SHOWPREVIEW

Best of Britain & Ireland, taking place at the NEC, Hall 8 on the 11-12 March 2015, has establisheditself as the annual show for the domestic tourism industry; one that brings together the largestnumber of UK and Irish venues, destinations and attractions at a key buying time of the year. It is amust attend for visitors looking to source new holidays, trips, tours, breaks and venues for their clients.In fact, anyone within the industry wanting to offer their clients new experiences.

The success and continued interest in the show highlights the growing upturn in business confidenceand the demand for an event that showcases and celebrates the value of tourism to the economies ofEngland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

THE UK & IRELAND’S LARGEST GATHERING OF DESTINATIONS, ATTRACTIONS & VENUES.

YOUR INDUSTRY, YOUR EVENT

WWW.BOBIEVENT.COM

What’s inside

EXHIBITOR LIST & HIGHLIGHTS

Pages 4-7

SHOW FEATURES

Pages 2-3

FULL SEMINARPROGRAMME

Page 5

Opening Times:

Wednesday 11 March: 10:00 - 17:00Thursday 12 March: 10:00 - 16:00

Register for your FREE ticket at www.bobievent.com and quote reference code BOBI112

THE RISE OF HERITAGE TOURISM &INDEPENDENT HOTELS

SO WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THOSEVISITING THIS YEAR’S SHOW?Supported by leading players within the industry including VisitEngland,Visit Wales, Tourism Ireland, VisitScotland, CPT, CTC and ETOA, Bestof Britain & Ireland has attracted 300+ exhibitors representingnational and regional tourist boards, hotels, leading attractions,industry associations and suppliers. There is no otherevent in the industry calendar that brings together somany exhibitors in one place at one time.

This preview will give you a real flavour of what to expect when visitingthe show but to whet your appetite…

There is a new feature area dedicated to Britain’s heritage and independent hotels;and a focussed two day seminar programme commencing with a rare opportunity to hear andquestion the leading political parties on their plans for the domestic tourism industry if theycome to power after the general election. You can also hear for the first time from ResortsWorld Birmingham, the UK’s first integrated leisure complex, set to open in the summer nextto the NEC. And once you have registered to attend, don’t forget to utilise the MeetingsPlanner which enables you to pre book meetings with exhibitors to create your own bespokeschedule. Best of Britain & Ireland is the annual event for the domestic tourism industry. Itis your event. There is no better place to meet existing and source new business suppliersand service providers, and most importantly to grow and develop your business.

If you have not already, secure your free visitor pass at www.bobievent.com.

For a currentlist of

exhibitorssee page 4.

Following the success of the ‘Historical Gems’ feature arealast year supported by Hudson’s Media, one of the leadingproviders of tourism and heritage information, the companyare returning to Best of Britain & Ireland as sponsors of twofeature areas dedicated to Heritage Tourism andindependent hotels.

‘Britain’s Heritage’, celebrates the importance heritage tourism plays in the Britisheconomy. With heritage tourism accounting for over £26billion towards the

UK economy, the area gives historical houses, gardens andattractions the opportunity to showcase their tourism offering in

a dedicated branded area. Exhibitors include DartingtonHall, Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, SulgraveManor, Temple Newsam House and Visit Caerphilly.

New to the show is a ‘Hotel Lobby’ feature area dedicated tothe UK and Ireland’s growing and resilient independent hotel

sector. Providing an opportunity for Hudson’s Media to profile Signpost,the UK hotel directory, the area provides Signpost hoteliers and other independenthotels the opportunity to meet tour organisers and operators face to face at a keyplanning time of the year for the hotel industry. Come and meet the likes of TheConiston Hotel and Country Estate, Hillgrove Hotel Leisure & Spa, Radisson BluEdwardian Hotels and Rendezvous Hotel.

‘Britain’s Heritage’and ‘Hotel Lobby’feature areas can

be found on Stand numbers

B42 & B50.

