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The inaugural Best of Britain & Ireland 2009 concluded last week to resoundingly positive feedback from the domestic travel industry. Over 300 exhibitors including national and regional tourist board, hospitality, attraction, transport and tour operator partners were showcased under one roof to nearly 2,500 trade visitors from Britain and overseas.
Organised in partnership with VisitBritain, Best of Britain & Ireland 2009 took place from 26 – 29 March 2009 at London’s ExCeL Centre and proved an exciting and innovative successor to British Travel Trade Fair. It comprised the two-day business focused Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum followed for the first time by a two-day consumer event showcasing all that’s best in travel and tourism in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Opening the event, Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism said: "Thank you to all of you who work in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales’s tourism industry for making our product so good. We’ve become famous for our food, our service and the quality of our heritage, landscapes and our whole cultural offer. Whilst the industry faces some challenges there are lots of opportunities. Our currency won’t always be soft, our VAT won’t always be this low, so let’s use it to attract people and keep them coming back. Tourism is a vital industry to our economy."
Rob Mackenzie, Managing Director of Best of Britain & Ireland events added: “The feedback we’ve had has been overwhelming and we’re looking forward to even greater success in 2010. Both the exhibitors and visitors have embraced the event, which is a new concept in marketing Britain and Ireland at a time when holidaying at home could not be more relevant.”
Best of Britain & Ireland 2010 will take place on 18 – 21 March 2010 in the Grand Hall in Olympia, London. As with this year’s event, the Best of Britain & Ireland 2010 will form the culmination of British Tourism Week, which will take place from 15 – 21 March next year.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
