NEC on Thursday, October 20 has confirmed record visitor pre-registration for the next event.

The market leading show is attracting even more group travel organisers and coach operators, plus many from the broader travel trade who are eager to be kept up to date on all the latest offers, opportunities, new destinations and developments.

According to sales manager Sharon Yandell, exhibitors are also keen to sign up and make the most of Britain’s biggest event for the group travel and coach tourism sector.

Sharon commented: “There has been a brilliant response to the show this year with new exhibitors confirming every day.

“Floor space has been expanded to accommodate the growing number of exhibitors keen to offer ideas to GTOs and coach operators, and there is a really positive feel about the next show which celebrates 20 years of leading the market on October 20th.”

Organiser Emma Cash was equally enthusiastic: “It’s clear that our celebrity seminar line up has created 12 a lot of enquiries and interest, and

of course, GTOs and coach operators who pre-register online, or by using the pre-registration ticket, can qualify for free parking at the NEC too.

“The exhibition offers a wide range of exhibitors who specialise in dealing with group travel organisers and coach operators and will offer venues, deals, ideas and new products that can help visitors with planning, and more importantly deal specifically with their direct group travel needs and enquiries.”

The show, described as a ‘must do event’ by many exhibitors and visitors, will offer all visitors who arrive at hall 8 before 11am a free bacon butty breakfast and there is plenty of seating and refreshment

areas to facilitate the large number of visitors expected.

The celebrity line up of speakers has also added a prestigious aspect to the 20th anniversary event.

The free to attend seminar theatre includes presentations from Eric Knowles, well known to television viewers from the Antiques Roadshow, Alexis Conran, the TV fraud specialist, who has been appearing on the latest Celebrity Masterchef series, Martin Roberts, travel, lifestyle and TV property guru, together with Julie Peasgood, travel writer, author, TV presenter and actress.

Free Coach Transport

Details of free coach routes that will whisk visitors to the Group Leisure & Travel Show 2016 have recently been revealed on the show website.

Coaches will travel from London St Pancras, Liverpool and Wetherby and pick up from spots all over the country, including Watford Rugby Club, Milton Keynes Coachway Park and Ride, and Sheffield’s Meadowhall.

Services will be operated by Epsom Coaches, Selwyns Travel and Globe Holidays, and arrive at the Birmingham NEC between 10.30am

and 11am.

Emma Cash reminds GTOs and travel trade visitors that seats must be pre-booked online at the Group Leisure & Travel Show website: www. grouptravelshow.com and early booking is advised because each route is subject to demand and availability.

A full schedule and booking form can be found at www. grouptravelshow.com/coachtransport.

The show, including the seminars, is free to visit, and visitor fast track pre-registration is now live at the website which entitles bona-fide group organisers, coach operators and travel trade visitors, who have pre-registered, to free parking at the NEC saving the normal £12 cost.

A freepost registration ticket is included in this edition of Destinations UK. To register and receive your entry badge and the free parking offer in advance, visit www.grouptravelshow. com.

Limited exhibiting space remains and companies, destinations or venues interested in exhibiting should contact Sharon Yandell without delay on 01908 613323, or email sharon.y@yandellmedia.com

DESTINATIONNEWS

Staycation is one of ‘life’s little luxuries’ UK breaks are here to stay, according to research, which reveals the staycation has become a permanent feature of British holidaymakers’ calendars.

Secret Escapes, which runs flash sales of four and five-star hotels and holidays worldwide, revealed 40 per cent of Brits are committed to taking a UK break and over half consider this UK-based stay to be one of “life’s little luxuries.”

The findings show that more than half of Brits consider a staycation to be between three days and a weeklong and one in four holidaymakers take these shorter UK breaks in addition to longer holidays abroad.

The ease of booking UK trips encourages nearly a quarter of UK tourists to be more spontaneous: over a third have booked a trip on a whim to treat themselves or a loved one, and a further 15 per cent have

spontaneously booked a last-minute staycation to make the most of good weather.

Secret Escapes has also seen a 19 per cent increase in 2016 UK bookings compared to 2015, illustrating more than ever that Brits are keen to discover beautiful landscapes and exciting cities closer to home.

Chief executive of Secret Escapes, Alex Saint, said: “Nine out of 10 people who book holidays through Secret Escapes tell us they weren’t planning to do so until they received one of our emails, so we’re not surprised to see Brits feel UK breaks allow them to be more impulsive.

“People no longer stick to the notion of one annual holiday abroad and are looking to pepper international trips with shorter UK staycations which they can take as and when they feel like it.”