One of the key hubs of Best of Britain & Ireland is set tobe the Meetings Area, sponsored by Hilton Worldwide.This area at the back of the show floor will be the perfectplace to hold an informal meeting with any exhibitors andvisitors you wish to connect with.

MEET UP WITH HILTON

MEET 300+ EXHIBITORS ONTHE EXHIBITION FLOORBest of Britain & Ireland 2015 will be two highly focussed days foranyone responsible for planning holidays, trips, tours and breaks forboth domestic and international tourists. Amongst the 300+exhibitors will be over 60 present for the first time, includingattractions, destinations, venues, hotels, associations and regionaltourist boards. The event offers an essential opportunity tomeet existing, and source new, business suppliers and serviceproviders – you will leave with everything you need todevelop your business in the year ahead.

View the full exhibitor list on page 4.

Be part of the networking before, duringand after Best of Britain & Ireland byfollowing @BoBI_event and using#BoBI15 when you tweet!

Not on Twitter? Join our LinkedIn group and ‘like’ our Facebook page to network and take part in all the discussions.

JOIN THE PRE-SHOWNETWORKINGThe 2015 Club Lounge at Best of Britain & Ireland is being

hosted by VisitEngland, the country’s national tourist board.The Lounge is an ideal place for visitors to take some timeout from their scheduled meetings, relax with a coffee andmeet with the VisitEngland team. Why not request ameeting with the VisitEngland team via the MeetingPlanner so you can find out what’s new and upcoming forEngland in 2015-16.

VisitEngland AT THE CLUB LOUNGE

GENERAL ELECTION DOMESTIC TOURISM QUESTION TIME With Best of Britain & Ireland taking place under two monthsbefore the General Election, the show has attracted the keypolitical parties to participate in a special Tourism QuestionTime organised with The Tourism Society. This is a rareopportunity to hear how the Conservatives, Liberal Democratsand UKIP plan to support the domestic tourism industry if theyare successful in forming the next government.

Already confirmed to participate are Helen Grant MP, theGovernment’s Sports & Tourism Minister; Lord Lee, LiberalDemocrat Peer, Chair, Tourism All Party Parliamentary Group;Lord Storey, Liberal Democrat Peer who oversaw theregeneration of Liverpool, successfully delivering a EuropeanCapital of Culture year, and William Cash, UKIP Tourism &

Heritage spokesperson. Chaired by Bernard Donoghue, ChairAssociation of Leading Visitor Attractions, thisspecial event will take place onWednesday 11th March at11.00 in the Seminar Theatre,situated at the back of theexhibition hall. View the fullseminar programme on page 5.

This is must attend free session for anyonewho has an interest in the domestic tourism sector and thedevelopment of their businesses, whether an exhibitor orvisitor. Don’t miss it.

Already registered to attend Best of Britain & Ireland? Make sure you maximise your time at the event by logging into theMeetings Planner to pre-arrange meetings with exhibitors. You can then simply print your diary to take along on the day. If you have not yet received your login details please email rwebb@divcom.co.uk.

PLAN YOUR DAY WITH THE MEETINGS PLANNER

Abbey HotelAbbotsbury Swannery and GardensAccorAction ToursAdvantage NowAlbatross LondonAlbatross TravelAlice in Wonderland LtdAlnwick CastleAlnwick GardenAmaZing VenuesArgyll & The IslesArundellsATGAttractions of SnowdoniaBBC ToursThe Beatles StoryBeaulieu & Buckler's HardBeggars Reach Hotel Best of Britain & Ireland 2016Best Western HotelsBlaenavon World Heritage SiteThe Blueprint Guide to Group TravelBodnant Welsh FoodBourne Hall Country House HotelBowood House and GardensBrend HotelsBuccleuch EstatesCaelum AssociatesCaledonianMacBrayneCambria ToursCastle & Gardens of MeyCauseway Coast & Glens TourismCavern City ToursCedar Court HotelsCeltic Royal HotelChannel IslandsChilton Country HotelChoice Hotels EuropeChooseyourvenue.comChristian GuildCity of GloucesterClassic BritainClifton Park HotelThe Coach Drivers ClubCoach Tourism CouncilConfederation of PassengerTransportThe Coniston Hotel and CountryEstateThe CotswoldsCounty Kildare FáilteCrerar HotelsCruise & Maritime Voyages  Cruise Loch LomondDartington HallDavenport's Magical KingdomDe Vere VenuesDestination Mourne Mountains &Ring of GullionDevon's Top AttractionsDFDS SeawaysDiscover Carmarthenshire

