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Welcome to the Group Travel Business Forum
The Group Travel Business Forum has been in existence for nearly five years as an informal grouping of professionals who specialise in providing products and services to the group travel and tourism market. Please see the About Us section for more details.
Up and Coming Events
Our next meeting will be held as part of World Travel Market on 10th of November 2011, where we will be discussing ‘Growth Areas for the Groups Market’. We will be hearing from experts in the live events and theatre industry, the cruising sector, specialist researchers and the rail industry.
We will also be hosting our annual winter meeting in the Starr Auditorium at Tate Modern between 2pm and 6pm on Wednesday 23rd November 2011, where we will be discussing ‘The Changing Market & Launch of GTBF Membership Activities’ (see below).
LATEST NEWS:
Speakers confirmed for two winter seminars
Speakers at the World Travel Market seminar (12.30-1.30, 10th November, North Gallery, Room 10) will be:
Giulio Libutti, Managing Director MSC Cruises
Maurice Duckworth MBE, Managing Director, First Rail Support
Richard Bryan, Managing Director, QA Research
Robert Barton, Marketing Manager, Raymond Gubbay.
Speakers at the Winter GTBF at the Tate Modern (23rd November, 2pm) will be:
Michael English, Tailored Travel
Richard Bryan, QA Research
Sharon Glancy, People 1st
Click here to book for 23rd November meet at Tate Modern. The WTM seminar is free.
Forum launches membership
Recent feedback has both endorsed the value of the Group Travel Business Forum, and encouraged plans to develop its status and role to be more clearly identifiable as a distinct part of the tourism professional community.
To this end, we are now establishing a proper membership framework for participants, which will provide both a clear identification for group travel specialist professionals, benefits to them from being involved, and an opportunity to relate collectively to other parts of the tourism industry.
A modest individual membership fee of £100 per annum is being introduced.
Potential members will simply need to identify their own activities covering the field of group travel either as an individual, or within an organisation, to be eligible for membership.
It is expected that organisations will see the value of supporting their lead group travel specialists in membership, as they have been in facilitating their attendance at our events to date.
Immediate benefits will be free attendance at the annual meeting in November, discounts for attendance by the member at other events, and similar reductions for colleagues who could equally benefit from attending. We have also negotiated benefits for members in booking stands at group travel exhibitions and attending the Group Travel Awards. Further benefits are actively being explored and will involve professional services (such as insurance and tourism consultancy) and potential educational and training projects.
It is proposed that a members area be added to this website which will give access to current papers and presentations from previous events, and an opportunity to exchange information between members.
Membership will begin with the winter meeting of the forum in November. Attendance (normally £55 plus VAT) will be included in the membership offer.
Dates for your diary
November 10th: Group Travel Business Forum meeting at World Travel Market: Growth Areas for the Groups Market
12.30-13.30 North Gallery, Room 10, ExCeL, London E16 1XL.
Speakers will be:
Giulio Libutti, Managing Director MSC Cruises
Maurice Duckworth MBE, Managing Director, First Rail Support
Richard Bryan, Managing Director, QA Research
Robert Barton, Marketing Manager, Raymond Gubbay.
For further information call 0845 166 8136 or visit the WTM website and register to attend the show – attendance is then free.
November 23rd: Group Travel Business Forum annual winter meeting: The Changing Market & Launch of GTBF Membership Activities. 2pm – 6pm Starr Auditorium, Tate Modern, London
Speakers confirmed so far:
Michael English, Tailored Travel
Richard Bryan, QA Research
Sharon Glancy, People 1st
Click here to book.
For further information call 0845 166 8136.
Group Business Update
Consumer Rights Directive passed by European Parliament. Click here for more.
AITO raises concerns over insurance loophole in Package
Travel Regulations. Click here for more.
ATOL reform consultation published by DfT – GTBF to respond. If you would like to add your response to ours, please email meri@grouptravelorganiser.com. Click here to see the consultation.