MARKETING Cheshire hosted an event for coach operators and industry suppliers in partnership with the Best Western Premier Queen Hotel in Chester.
The Coach Holiday Conference is the major annual occasion for everyone associated with coach tourism and features keynote speeches from leading figures in travel and leisure, a topical industry panel discussion and the ever popular CTC Workshop.
It is organised by the Coach Tourism Council in conjunction with the Confederation of Passenger Transport.
This year it attracted a record number of 180 delegates from across the coach tourism industry.
‘The Power of People’ was the theme of the conference and addressed how investing in people can help companies large and small transform their businesses.
Speakers were led by David Fairhurst, chief people officer of McDonalds Europe and Simon Tarr, chief operating officer for People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism.
Sean Taggart, chairman of the Coach Tourism Council, said: "We were delighted to hold the annual Coach Holiday Conference at the excellent Queen Hotel in Chester and to be given such a warm welcome.
"We were especially grateful to Marketing Cheshire and its partners for the help and support they offered us in showcasing the city.
"Chester and Cheshire provide the perfect ingredients for day trips and short breaks by coach and I am sure many more of our members will now be bringing groups to the region."
Stuart Hunter, managing director of the Feathers Hotel Group, owners of the Best Western Premier Queen Hotel, added: "What a unique opportunity to display to nearly 200 major coach operators the quality, style and creativity that we have to offer in Chester as a key destination city. This major forum would not have been possible without the Feathers Hotel Group, Best Western and Marketing Cheshire coming together to host such an event."
Marketing Cheshire went to the Best of Britain and Ireland Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in March aboard the Chester Heritage Tours replica omnibus to drum up new tourism business into Chester and Cheshire.
The Edwardian-style vehicle was the centrepiece of the stand at this year’s event and was specially decorated with Union Jack bunting to get everyone in the mood for the forthcoming Jubilee celebrations and the London 2012 Olympics.
The Best of Britain and Ireland Show is the biggest showcase for UK destinations in the country.
It’s backed by all the national tourist boards and travel trade organisations and attracts interest from both the overseas and domestic markets in a strictly trade-only business environment.