Discover CeredigionDiscover DurhamDistinctive SystemsEden Hotel CollectionThe Elan Valley Visitor CentreEna Mill and Courtyard at TarletonEncore TicketsEnglish National OperaETOAEurotours InternationalEurotunnel Le ShuttleExplore NorthumberlandExplore the Lake DistrictExtreme IrelandThe Fleece InnFocus HotelsFord and EtalForest of Dean & Wye ValleyFour PillarsFreedom HotelsGreat Gardens of West WalesGreatdays Travel GroupGregynogThe Group CompanyGroups on TrackGTO MagazineGuild of Registered Tourist GuidesHard Days Night HotelHeritage WalesHillgrove Hotel Leisure & SpaHilton WorldwideHoldsworth HotelsHoliday Ireland HotelsHospitality LineThe Hotel CollectionHudson's, a Tourism MediacompanyICTInterstate HotelsIrish Whiskey MuseumIsle of Man RailwaysIsle of Man Steam PacketIsle of Man TourismIsle of WightJupiter HotelsKew Green Hotels LtdKillarney HotelsLeisureplex Holiday HotelsLiverpool FCLlandudno Hospitality AssociationLondon Hotels & Travel ServicesLongleatLooe, CornwallLouvre Hotels UKLove WestonMackenzie Hotels - NorfolkManx National HeritageMarriott HotelsMayo County CouncilMBA & Irelands ChoiceMeetings & Incentive TravelMenzies/Hallmark HotelsMersey Ferries

The Metropole Hotel & SpaMill Rythe Holiday VillageMillenium & Copthorne HotelsMount StuartMyFerryLinkThe National Coach TourismAwardsNational Library of WalesNational Museums LiverpoolNational Trust WalesNorman Allen Group TravelNorth Wales TourismNorthern SecretsNorthlink FerriesOceana HotelsOlympus Fish and Chip ResturantOriginal ShrewsburyP&O FerriesPark Lodge HotelPhoenix Artist ClubPlas Cadnant Hidden GardensPortsmouth & GosportPowderham CastlePREM Group HotelsPreseli Venture Ecolodge &AdventuresPrincipal HayleyThe QuaysRadisson Blu Edwardian HotelsRavenglass & Eskdale RailwayRedefine | BDL HotelsRendezvous HotelRiviera Hotel, BournemouthRoadchef Service AreasRoeville Reservations SoftwareRomney Hythe & DymchurchRailwayRoyal Highland HotelThe Royal International Air TattooRoyal Victoria Hotel SnowdoniaRural ConciergeSalisbury Cathedral and MagnaCartaScott HotelsSeaQuarium RhylSeaQuarium Weston-super-MareSee it Do it SunderlandSee TicketsSelect Hotels of IrelandSevern Valley Railway & IronbridgeGorge MuseumsSGE HotelsShakespeare's EnglandShire HotelsSignature LivingSignpost Hotels, a Tourism MediacompanySligo Park Hotel & Leisure ClubSnowdon Mountain RailwaySnowdonia Mountains & CoastSnowdonia National Park CentreSouth Devon RailwaySouth Quay Travel & Leisure Southport - England's Classic Resort

Spinnaker Tower

St AlbansSt Patricks Country

Steve Reed TourismStrathmore Hotels

Stuart Line CruisesSulgrave Manor

Swansea Bay Group TravelTake One Media

The Tank MuseumTemple Newsam House

Thorpe ParkTicketmaster Groups

Tifco Hotels IrelandTitanic Experience Cobh

Tourism for All UKTourism Ireland

Tourism SocietyTourism South East

Travel GBIUllswater 'Steamers'

