CTA: Scotland Workshop, 24/26 July
The Coach Tourism Association (CTA) is holding its Summer Networking Event in Glasgow from Sunday 24 to Tuesday 26 July. Members will learn about the latest developments from coach-friendly attractions and suppliers from Glasgow and across Scotland to help create new Scottish product for future coach tours and excursions.
Based at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza hotel, the event includes familiarisation trips to the Riverside Museum, Clydeside Distillery, as well as the newly refurbished The Burrell Collection museum, and Pollok House. On the Monday morning, the Scotland Workshop will give attendees the opportunity to meet a variety of suppliers from across Scotland, all in one location.
The event is open to all CTA members. Non-members can also join the organisation and register for the event.
“Glasgow is a fantastic city, and it has made strong, new efforts to encourage coach tours,” says CTA’s chair, Robert Shaw. “This event will present these opportunities from the region’s suppliers, as well as the enduring interest of those from across Scotland, to operators and wholesalers.”
Pre-pandemic, in 2019, tourism was worth £775 million to Glasgow and supported 32,500 jobs. CTA partner member, VisitScotland, is supporting the event, and the organisation says that coach tourism is an integral part of the recovery.
Helen Campbell, Head of Market Development & Intermediary Marketing at VisitScotland, comments: “We are very excited the Coach Tourism Association has decided to host their CTA Summer Networking Event for the first time ever in Scotland. It will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the city of Glasgow, and Scotland as a whole, to all of the CTA members from across the UK. By supporting this event, CTA members will be able to meet and explore coach-friendly Glasgow attractions as part of the full programme and experience our well-known Scottish hospitality.
“This event will bring UK coach tour operators, wholesalers and suppliers together to work jointly on future coach-friendly trips and programmes. By continuing to strengthen our relationship with the CTA, we aim to raise awareness of what makes Scotland an accessible and fantastic coach-friendly destination for our UK visitors.
“VisitScotland is working hand in hand with our partners CTA, Glasgow Life, Glasgow Convention Bureau and the wider tourism and events industry to rebuild this vital part of Scotland’s economy and provide the right support to lead the recovery.”
Joanne Martin, Director of Sales and Marketing, Crowne Plaza Glasgow (part of Valor Hospitality), says: “The Crowne Plaza Glasgow is delighted to be the host hotel venue for the CTA Summer Networking Event.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming CTA members and suppliers to the hotel and city to enjoy a fantastic programme of events. The Crowne Plaza Glasgow is ideally situated with a fantastic riverside location, close to all of the attractions that the city has to offer.”
The itinerary begins on Sunday 24 July with a fam trip to the Riverside Museum, home of Glasgow’s transport history, including the Glenlee, the UK’s only floating Clyde-built sailing ship. The event then progresses to the Clydeside Distillery for a tour and whisky tasting, ahead of an evening civic reception with the Lord Provost at the Crowne Plaza.
Monday 25 July begins with the Scotland Workshop supplier networking event, before heading to Pollok Country Park which hosts the recently reopened Burrell Collection, including works by some of the world’s most famous artists, following an extensive multi-million-pound refurbishment.
Delegates will then enjoy a tour of Pollok House, one of the National Trust for Scotland’s grandest properties. In Pollok’s heyday, there were 48 household members of staff to look after just three members of the family and the house was famed for its unparalleled hospitality. During the visit, members will experience a taster of the new ‘People of Pollok House’ tour to find out how people lived in the grand main house and the servants’ quarters, followed by a Picnic at Pollok in the manicured gardens.
The Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels will be bringing their 1881 Gin Truck to Pollok House where everyone will get a chance to sample a summer cocktail. Two master distillers from the Gin School at The Peebles Hydro Hotel will be on hand to unleash their knowledge of the range of gins.
For more information on the event and to book, CLICK HERE. Non-members interested in joining the organisation, should contact