Sharing expertise in the groups market
How the travel industry may evolve over the next 30 years
Change in the air – and in how we enjoy ourselves
Abacus Hotels: An interview with Julie Gibson
“One or two-night breaks used to predominate but we now see more four-night stays”
French Brothers: An interview with Don Yates
“Groups are an absolutely vital part of what we do.”
Southport: An interview with Steve Christian
“Coaches and groups are an integral part of Southport's economy.”
Royal Horticultural Society: An interview with Melissa Hackney
“£160 million is being invested across the organisation.”
How technology is enhancing the travel and tourism industry
Augmented and virtual reality have enormous potential implications for enhancing the visitor experience
Royal Albert Hall: An interview with Bridget Nolan
“Groups are really important and account for about 15% of our audience.”
Why the GDPR will have a significant impact for group travel organising
Data challenges could herald change for travel trade marketplace
How Brexit has prompted discussion about future tourism industry planning
Regulations and protection up for review
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: An interview with Daryl Bennett
“In 3½ years I’ve seen an increase in requests for guided tours.”
English visitor experience finally being grasped by the National Tourism bodies
Discover England project unlocks real benefits
Coming up in October – our Travel Industry Imaginarium!
GTO the first UK magazine to specialise in group travel, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
On Wednesday 17th October GTBF and GTO are holding a unique kind of event – an Imaginarium – where we will look ahead to uncharted horizons to explore what the future may have in store for travel and tourism.
The afternoon discussion will be kicked off by contributions from a group of thoughtful and forward-looking people, who will bring what they have learnt from innovation in the group travel industry up till now, to speculate about what lies ahead.
We are challenging them to think 10, 20 and 30 years ahead, and reveal what they imagine the industry and its customers will be doing!
As well as the speakers we are hoping GTBF members and friends from a range of sectors – entertainment, museums, transport providers, research and development, heritage attractions and beyond will be there to enliven the discussion.
One vision of the future – the luxury observation airship being developed by Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd, just unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow.
If you would like to contribute what your see in your own ‘Travel Crystal Ball’ – do let us know, as we still have slots for the introductory speakers available.
The event will take place at the Phoenix Artist Club in London’s West End, where a celebration of GTO’s 30th birthday will take place that evening. All Imaginarium attendees will be invited to stay for that too.
For further information, please get in touch.
Package Travel Regulations
The new Package Travel Regulations (PTR) extend the 1990 EU Package Directive beyond traditional package holidays to protect consumers who book other forms of combined travel such as a pre-arranged package from a travel agent, tour operator or holiday operator.
Made up of Linked Travel Arrangements (LTAs) they include at least two elements, such as flights, accommodation and transport or customised holiday packages with a selection of holiday and travel elements bought from a single business.
Under the new regulations these and other such combinations are regarded and should be protected as a package for insurance purposes.
Group organisers, travel agents and tour operators are all affected equally by the new regulations.
One point to note though, is that the regulations do not apply to packages and linked travel arrangements covering a period of less than 24 hours, unless overnight accommodation is included. In addition, they do not apply to packages and LTAs organised occasionally on a not for profit basis for a limited group of travellers, such as a school trip.
The Tourism Alliance has written a useful summary with some examples to help explain the new regulations (which you can find below) alongside a copy of the official guidance on the regulations.
Tourism Alliance Guidance on the New Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018
Guidance for Businesses Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018
Draft Regulations Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018
Tourism Sector Deal
T he Tourism Alliance, of which the GTBF is a member, has provided an update on how the bid for a Tourism Sector Deal with the government is progressing.
A paper outlining what was possible in developing skills within the Tourism industry was initially submitted to Visit Britain at the end of February and UKHospitality is continuing to develop its thoughts with two themes being very important to the skills agenda – retention of staff and improving the reputation of the sector to boost recruitment and resourcing.
Part of the Tourism Bid document looks at the establishment of Tourism Zones to boost growth, productivity and the development of place. The concept of Tourism Zones is being developed but early thoughts are that they would each need to demonstrate how the three strands of the Deal itself – skills, connectivity and boosting productivity – would be developed and implemented through a public/private partnership at the local level.
At the core of a Tourism Zone, and responsible for developing and implementing a Zone Plan would be a partnership between the tourism industry, the Local Authority and the Local Enterprise Partnership. Pragmatically, the Tourism Zones are envisaged at stretching across political and council boundaries so they conform to areas recognised by visitors as distinct destinations and this will enhance the idea of ‘development of place’.
There should be no limit on the number of Tourism Zones, and areas designated as a Tourism Zone should have prioritised access to existing funds such as the Coastal Community Fund.
Other thoughts that would guide the workings of these new zones would be prioritised provision of infrastructure such as broadband roll-out, Network Rail and Highway Agency investment.