Urr Valley Country House HotelVale of Rheidol Railway

Vale ResortVenuefinder.com

Vindolanda & The Roman ArmyMuseumVision Hotels

Visit AngusVisit Birmingham

Visit CaerphillyVisit Calderdale

Visit CardiffVisit Derry

Visit LiverpoolVisit Rugby

Visit The LothiansVisit Wales

Visit WorcestershireVisitEngland

VisitScotlandVisitWiltshire

Wales Millennium CentreWarner Leisure Hotels

We Are WeymouthWeb Ticket Manager

WELL TrainingThe Welsh Experience @ Senedd-dyOwain Glyndwr Parliament House

Welsh RarebitsWest Midland Safari & Leisure Park

West Somerset RailwayWeymouth Sea Life Park and Tower

Windermere Lake Cruises Woburn Abbey and Gardens

World of WedgwoodWroxall Abbey Hotel and Estate

WWT Wetland CentresYouth Fun Days

300+ EXHIBITORS* INCLUDING...

Register for your FREE trade badge today at WWW.BOBIEVENT.COM*List correct at time of going to print (13 February 2015)

Take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of the event’s media partners – representing the coach, domestic tourism and venuessectors – who will be hosting topical, relevant sessions. These, together with the rest of the seminar programme, will give visitors theknowledge and insight to help develop their businesses in the future and keep up-to-date with all the latest sector developments.

FREE BUSINESS SEMINARS

Check www.bobievent.com for the latest details. Seminar programme (correct as at 13 February 2015).

WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH

THURSDAY 12 MARCH

11:00 THE TOURISM SOCIETY’S ‘GENERAL ELECTION’ TOURISM AND VENUES QUESTION TIME – PANEL DISCUSSION

Chair: Bernard Donoghue, Director, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions Panel includes: Helen Grant MP, the Government’s Sports & Tourism Minister; Lord Lee, Liberal Democrat Peer and Chair of Tourism All Party Parliamentary Group; Lord Storey, Liberal Democrat Peer; and William Cash, UKIP Tourism & Heritage

Taking place just two months before the general election, this session will give each Party the opportunity to outline their support and plans for the future of the domestic tourism industry should they come to power.

13:45 DOMESTIC TOURISM: PAST ITS PEAK OR ON THE ROAD TO NEW HIGHS?

Moderator: Ian Taylor, Executive Editor, Travel Weekly Panel includes: Deirdre Wells, Chief Executive, UKinbound; Denis Wormwell, Chief Executive, Shearings; and Bernard Donoghue, Director, ALVA

What does the future hold for the domestic tourism sector? This session will ask key players in the industry whether the future is bright for a sector that brings billions of pounds into the British economy.

14:45 ARE VENUES BACK IN THE DRIVING SEAT?

Moderator: Allan Norbury, Editor, M&IT

Is an increase in business confidence with the upcoming election, a positive sign for the venues industry? What are the key issues affecting an industry that has seen tough times in recent years?

15:45 CHANGING THE FACE OF BIRMINGHAM (OPEN TO VIP BUYERS ONLY)

An exclusive presentation, prior to its opening in Summer 2015, of the UK’s first integrated destination leisure complex. The complex will feature a fifty unit outlet centre, eleven restaurants, a 178 room four star boutique hotel with five rooms and suites, an Asian themed spa, a range of bars, 11 screen IMAX cinema, international casino, and will also be home to the VOX – operated by the ICC – a state of the art banqueting and conference centre with a capability to host up to 900 delegates.

10:30 BIG VERSUS SMALL – GETTING NOTICED BY GTOS AND TOUR PLANNERS

Moderator: Stuart Render, Editor, Coach Monthly

This session will tackle the challenges facing smaller attractions and accommodation suppliers. How can they best compete with the more established and larger players within the sector.