UK spending strengthened THE UK has enjoyed a wave of income from tourist spending as visitors enjoy the weaker pound in the wake of Brexit, according to figures.

A seven per cent overall increase in UK international Tax Free Shopping spend in July has been recorded by retail tourism experts, Global Blue, with the latest year to date figures show Asian nations and the US are largely responsible for the positive cash injection.

Managing director UK and Ireland for Global Blue Gordon Clark said: “Though the weaker pound following the referendum was initially unwelcome news, it has proved perfect timing for tourists visiting the UK; enjoying our British leisure, luxury and cultural offering during the summer season.

“The cash injection we have seen off the back of this has been hugely beneficial for our tourism economy.”

Tiger twins make public debut at London Zoo TWO Critically Endangered tiger cubs have timed their public debut at ZSL London Zoo to perfection, venturing out to explore the paddock of their Tiger Territory home.

The cubs joined their seven-yearold mum, Melati the Sumatran tigress (Panthera tigris), when she emerged to bask in the sunshine – and appeared to feel immediately at home in their new play area.

The as-yet unsexed cubs have been spotted on cubcam stretching their legs in their custom-built den, but this is the first time they’ve gone outside into the main paddock.

After a few encouraging nudges from Melati, the duo were soon tentatively prowling the lush foliage of their new territory, before nuzzling up to mum for an al fresco feed.

Senior curator of mammals, Malcolm Fitzpatrick, said: “After so much rain, Melati has been keeping

the twins indoors.

“But when the sun finally came out it was obviously the perfect time for her to introduce our new arrivals to the outside world.

“The trio spent all day outside in the sunshine and when Melati took a break, dad Jae Jae was on hand to keep an eye on the twins.

“The cubs are very young, so they’re still sticking quite close to mum, but the more time they spend outside the more confident they’ll become. We’re looking forward to seeing them explore the rest of their new territory over the coming weeks.”

Lucky visitors to ZSL London Zoo this weekend might be able to catch a glimpse of the Critically Endangered cubs padding through the long grass of Tiger Territory. Visit www.zsl.org for more info and to book tickets.

Crossbasket Castle on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Hotel given five-star rating A NEWLY opened five-star luxury hotel on the outskirts of Glasgow is celebrating after achieving a five-star accommodation rating from the AA. Crossbasket Castle, operated

by Inverlochy Castle Management International, is based in High Blantyre and has been recognised for its luxury accommodation, range of facilities, experienced staff and high quality food and drink offering from a fine-dining restaurant overseen by renowned chefs Albert and Michel

Roux Jr. General manager Ryan Davidson said: “We are really happy to have achieved our five-star accommodation rating from the AA. “The awards represent the passion and dedication that has gone into creating a high quality luxury experience at the hotel. Since opening in May we’ve received great feedback from guests and look forward to sharing more of the spectacular castle with our visitors.”

There will be plenty of room on the broom this Halloween at Treetop Trek in the heart of the Lake District, as all little witches and wizards will be treated to a free ‘flight’ in honour of the spooky occasion. The award-winning attraction’s Halloween treat last year proved so popular it will become an annual event, allowing all little ones over the age of five dressed Halloween style in spooky witch and wizard costumes to enjoy an exciting zoom down one of Treetop Trek’s 250m zip wires, for free. Those wanting to extend their Treetop adventure can enjoy a one hour Mini Trek from £18 per person and swing, climb, balance and fly through the ancient oak woodland canopy.

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DESTINATIONWORLD TRAVEL MARKET PREVIEW

Social media superstar to talk at WTM London HE’S been described as Instagram’s ‘hottest male traveller’, – and he’s coming to World Travel Market London 2016.

Jeremy Jauncey, the founder of Beautiful Destinations, is said to be the most influential populariser of travel photography on Instagram, with more than 5.5 million followers and over 200 million likes.

The entrepreneur will be the keynote speaker at the first of two Digital Tourism Think Tank (#DTTT) sessions at WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry.

Jeremy will show how Beautiful Destinations works with some of the world’s biggest travel and lifestyle brands, to create content through smartphone, drone and 360-degree video technology.

The agency runs Instagram and Snapchat accounts for global brands including Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Airbnb, Marriott International and Food & Wine.

It has a community of more than 1,200 influential content creators, ranging from National Geographic photographers to ordinary travellers with smartphones.

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After his presentation, Jeremy will be interviewed by Nick Hall, founder and chief executive of Digital Tourism Think Tank, a digital technology and destination marketing consultancy.

