This story originally appeared under my byline at TravelPulse Canada, where I work as senior editor.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Canadian travel agents have no shortage of great product to sell when it comes to Great Britain.
In my TravelPulse Canada capacity, I sat down with a dozen or suppliers at this week’s Destination Britain North America meeting in Texas and came away with a remarkably diverse number of great options for agents to consider when booking their next visit.
It would take a small book to include everything I learned, but here are some highlights:
MANCHESTER: Governments are spending nearly $2 billion CAD to fix up the airport, making it “The Gateway to the North.” They have almost 29 million passengers a year now and are aiming to get 55 million. You can do boat cruises in the city or even a canal cruise to Liverpool. The Factory Manchester is a new arts facility that should open in 2020, priced at nearly $200 million CAD. The historic London Road Fire Station will be a new hotel in town next year. A new, seven-day “British Music Tour” is set to launch next April, with stops in Manchester, Liverpool and London. Manchester Tourism has a training program for agents called Manchester Masters.
The John Rylands Library is a magnificent piece of architecture in under-rated Manchester. JIM BYERS PHOTO
THE GREAT WEST WAY: This is an official touring route that links London with Bristol to the west. Visitors will be encouraged to get off the beaten track and off the highway, so they can explore by car, train, bike or even stand-up paddleboard. Famous sites along the way include Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, the roman baths at Bath and quirky villages that Canadians should really enjoy. Tourism officials say they’re open to working with tour operators and expect to have fam trips next year.
EDWARDIAN HOTELS LONDON: I was told this is the largest privately-owned hotel company in London and has been in the same family for 45 years. The collection includes a number of stylish Radisson Blu Hotels, as well as The Mayfair, built in 1927 and recently given a multi-million-dollar renovation. The group’s newest hotel is The Londoner, a roughly $520 million CAD project on Leicester Square that’s set to open in 2020.
SCOTLAND: Agents should look for new webinars this fall, perhaps 15 in all, as Scotland begins a new campaign with the hashtag #ScotlandIsNow. The emphasis is on the innovative and pioneering history of Scotland. There’s also a new Victoria and Albert Museum opening in Dundee later this year, with a focus on design. The new touring route is called the Southwest Coast 300, a 300-mile affair with everything from sandy beaches to rugged, seaside cliffs and lovely villages.
SOUTHWEST ENGLAND: This is a fantastic area, with massive cliffs along what’s called The Jurassic Coast, as well as perfect villages, palm trees and new vineyards making world-class sparkling wine. Of course, there are also great beaches and romantic castles. Hey, it’s England!
The Beatles Story is a terrific museum in Liverpool. Look for exhibits next year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Abbey Road album. JIM BYERS PHOTO
STRAWBERRY FIELD AND MORE LIVERPOOL: One of The Beatles’ most famous tunes, Strawberry Fields Forever, was based on a Salvation Army home for children near John Lennon’s childhood home in the city, named Mendips. It’s been a vacant site for decades but a new exhibition hall will feature stories about Lennon and his childhood. One tourism official said the emphasis will be on responsible tourism, and that they will have surprises, such as hidden messages on rocks for people to explore. Elsewhere on the Fab Four Front, The Magical History Museum opened last year and looks at Beatles history with new exhibits. The Beatles Story, a wonderful spot on the waterfront, will feature an exhibit about the album Abbey Road next year, as 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the album’s release. Look for new tours next year of the marvellous Royal Liverpool Building, as well. The city also is getting a new cruise terminal.
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE: The Bombay Sapphire Gin people have a facility south of London at Laverstoke Mill, a former paper mill that’s now a beautiful facility for visitors. You can take a tour and see how they make one of the world’s best-loved gins or take a cocktail-making course. You’re only a short drive from Stonehenge and quite close to Highclere Castle, home of Downton Abbey. And you’re very near to Winchester Cathedral.
Nefyn and District Golf Course in beautiful Wales. JIM BYERS PHOTO
WALES: One official I met called Wales “Cornwall without the crowds.” I was there maybe 10 years ago and fell in love with the scenery and the warm, welcoming people. I was told Celtic Manor, the famous golf course that held The Ryder Cup a few years ago, now has an international convention centre. There’s also a coastal walking route that covers the entire country.
AIR CANADA: An official sponsor of the Destination Britain event, Air Canada is a great way to travel to Britain, with 11 flights a day into London Heathrow alone from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Halifax and St. John’s. They also have flights to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. Air Canada’s recently introduced Signature Service is a fantastic way for clients to fly to Great Britain in style.
