Let's Talk Travel Trade - Taking Advantage of New Markets

The travel trade includes intermediaries such as tour operators, wholesalers, travel agents and online travel agents, who all play a major role in attracting domestic groups and vitally international visitors. Working with the travel trade is an effective and valuable way of reaching larger numbers of potential travellers in wider markets.

Visit Britain’s latest data illustrates they are optimistic about the return of international or ‘inbound’ visitors, “with an overall forecast for spending by international travellers in the UK in 2024 at £34.1 billion, up 7% on the spending predicted in 2023 and up 20% on 2019.

Looking at the number of visits to the UK, 39.5 million visits are forecast, up 5% on the 37.8 million expected in 2023, though still 3% shy of 2019 levels.”

With great numbers such as this, being travel trade ready in Worcestershire is a key element in helping achieve our ambitions of championing a £5 billion pound visitor economy over the coming 5 years and will help you as businesses take advantage of an expansive market.

Our June network event will give you more insight and a ‘beginners guide’ into the world of Travel Trade. Any business of any size can benefit and you will come away from the session understanding more about the potential new market and the top key take aways for you and your business.

With over 23 years of Tourism experience and extensive group and travel trade experience, we welcome Kim from Kim Hallett Consulting group who will be sharing her wisdom during the morning event. Kim will be working with us over the coming months to develop our Travel Trade offer and will be able to share the progress and steps she will be taking to help us get to where we need to be.

In recognition to our Experiential Tourism Programme and also the importance experiences play in the travel trade, we are also delighted to be holding the Network at Severn Valley Railway, but with a change of format. As a business on the Experiential programme and also well versed with the travel trade, what better way to kick start the session than aboard a SVR steam train!

Full details will be issued closer to the time, but please note this will be taking place on Wednesday 5^th June (rather than the usual Tuesday format) with a prompt start of 9.45am registration at Kidderminster Railway Station to board the 10am train to Highley. Attendees will disembark at Highley and there is a short walk up to the Engine House where the network session will take place. Return train will be 12.32pm, getting back into Kidderminster at 1.10pm.

Places are limited, so sign up today!