Members of the audience will be able to pose questions to Jeremy, who used to be a rugby player before moving into ecommerce.

Nick will also present other case studies, from Cape Town to Australia, looking at how the industry works with “local influencers” who help destination and brands online.

The second Digital Tourism Think Tank session will focus on the rapid growth of messaging apps and virtual reality – and how travel brands can make the most of these exciting technologies.

Experts will join Nick to present insights and analyse the trends for WTM London delegates.

WTM London senior director, Simon Press, said: “It’s great to team up with Nick Hall and Digital Tourism Think Tank for another year and to have such an influential social media star as Jeremy speaking at WTM London.

“Nick became a CEO in travel at the age of 22 and is now a

Influencer Strategy

14:45 – 15:15 Keynote: Jeremy Jauncey 15:15 – 15:35 The Interview 15:45 – 16:15 Content Trends & Local Influencers Jeremy Jauncey respected, leading figure in the digital world.

“Jeremy is another young mover and shaker – he’s in his early 30s and already has influence around the world.

“The two of them appearing on stage at WTM London will be an unmissable opportunity for WTM delegates.”

Mastering Global Influencer Strategy + Content Trends & Local Influencers Tuesday 8th November 14:45 – 15:35 Mastering Global

Bots, Automation & Messaging – VR Trends in Tourism Wednesday 9th November 10:30 – 12:00 Bots, Automation & Messaging VR Trends in Tourism

WTM London is the event where the travel and tourism industry conducts its business deals. Buyers from the WTM Buyers’ Club have a combined purchasing responsibility of $22.6 billion (£15.8bn) and sign deals at the event worth $3.6 billion (£2.5bn). WTM London 2016 has been revamped as a three-day event from November 7-9, with opening hours extended from 10am to 7pm for all three days.

DESTINATIONCENTRESTAGE

Superbreak promotes new schedule for BEAUTIFUL, The Carole King musical BEAUTIFUL, The Carole King Musical is a key seller for short break specialist SuperBreak and agents are now able to book an additional matinee performance due to a new schedule launched by the show.

A matinee is now available on Tuesdays as well as Thursdays and Saturdays to meet the demand for afternoon performances.

One of the most popular and successful singer-songwriters of all time, Carole King’s rise to fame is a fascinating story and the subject of the hit musical Beautiful.

Featuring her classic songs, and

the winner of two Olivier Awards, the show has taken the West End by storm – with fabulous music and an inspiring story, Beautiful is simply unmissable.

A talented songwriter from an early age, Carole sells her first song – Will You Love Me Tomorrow – at the age of just 17 and before long, she’s penned hits for incredible artists such as Aretha Franklin, the Shirelles, the Drifters and the Monkees.

The untold story of King’s relationship with husband and songwriting partner Gerry Goffin, and her struggle to step into the limelight to

perform her own songs, Beautiful charts the singer’s remarkable rise from schoolgirl to superstar.

Featuring Carole King’s greatest hits, the show includes the songs Take Good Care of my Baby, You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman, So Far Away, You’ve Got a Friend and It Might As Well Rain Until September.

SuperBreak packages start from £116.50 per person.

For more information visit www.superbreak.com/agents or call 01904 436000

SuperBreak national sales manager Graham Balmforth.

News from around the theatres ...

By David Thomas

LONDON is NEVER more beautiful than in the autumn, and this autumn London’s West End welcomes the world with a dazzling array of new shows to appeal to all tastes.

In fact there are far too many GREAT new shows to mention of all of them now, so here’s a handful of highlights to get your theatre glands going.

This October sees the return of Peter Pan Goes Wrong (from the same team that bought you the hilarious hits The Play That Goes Wrong and A Comedy About A Bank Robbery) and School Of Rock, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s brilliant new musical based on the cult Jack Black movie, adapted for the stage by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes. Flash forward to 16 November, and the Savoy Theatre

David Thomas will be home to the long-awaited arrival of Dream Girls (16 years after the Tony Award winning show first set Broadway alight) and then December sees an even longer-

awaited arrival...

Cinderella will be the first pantomime at the world famous London Palladium for over FORTY years with a stellar cast including Paul O’Grady, Julian Clary, Amanda Holden, Lee Mead, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Count Arthur Strong.

Further off on the horizon, January 2017 sees the final performance of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and The Bodyguard –with 42nd Street and An American In Paris taking their places in April 2017 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Dominion Theatre respectively.

Because autumn is SUCH a great time to open in the West End, it naturally follows that it is ALSO a boom-time for landmark birthdays.