11:45 CHANGING THE FACE OF BIRMINGHAM (OPEN TO ALL)

An exclusive presentation, prior to its opening in Summer 2015, of the UK’s first integrated destination leisure complex. The complex will feature a fifty unit outlet centre, eleven restaurants, a 178 room four star boutique hotel with five rooms and suites, an Asian themed spa, a range of bars, 11 screen IMAX cinema, international casino, and will also be home to the VOX – operated by the ICC – state of the art banqueting and conference centre with a capability to host up to 900 delegates.

14:30 WHERE’S TECHNOLOGY TAKING THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY?

Session details to be announced.

Ticketmaster Groups (stand D27) will beshowcasing their total sales service forgroup organisers, social clubs, coachoperators, inbound and domestic touroperators and, schools. They can offereverything from spectacular West Endmusicals and world class concerts to sports

and side-splitting comedy. In 2015 they promise to do evenmore for their Groups audience by adding new events,refreshing their Groups website and exploring new and innovative ways to make it even easier to work with them.

GET MORE WITH TICKETMASTER GROUPS

EXHIBITOR NEWS

Visitors to the VisitWales Pavilion can discoverthe Vale of Rheidol Railway (stand A75). Narrowgauge steam trains run throughout the year onthe scenic route between Aberystwyth andDevil's Bridge. Aberystwyth is also home to theAberystwyth Cliff Railway, another great attractions for your groups.They will be joined by Park Lodge Hotel, the perfect base for yourgroup when exploring Mid Wales.

EXPLORE THE VALE OF RHEIDOLBY STEAM TRAIN

Visit The Lothians will be promoting their new website which allows group and travel tour operators easy access to all theinformation they need to plan a visit to the area, which is conveniently located next door to Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. The website showcases the award-winning attractions, and the best places for food and drink as well as the qualityaccommodation available, plus special offers and rates. Visitors are invited to stand C20/4 to pick up their new guide.

DISCOVER THE GATEWAY TO EDINBURGH

WARNER LEISURE HOTELSCONTINUE TO INVESTWarner Leisure Hotels, renowned for its investment toall 13 locations across the brand, currently have a £6million development unfolding at Bodelwyddan CastleHotel, North Wales. The expansion scheme willconsist of 45 new luxury lodges, a stunning glassatrium and new coffee lounge area. The hotel willnow benefit from extra capacity for its dazzling liveentertainment with the glass atrium providing aquirky venue for all guests to enjoy. Find out more at stand D31.

Mount Stuart, on the Isle of Bute, offers visitors thechance to explore the house at their own speed withfree flow days. Visit them on stand A26 to find outabout their gardens, restaurant, new art gallery andinteractive exhibition. 2015 sees a packedprogramme of events including the Rhododendronfestival, Summer Solstice walks & Scarecrow Festival.

A PACKED SCHEDULE ATMOUNT STUART

Visit stand B85 to find out about the new Alice in Wonderland digital e-tour and town trail in Llandudno. Created tocelebrate 150 years since the first publication of the classic book, these free 3D digital App’s include ‘Alice Origins’where you can meet the Wonderland characters, ‘Learn Welsh with Alice’ – a guide to useful Welsh words andphrases, and ‘White Rabbit’ where you can follow the real Alice in Wonderland.

FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT IN LLANDUDNO

VisitWiltshire (stand G43) will be highlighting a number of Salisbury and Wiltshire group visitopportunities for 2015. An exciting addition is the new Magna Carta trail, to celebrate the 800thanniversary, which includes a visit to see the finest preserved of four original 1215 Magna Cartasdisplayed at Salisbury Cathedral and takes visitors to Stonehenge. Visit the team to find out more.

CELEBRATE 800 YEARS OF THE MAGNA CARTA

Norman Allen Group Travel, will have a brand new mini brochure for 2016 at stand F45. For those clients who like to planearly this will highlight some of NAGT’s new ideas for next year, and a selection of their itineraries for the winter season2015/16. Continental, British and Irish tours will be featured and all can be tailored to client’s specific requirements.

