Join us:
Seminar Programme - On the Main Stage
Best of Britain & Ireland organisers and The Tourism Society are pleased to present a range of topical seminars over the two days of the show. Have a look at what’s on offer below, and put your favourite sessions in your diary. All of the seminars are free to attend and are sure to provoke lively discussion! We look forward to seeing you there.
The Tourism Society, the industry’s leading professional membership body, presents two of the key sessions. To find out more about The Tourism Society, their calendar of events, and how to join, come talk to them on stand D87.
Wednesday March 13
The audience gets the opportunity to quiz key government and industry professionals on topics of government strategy, national and local policy, marketing initiatives and planned developments…… and indeed whatever crucial issues or questions you’d like to hear answered! Bernard Donoghue FTS, Director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, will chair the debate.
Join representatives from the domestic, inbound and outbound tourism sectors to discuss how changing a few Government policies can help tourism businesses create more UK jobs and drive growth.
The Gathering Ireland 2013 - a spectacular, yearlong celebration of Ireland and all things Irish. For a full listing of festivals, events and gatherings taking place in Ireland in 2013 go to www.thegatheringfestivals.com/operators
Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 - Through an exciting programme of over 100 events, Derry City of Culture should have something to suit everyone's tastes - young, old, local, visitor, music, dance, art, theatre and sport. Please check our website www.cityofculture2013.com
Join Clark Massad, Vice President - Europe & Global Partnerships, of IGLTA – the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, as he chairs a panel discussion focussing on LGBT travel. He will be joined by a range of tourism industry representatives from UK retail, accommodation and tourism marketing organisations to debate, discuss and inform attendees how the industry can best understand, react and maximise returns from this lucrative market sector.
16.00: North American Travel Trade Symposium
Join Paull Tickner of the Greatdays Travel Group, as he chairs a panel discussion with senior tourism industry representatives who have been flown in especially for Best of Britain & Ireland, to discuss how the UK and Irish tourism industries can best get their voices heard by the many various tourism organisations and sectors of North America.
Paull will be joined on the panel by Chris Robinson of the Chris Robinson Travel Show who will talk about reaching the Canadian marketplace, while Sue Shapiro, a travel agent industry expert from New York, will talk about women only travel, and by James Shillinglaw, Editor of US national e-newsletter Travalliance, will tackle how to target the extensive home-based travel agent network.
Join Paull Tickner of the Greatdays Travel Group, as he chairs a panel discussion with senior tourism industry representatives who have been flown in especially for Best of Britain & Ireland, to discuss how the UK and Irish tourism industries can best get their voices heard by the many various tourism organisations and sectors of North America.
Paull will be joined on the panel by Chris Robinson of the Chris Robinson Travel Show who will talk about reaching the Canadian marketplace, while Sue Shapiro, a travel agent industry expert from New York, will talk about women only travel, and by James Shillinglaw, Editor of US national e-newsletter Travalliance, will tackle how to target the extensive home-based travel agent network.
Thursday March 14
The media coverage, and the actual experience, of the sporting and cultural events held in Britain in 2012 have had a measurable impact on how welcoming we are seen to be by our prospective visitors. VisitEngland and People 1st invite you to take breakfast with them and discuss how to overcome hurdles in customer service, raise the bar of the visitor experience and sprint to success as a business through improved training and skills.
The panel will present on four important areas for businesses to focus on in the coming year, with time for questions and comments from the audience as well.
- Accessibility
- Marketing trends
- Sustainable transport
- Customer service
Speakers: Chris Dobbs (Head of Interpretation) and Paul Griffiths (Head of Operations) of the Mary Rose Museum
Just over 30 years after the raising of King Henry VIII’s flagship the Mary Rose from the bottom of the Solent, the £35 m new Mary Rose Museum is about to open. Hear about the conception, design and build of the museum and what visitors will experience inside.
Speakers: Geoff Corkish (Political Member for the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Economic Development), Angela Byrne (Head of Tourism, Isle of Man Tourism) and Simon Crellin (Director of manxtreme.com)
The active and outdoor market has been an important and growing element of the domestic tourism market in the UK. The Isle of Man is quickly becoming seen as a unique playground for the thrill seekers since revising its visitor economy strategy specifically to target this demanding niche segment.
| To enquire about exhibiting at Best of Britain & Ireland 2014 please contact: |
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| Luke Galliana | 01926 455 261 | luke.galliana@expom.co.uk |
| Download: | ||
| Floor Plan | Booking Form | Rules and Regulations |
| For all other enquiries or to receive further event information please contact the BoBI team on bobi@expom.co.uk or 01926 455 796 |
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2013 testimonials
Robin Barker, Tourism Management Institute
I have been very impressed by both the depth and breadth of people attending from the industry - right from grass root supporters through to policy makers and a government minister.