September sees Wicked’s 10th birthday at the Apollo Victoria, while Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom

of the Opera is 30 years young in October and Matilda The Musical will be five (but still a little bit naughty) at the Cambridge Theatre in November.

The Phantom of the Opera premiered on October 9, 1986, at Her Majesty’s Theatre, on the Haymarket, London, where it has played eight performances a week ever since.

During this time the show has also played in a total of 163 cities across 35 countries around the world.

Over 140 million people have seen what is simply the most romantic love story in musical theatre history, but what we’ll never know is how many first dates, first kisses, engagements (and liaisons) owe something of their magic to the 30 years’ unfolding of the music of the night since those first few opening bars.

DESTINATIONCENTRESTAGE

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of legendary musical Miss Saigon will embark on a major UK tour, opening at Curve Leicester from Monday, July 3, 2017. Miss Saigon tells the story of a young bar girl named Kim, orphaned by war, who falls in love with Chris, an American GI – but their lives are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. Miss Saigon will be playing in Leicester before moving to Birmingham Hippodrome, Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin, Wales Millennium Centre, Festival Theatre Edinburgh and Mayflower Southampton, with further dates and casting to be announced soon.

The Lion King enters its 18th triumphant year

DISNEY’S award-winning musical THE LION KING is now entering its 18th triumphant year at London’s Lyceum Theatre.

Since the UK premiere in London on Tuesday 19 October, 1999, THE LION KING has entertained over 13 million theatregoers and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production.

It has also become the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time.

Tickets are on sale until February 2017 for individual bookings and September 2017 for group bookings.

Julie Taymor’s internationally celebrated stage adaptation of Disney’s beloved animated film premiered on Broadway in 1997 and has now been seen by over 85 million people across six continents.

Nine productions are running concurrently around the globe. In addition to the record-breaking productions in London and New York, THE LION KING can currently be seen in Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, Mexico City, Shanghai and on tour across North America and Japan, with an additional production due to open this year in The Netherlands.

Julie Taymor, one of the world’s most innovative directors, brought a vast array of disciplines to THE LION KING, including extensive experience staging epic theatre and opera productions, exploring classic myths through ritualised puppetry, mask and movement.

THE LION KING was the first musical she directed in the 18 commercial theatre and Julie made

Broadway history by becoming the first woman to win the Tony Award® for ‘Best Director of a Musical’.

The show’s full creative team, all of whom won Tony Awards® for their work on THE LION KING, reunited in 1999 to recreate the show for British audiences.

Julie and Michael Curry created hundreds of masks and puppets.

Scenic design is by leading British designer Richard Hudson and lighting is by Donald Holder.

Costume design is by Julie Taymor and choreography by Garth Fagan.

The book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay of ‘The Lion King’.

The original score from the animated film was expanded for the stage and now features 15 musical numbers.

As well as writing completely new songs, South African composer Lebo M created an evocative blend of African rhythms and chorales, with additional material by Julie Taymor and Mark Mancina.

Elton John and Tim Rice have added three new numbers to the five that they wrote for the award-winning score of the animated film.

The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, including the Academy Award®-winning ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ and the haunting ‘Shadowland’.

THE LION KING is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

Torquay to host Strictly stars’ Fred Astaire tour STRICTLY Come Dancing stars Aljaz and Janette will be bringing their Remembering Fred tour to The Princess Theatre, Torquay on Sunday, May 14, 2017.

Brought to life by the producer of Darcey Bussell and Katherine Jenkins’ Viva La Diva, Remembering Fred will feature song and dance, celebrating the legacy of one of

Hollywood’s true screen legends and entertainers, Fred Astaire.

Aljaz and Janette will be performing steps and turns from the golden age of Hollywood’s most celebrated dance routines, with the show including classic songs such as They Can’t Take That Away From Me and The Way You Look Tonight.

X Factor favourite Joe McElderry will once again wear the world’s most famous coat in the UK’s longest running musical, as the 2017 national tour kicks off at GLive, Guildford in January. Joe’s title role debut in the 2016 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was his first major theatrical appearance – and his performance was met with five star reviews and standing ovations up and down the country. The retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours is crammed wall to wall with hits, including Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.

DESTINATIONTOURISM SOCIETY

EDINBURGH BUS TOURS: on an accessible journey with 30 new state-of-the-art tour bus vehicles

By Helen Adams

On 18 August 2016 it was my privilege to be part of the launch of 30 new open-top vehicles for Edinburgh Bus Tours following a £6.5million investment into the fleet.

That kind of injection of funds into a product is a gift for any marketer and for me, Edinburgh Bus Tour’s new vehicle launch is up there as a career highlight.