PLAN EARLY WITH NORMAN ALLEN GROUP TRAVEL

Stop at stand F31 to meet the Spinnaker Tower team and discover the iconic Tower’s 10th birthday celebrationplans, including three new group catering options, two new joint tickets, one amazing competition for groups and areduced group qualifying size of 10 throughout 2015. There is no better time to explore the Great Waterfront City ofPortsmouth and where better to start than with apanoramic view 100 metres up above PortsmouthHarbour at Spinnaker Tower?

JOIN THE PARTY AT SPINNAKER TOWER

Wales Millennium Centre currently welcomes more than onemillion visitors every year, and will be present on stand A89to showcase what the Centre has to offer including theatretickets, free performances, art exhibitions, events andconference spaces and behind the scenes tours of thebuilding. They also have bars, cafes and restaurants. Visitthem to find out about benefits for the travel trade, includingexclusive travel trade rates in their ffresh restaurant, CoachDriver incentives and group organiser benefits.

MEET WALES’ NUMBER 1VISITOR ATTRACTION

Alnwick Castle, one of the North East’slargest visitor attractions was featured inDownton Abbey’s 2014 Christmas special asthe magnificent Brancaster Castle. Followingfrom this, visitors in 2015, can explore a newDownton Abbey exhibition, featuringphotography, costumes, and props from the

filming. Group visitors can also enjoy a groups-exclusiveDownton Abbey Tour of the State Rooms, as well as tours of theart and furniture collections. Find out more at stand B10.

DISCOVER DOWNTONAT ALNWICK CASTLE

NAME THE LOVEWESTON DONKEY!Tourism bosses in Weston-super-Mare, in partnership with WestonBusiness Improvement District, will once again be showcasing theresort at this year’s Best of Britain & Ireland. Last year, Phoenix theDonkey, a lifesize painted donkey, was the star. This year, they arelaunching a rather different donkey as their BoBI Mascot! From the9th to the 28th February, they are inviting people to name thedonkey to win a hudl 2 - visit www.loveweston.com.

Tourism Manager Deborah Matthews said “It was clear that our standat BoBI really stood out last year, so this year we wanted to make surethat it once again will be fun and attractive to visitors to the show. Welike to offer something different and eye catching, whilst showcasingour resort and involving our members too, many of which have kindlydonated prizes and giveaways”. Find out more on stand E46!

Stand A81 (Visit Cardiff) will beshowcasing numerous optionsfor groups including the newCardiff History & Hauntings StFagans Ghost Tour which leadsthrough dark buildings in StFagans National History

Museum; pre-scheduled tours in St Donats Castlewhere the highly acclaimed BBC production WolfHall was partly filmed; plus the world-famousMillennium Stadium which offers guided tours andgroup rates.

DISCOVER NEW REASONSTO VISIT CARDIFF

Rural Concierge, returning for their second year, will be offering details of all the Key Attractions with Tours and InclusiveExcursions throughout the seasons. They can advise on the most interesting things to see, finest eateries and best places to stay.The company works in partnership with local tourism businesses, organisations and tour guides, thus enabling tourists and localresidents alike to get the very best from their trip. Visit stand G25 to find out more.

HEREFORDSHIRE IS BACK AT BOBI

Unit 4, Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6FTEmail: info@divcom.co.uk www.divcom.co.uk

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GETTING TO YOUR INDUSTRY EVENTLOCATION:

Hall 8, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NTNearest rail stations: Birmingham InternationalCar parking is £10 a dayBus & Coach routes: The 900 and 97 regularly run fromBirmingham City Centre, and coach services by NationalExpress and Megabus run daily to Birmingham Airport, justminutes away from the NEC.

SHOW OPENING TIMES:

Wednesday 11 March: 10:00 – 17:00Thursday 12 March: 10:00 – 16:00Last admission is 30 minutes before show close.For more travel information please visitwww.bobievent.com/useful-information