Luke Pollard, Head of Public Affairs, ABTA.
It is really encouraging to see just how BoBI has developed over the past few years. This is our first time as a show sponsor and it is proving to be a great way to discuss key issues and meet our members face-to-face.
Kurt Janson, Policy Director, Tourism Alliance
BoBI is the ideal way for destination, accommodation and attraction providers to look at the market and reach out to tour operators, GTOs and international buyers.
Kara ter Morsche, Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership
BoBI has proved to be an extremely useful place to distribute our two day itinerary tour - they have been extremely well received.
Lynda Denton, Gretna Green Famous Blacksmith Shop
As well as renew contact with our more familiar customers we have started to develop some new relationships and sales leads.
Stephen Broughton, Mountain Goat Tours & Holidays
We have had an extremely productive day, helped by our great stand location and a show in Birmingham that is easy to get to. We've made lots of good quality contacts; there are no brochure grazers here. We will definitely be back again next year.
James Wright, The Castle & Gardens of Mey
We've already met with six new coach operators eager to include to us on their itineraries and there is still a whole day left to go. This is one show that is certainly living up to expectations.
Eileen Cox, Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
We are delighted to be hosting the Welcome Desk and Meetings Area for the fifth consecutive year. The best around, Blue Badge Tourist Guides and BoBI make the perfect combination!
Ronnie Berri, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
We've seen lots of people all serious about doing business - exactly what we want.
Maggie McLeod, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
The visitors have really appreciated our hands-on approach and the way we have been able to handle specific queries and point them in the right direction. Based on intimate local knowledge we have been able to spot links with other neighbouring destinations, we are able to offer more holistic customer solutions, promoting complete whole packages rather than individual attractions and destinations.
Miriam O'Connell, Industry Activation Manager, Tourism Ireland
BoBI is a fabulous opportunity for our partners from the island of Ireland to meet with both new and existing buyers from Great Britain and overseas.
Shelly Barratt, Destination North Wales
We're really pleased with the way the show is shaping up. It has been a great opportunity for us to introduce tour operators to the less familiar parts of north Wales like Flintshire and Denbighshire.
Tara Robinson, Eden Hotel Collection
The quality of visitors, in particular the number of overseas agents who are very difficult and expensive for us to reach, has been great. We have also been impressed by the all the after show activities like Warwick Castle and the Networking Dinner, these add-ons really help us to build relationships with new customers and contacts.
Katie Wilson, MAD Museum
This is our first time at BoBI and is proving to be the perfect way to promote our new museum and get our name out there. We've had lots of enquiries from a whole range of groups, from those representing children and schools right through to pensioners and the retired market.
Yasmin Estaitih, Encore Tickets
We've seen lots more international buyers than last year, my particular area. BoBI is good show for us.
Penny Dyer, Cadbury World
It has been steady all day with good quality visitors keen to build relationships and high level tour operators looking for multiple trips throughout the year.
Jonathan Godson, Condor Ferries
We've seen a good combination of new and existing customers all great quality and all with strong interest in the Channel Islands. Our destination products have also attracted a lot of interest. We will definitely consider re-booking for next year.
Beverley Davis, De Vere Venues
Participation at BoBI 2013 is proving both productive and beneficial. De Vere Venues has forged a name for itself with the travel trade through this show. Sponsorship of the hospitality area has been a great success; it has been busy the whole time - so far we have provided over 1,000 cups of coffee alone!
Adele Godden, Hospitality Line
There's been a steady footfall all throughout the day of really top class visitors.
Roy Church & Catherine Lewis, South West Wales - West is Best!
It's been very good .We've made lots of useful contacts with real quality visitors who are focussed and know what they want. Unlike so many other shows we've done there's been no need to grab people off the aisles as they pass by, instead they come to us.
Gregory Yeoman, The Tourism Society
Tourism Question Time was an important opportunity to demonstrate the importance of The Tourism Society to the overall industry not least because of the exceptional calibre of the speaker panel. The variety of exhibitors at this year's show has been very good and the Meeting Planner proved a particularly effective means of setting up meetings in advance.
