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North East To Host International Travel Trade On Key Educational Visits

The trips are part of national tourism agency VisitBritain’s flagship Showcase Britain event, which will bring together a series of events and educational visits for around 120 international leisure trade buyers and trade media. The Showcase event will launch at Hampton Court Palace on Thursday (Jan 23rd) and will highlight VisitBritain’s new film and TV campaign Starring GREAT Britain.

Regional partnership Destination North East England (DNEE), which is led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative on behalf of the region, has been invited to present at the prestigious launch event alongside VisitScotland, VisitEngland and Visit Wales.

Following the event more than 40 travel trade from Italy, India and the US will spend between three and six days in the North East experiencing everything the region has to offer an international visitor.

Top names in travel will be in the group such as SITA World Travel, one of North America’s most reputable global tour operators; Thomas Cook India and Cozmo Travel, a leading travel agency in UAE.

The educational trips shine the spotlight on the latest products and experiences on offer, getting those sold in international markets and on to the itineraries of future visitors, driving growth from tourism across the nations and regions.

Each group will be taken on a different tour, incorporating products and experiences which fit their market. Attractions they will visit include Beamish; Durham Cathedral; Raby Estates; The Auckland Project; Blackfriars; The Victoria Tunnel, North East Museums; Alnwick Castle; The Alnwick Garden; Bamburgh Castle; Lindisfarne and Ad Gedfrin.

They will also get to see and stay in several different hotels to showcase the choice of accommodation across the region including, Crowne Plaza Stephenson Quarter, Newcastle; Slaley Hall and Raddison Blu, Durham.

A networking event will also be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel where each agent will be able to have a series of face-to-face meetings with travel trade ready businesses from across the region.

The event is being delivered as part of Destination North East England’s travel trade strategy, which is aimed at supporting businesses in expanding their customer base; creating innovative products and attracting new and different audiences, making them more profitable and resilient.

It is fantastic to be part of Showcase Britain and a real honour to be able to present at the event at Hampton Court and highlight the work we have been doing to establish the region as somewhere that is “Travel Trade Ready”. Our region has so much to offer the international visitor, and this is our opportunity to work with travel professionals from a number of key markets to ensure the North East is included in their clients’ travel in the future. We have been continuing our work to support our businesses to enable them to work with buyers and we have some exciting experiences and products on offer. Over 80% of international visitors to the UK use a tour operator to book their trip, that gives the North East a huge opportunity to showcase a destination that may not have been discovered before. Our businesses will also benefit from new and repeat visitors as well as advanced, all year-round bookings.

Alex MacKenzie, Travel Trade Manager for the region

With the upcoming launch of our ‘Starring GREAT Britain' screen tourism campaign, now is the perfect time to roll out the red carpet and welcome international buyers. Building product and destination knowledge broadens travel itineraries so visitors explore more, including through our regional gateways, driving visitor spending into local economies. From exploring our vibrant cities, world-class attractions and stunning countryside, to enjoying our exciting contemporary culture and hospitality, international buyers will have a front row seat experiencing first hand why Britain is the real star of the show. I know that they will return home inspired to sell more British destinations this year.

Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain

It is a busy week for travel trade this week with DNEE also attending the Britain and Ireland Marketplace tradeshow in London. It brings together more than 200 buyers and suppliers and destinations to network, connect and do business.

The GCC Market (UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar) will also be in focus this week at an event organised by DNEE for businesses in the region. Representatives from VisitBritain’s overseas team will be hosting a workshop tomorrow (WED) focusing on how businesses can work with this market.

To find out more go to https://traveltrade.destinationnortheastengland.co.uk/