The domestic travel industry is set to benefit from an estimated £30 million worth of business at next month’s Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum. The event has unprecedented backing from across the industry and 2500 travel trade professionals are expected to attend. The 2010 event takes place at London’s Olympia 17th-18th March and will bring together hundreds of exhibitors and tourism professionals from all the regions and nations of Britain and Ireland. Business to-business meetings, seminars and exhibitors will profile the rich diversity of UK and Irish tourism. The success of the launch event in 2009, the new venue, new dates and new programmes for 2010 have seen exhibitor demand soar and the event increase in size by 25%.

With the domestic travel trade community now fully united behind the event, Best of Britain & Ireland 2010 introduces important new initiatives to further enhance the quality of its trade audience.

The Travel Trade Forum opens on St Patrick’s Day and highlights include:

Hosted Buyer Programme
Complementing the traditional Overseas Hosted Buyer Programme sponsored by VisitBritain, BoBI 2010‘s inaugural VIP Domestic Hosted Buyer Programme will run in partnership with the Coach Tourism Council, Confederation of Passenger Transport, Group Travel Organisers Association and Group Travel Organiser magazine.

Senior representatives from more than 100 leading coach operators and wholesalers plus more than 50 group travel organisers are already committed to attend. The guest list so far includes senior representatives from Andrew's of Tideswell, Angela Holidays, Coachholidays.com, David Palmer Holidays, David Urquhart Travel, Edwards Coaches, Galloway European, Grand UK, Harry Shaw, Johnsons Coaches, Shearings Holidays, Silver Star Coach Holidays and Ulsterbus Tours.

Sean Taggart, Chairman of the CTC commented, "It's fantastic to see so many of our members take up this invitation to the ‘must attend’ event this Spring and, as an exhibitor, it is certainly an exciting prospect to know we will have all the key people in the room!"

The Domestic Hosted Buyer programme offers a package of networking events including a Welcome Lunch Reception with Welcome to Yorkshire, Tourism Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day Reception, morning refreshments courtesy of Visit London, afternoon tea in the Member’s Dining Room at the House of Commons, overnight accommodation co-ordinated with Leisure Breaks and courtesy coach transfers supplied by Coaches etc. Participating buyers can also enjoy a Thames river tour and dinner with Bateaux London plus a night out at one of the capital’s great musicals - Chicago, The Lion King, Wicked and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Chris Wales, Chief Executive of the Coach Tourism Council, said, “This heralds a new era of close co-operation and we are delighted to be wholeheartedly and actively involved in BoBI 2010, helping deliver a major presence from the coach operating community”.

Karen Tiley, manager of membership of CPT, says, “We are proud to be involved in this Programme and recognise the huge step forward in working together. Best of Britain & Ireland is establishing itself as a first class exhibition and networking event for the coach tourism sector and this initiative reflects this”.

Main stage
Debates and presentations on the main stage during the two trade days will tackle industry hot topics. Subjects will include industry engagement with 2012 and sustainability. The programme kicks off with Tourism Question Time when delegates have the chance to quiz the tourism minister and shadow ministers. Minister of State Department for Culture, Media & Sport Margaret Hodge MP will be on the platform along with shadow Culture Secretary Don Foster and a member of the Conservative party.

Seminar theatres
The two seminar theatres will be hosted by Coach & Bus Week and Group Travel Organiser.  Each theatre will facilitate seminar sessions and debates on the most pertinent topics facing the industry. A full schedule will be available nearer the time from the event website - britainandirelandevent.co.uk or from the information desk on arrival at the Show.

Sustainable Tourism Suite
Demonstrating the commitment of the industry in pursuing a more sustainable future, the Sustainability Suite in collaboration with all the national tourist boards brings together a programme of presentations, debates and Q&A sessions led by key players from the domestic travel industry. The sessions will include a look at how sustainability is taking a central role in tourism and how organisations are responding to the challenge of climate change.  

Hotels
An unprecedented number of leading hotel chains including Accor, Hilton, Barcelo and Marriott will take space on the show floor. A new independent hotel feature part-funded by the CTC, CPT and GTOA, will showcase Quality Assessed hotels. This important feature has been created to address the increasing demand from coach parties, tours and groups for unique, individual properties.

Education
On Friday 19 March the new Diploma in Travel and Tourism qualification will be launched. The qualification will prepare young people for a career in travel and tourism and is one of 17 new Diplomas for 14-19 year-olds. The Diplomas combine theory and practice to equip students with the skills, knowledge and experience needed for success at college, university and work. The qualification covers travel and tourism services, passenger transport, visitor attractions, conferences, events and accommodation services. Students will also be able to choose more specialised learning modules.

The 350+ exhibitors will exhibit a wide range of new products. This demonstrates the industry’s commitment to offering regular visitors good reasons to return, as well as attracting new visitors.

The event will also launch a package of new ways to communicate, facilitate and support the involvement of tourism professionals from across the industry with the sporting events of 2012.