Andrew Fraser, Distinctive Systems
BoBI has been a great PR exercise for Distinctive. As well as meeting a number of new prospects we have been able to bring people up-to-speed on some new developments.
Rachel Tooley, Jurys Inn
We've had some very good meetings with a variety of coach operators, wholesalers and travel agents. The online Meeting Planner worked well too.
Ann Lines, Hilton Worldwide
It has been right through with a strong combination of quality appointments and new leads.
Sue Shapiro, Shapiro Travel Resources, USA
BoBi is an extremely useful way to meet a large number of people in a short space of time. I've made some good contacts for my clients and spoken to all the right people which I'm sure as a result will lead to lots of business.
Jay Munro-Michell, ETOA
It's the variety of suppliers and regional operators that make this a unique mix. I look forward to being here again with our members in 2014.
Chris Robinson, Chris Robinson Associates, Canada
This has been a wonderful way to make connections, many of which have been completely unplanned, for stories for my radio show. It has also been very time efficient - I have managed to see a lot of people in a short space of time.
Jackie Taylor, Menzies Hotels
We have been kept very busy with interest shown in all 15 of our hotels around the UK. We've also managed to make reservations onsite which we don't always get the opportunity to do and the overall number of enquiries has more than paid for the stand.
Annette Gallagher, The Rezidor Hotel Group
A very busy and productive show for us, we have met with both new and existing clients. There have been definite dates from in-bound clients such as Germany and Denmark. We have also detected a distinct air of optimism and renewed confidence for 2014.
Martyn Stagg, Warner Leisure Hotels
This has been a great opportunity to showcase what Britain has to offer the travel trade. We have done some good business which has more than covered the cost of our participation at the event.
Mark Smith, Best Western Hotels
The show has been excellent with some cracking leads from new as well as existing customers. Our Dutch, Belgium and French teams have also had promising conversations with a number of outbound operators. We'll be back for 2014!
Paul Steele, Virgin Trains
It has been very productive; we've met lots of clients we wouldn't otherwise have met. It has opened up lots of potential new markets for us such as travel agents, leisure groups, Irish rail tours, Chinese and US tour operators some of which may become future Virgin Trains partners.
I have been very impressed by both the depth and breadth of people attending from the industry - right from grass root supporters through to policy makers and a government minister.
Luke Pollard, Head of Public Affairs, ABTA.
It is really encouraging to see just how BoBI has developed over the past few years. This is our first time as a show sponsor and it is proving to be a great way to discuss key issues and meet our members face-to-face.
Kurt Janson, Policy Director, Tourism Alliance
BoBI is the ideal way for destination, accommodation and attraction providers to look at the market and reach out to tour operators, GTOs and international buyers.
Kara ter Morsche, Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership
BoBI has proved to be an extremely useful place to distribute our two day itinerary tour - they have been extremely well received.
Lynda Denton, Gretna Green Famous Blacksmith Shop
As well as renew contact with our more familiar customers we have started to develop some new relationships and sales leads.
Stephen Broughton, Mountain Goat Tours & Holidays
We have had an extremely productive day, helped by our great stand location and a show in Birmingham that is easy to get to. We've made lots of good quality contacts; there are no brochure grazers here. We will definitely be back again next year.
James Wright, The Castle & Gardens of Mey
We've already met with six new coach operators eager to include to us on their itineraries and there is still a whole day left to go. This is one show that is certainly living up to expectations.
Eileen Cox, Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
We are delighted to be hosting the Welcome Desk and Meetings Area for the fifth consecutive year. The best around, Blue Badge Tourist Guides and BoBI make the perfect combination!
Ronnie Berri, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
We've seen lots of people all serious about doing business - exactly what we want.
Maggie McLeod, Scottish Blue Badge Guide
The visitors have really appreciated our hands-on approach and the way we have been able to handle specific queries and point them in the right direction. Based on intimate local knowledge we have been able to spot links with other neighbouring destinations, we are able to offer more holistic customer solutions, promoting complete whole packages rather than individual attractions and destinations.
Miriam O'Connell, Industry Activation Manager, Tourism Ireland
BoBI is a fabulous opportunity for our partners from the island of Ireland to meet with both new and existing buyers from Great Britain and overseas.
Shelly Barratt, Destination North Wales
We're really pleased with the way the show is shaping up. It has been a great opportunity for us to introduce tour operators to the less familiar parts of north Wales like Flintshire and Denbighshire.