The buses were specially commissioned, making them unique to Edinburgh and a first for the UK. A key development is the progress made in terms of next level accessibility.

All visitors – whether they are deaf or hard of hearing, use a wheelchair or cannot otherwise reach the top deck – can enjoy a fantastic visitor experience touring Edinburgh by bus.

Vehicles offer two wheelchair spaces and screens on the lower deck which stream live footage of the fantastic views from a camera positioned at the front of the bus on the top deck. In addition, subtitled commentaries are shown on the screens.

In order to deliver a fitting launch for a Scottish company’s latest innovation in tourism in the month of August, working with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was an obvious choice.

Its ‘house pipe band’ The Piper’s Trail marched three new buses onto Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket in front of members of the public plus VIP guests from tourism, transport and the City of Edinburgh.

We were also delighted to host members of the Euan’s Guide team as VIPs at the launch – the inspiring Edinburgh-based disabled review website.

Edinburgh Bus Tours are part of the Lothian Buses family – the capital’s award-winning public transport operator. Our open-top tours delight over 500,000 visitors each year and we are Scotland’s third most popular paid-for visitor attraction.

The tours, which include the Edinburgh Tour, Majestic Tour and City Sightseeing Edinburgh, have been rated five-star by VisitScotland since 2011.

Our team of over 160 ticket sellers, guides, tour drivers and visitor advisors are specially trained and it is a pleasure to work with such a passionate group of people.

Working in partnership with Edinburgh’s other top visitor attractions, our Royal Edinburgh Ticket includes entry to Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia; all tour ticket holders benefit from a range of exclusive discounts at attractions and other venues across the city, too.

Alongside my day job as part of the

Helen Adams MTS marketing team at Lothian Buses, I also chair the Scottish Chapter of The Tourism Society.

In May this year we hosted a fascinating event – Future-Proofing Tourism with Innovative Thinking #ScotSpirit, which was pertinent given the product launch that I was working on, albeit in secret until August! Speakers Lucy Richards from StudioLR – expert in accessible signage, Gavin Neate, entrepreneur and founder of NeateBox – a tech start up with its roots in creating products for blind and partially sighted users, and Chris McCoy, head of Scotland’s Accessible Tourism Project at VisitScotland, enlightened delegates on the value of the Accessible Tourism market; spend was £370million between January and November 2013 (visitscotland.org).

Chris stressed that although the business potential is significant, barriers include a lack of information that allows disabled visitors to plan visits and holidays, and often a lack of training of front-line staff, which can lead to patronising or awkward interactions.

Commenting on Edinburgh Bus Tours’ new vehicles, Chris said: “I’m delighted to see Edinburgh Bus Tours showing leadership in accessible tourism through its new vehicles.

“Real accessible tourism is fully inclusive; those with accessibility needs don’t want special products, they just want to have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Tourism should be about the experience, which should be seamless from planning and arriving to travelling throughout Scotland.

“Edinburgh Bus Tours is doing a fantastic job of ensuring that its tour experience is five-star for everyone, and making accessible tourism a reality.”

Not only do new Edinburgh Bus Tours vehicles perform well in accessibility terms – more glazing on the top deck makes for

uninterrupted panoramic views.

New Euro 6 vehicles cut Edinburgh Bus Tours’ carbon footprint by 42 per cent and other harmful emissions by a staggering 95-99 per cent.

Quieter engines make for a smoother journey and cut noise pollution, too.

Commentaries will continue to be available in up to 10 different languages and visitors have the

option of hearing from a live guide on selected tours.

So, when you’re next in Edinburgh, I invite you to sample our tour bus fleet of the future. I am immensely proud to be part of a team that places the customer at the heart of innovation and strives to make tourism for all a reality. n Helen Adams is Marketing Manager at Lothian Buses, and Chair of Tourism Society Scotland.

Media Masterclass 18th October at 6.30pm Crowne Plaza London – The City

This year we have teamed up with Family Traveller magazine to bring you a great evening of panel discussion that will help you develop the best working relationship with journalists to ensure that your stories don’t get spiked.

No presentations, just conversation with audience Q&A. If you work in travel and tourism PR, don’t miss this key event.

Speakers Andrew Dent – Chief Executive, Family Traveller Jane Anderson – Editor, Family Traveller Sue Bryant – Freelance / Sunday Times / Family Traveller / Journeys magazine Sue Ward Davis – Travel and Lifestyle Editor, Elle

Book tickets now at www.tourismsociety.org In association with

Venue sponsor

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