Tara Robinson, Eden Hotel Collection
The quality of visitors, in particular the number of overseas agents who are very difficult and expensive for us to reach, has been great. We have also been impressed by the all the after show activities like Warwick Castle and the Networking Dinner, these add-ons really help us to build relationships with new customers and contacts.
Katie Wilson, MAD Museum
This is our first time at BoBI and is proving to be the perfect way to promote our new museum and get our name out there. We've had lots of enquiries from a whole range of groups, from those representing children and schools right through to pensioners and the retired market.
Yasmin Estaitih, Encore Tickets
We've seen lots more international buyers than last year, my particular area. BoBI is good show for us.
Penny Dyer, Cadbury World
It has been steady all day with good quality visitors keen to build relationships and high level tour operators looking for multiple trips throughout the year.
Jonathan Godson, Condor Ferries
We've seen a good combination of new and existing customers all great quality and all with strong interest in the Channel Islands. Our destination products have also attracted a lot of interest. We will definitely consider re-booking for next year.
Beverley Davis, De Vere Venues
Participation at BoBI 2013 is proving both productive and beneficial. De Vere Venues has forged a name for itself with the travel trade through this show. Sponsorship of the hospitality area has been a great success; it has been busy the whole time - so far we have provided over 1,000 cups of coffee alone!
Adele Godden, Hospitality Line
There's been a steady footfall all throughout the day of really top class visitors.
Roy Church & Catherine Lewis, South West Wales - West is Best!
It's been very good .We've made lots of useful contacts with real quality visitors who are focussed and know what they want. Unlike so many other shows we've done there's been no need to grab people off the aisles as they pass by, instead they come to us.
Gregory Yeoman, The Tourism Society
Tourism Question Time was an important opportunity to demonstrate the importance of The Tourism Society to the overall industry not least because of the exceptional calibre of the speaker panel. The variety of exhibitors at this year's show has been very good and the Meeting Planner proved a particularly effective means of setting up meetings in advance.
Andrew Fraser, Distinctive Systems
BoBI has been a great PR exercise for Distinctive. As well as meeting a number of new prospects we have been able to bring people up-to-speed on some new developments.
Rachel Tooley, Jurys Inn
We've had some very good meetings with a variety of coach operators, wholesalers and travel agents. The online Meeting Planner worked well too.
Ann Lines, Hilton Worldwide
It has been right through with a strong combination of quality appointments and new leads.
Sue Shapiro, Shapiro Travel Resources, USA
BoBi is an extremely useful way to meet a large number of people in a short space of time. I've made some good contacts for my clients and spoken to all the right people which I'm sure as a result will lead to lots of business.
Jay Munro-Michell, ETOA
It's the variety of suppliers and regional operators that make this a unique mix. I look forward to being here again with our members in 2014.
Chris Robinson, Chris Robinson Associates, Canada
This has been a wonderful way to make connections, many of which have been completely unplanned, for stories for my radio show. It has also been very time efficient - I have managed to see a lot of people in a short space of time.
Jackie Taylor, Menzies Hotels
We have been kept very busy with interest shown in all 15 of our hotels around the UK. We've also managed to make reservations onsite which we don't always get the opportunity to do and the overall number of enquiries has more than paid for the stand.
Annette Gallagher, The Rezidor Hotel Group
A very busy and productive show for us, we have met with both new and existing clients. There have been definite dates from in-bound clients such as Germany and Denmark. We have also detected a distinct air of optimism and renewed confidence for 2014.
Martyn Stagg, Warner Leisure Hotels
This has been a great opportunity to showcase what Britain has to offer the travel trade. We have done some good business which has more than covered the cost of our participation at the event.
Mark Smith, Best Western Hotels
The show has been excellent with some cracking leads from new as well as existing customers. Our Dutch, Belgium and French teams have also had promising conversations with a number of outbound operators. We'll be back for 2014!
Paul Steele, Virgin Trains
It has been very productive; we've met lots of clients we wouldn't otherwise have met. It has opened up lots of potential new markets for us such as travel agents, leisure groups, Irish rail tours, Chinese and US tour operators some of which may become future Virgin Trains partners.
Exhibiting Links:
Expo Guide, Why Exhibit, Book Your Stand, Floor Plan, Exhibitor List, Meeting Planner, Exhibitor FAQ, Exhibitor Quotes, Contact, Meeting Area, Exhibitor Zone
Expo Guide, Why Exhibit, Book Your Stand, Floor Plan, Exhibitor List, Meeting Planner, Exhibitor FAQ, Exhibitor Quotes, Contact, Meeting Area, Exhibitor Zone
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