Southport showed how well it caters for groups of visitors during a special educational visit last week.
The Southport Group Showcase welcomed coach and tour operators and group travel organisers from around the UK for two days of tours. They were keen to see what the resort could offer their customers. The aim of the event was to generate more coach party visits.
Arranged by Visit Southport and coordinated by UK travel trade specialists Steve Reed Tourism Ltd of Hampshire, the tour planners were based at the Ramada Plaza Hotel for their stay.
In conjunction with Bretherton Goldline Coaches of Lancashire the group visited many attractions including the very popular Atkinson Art Gallery, the unique British Lawnmower Museum and the Red Squirrel Reserve in Formby. An enjoyable trip along Southport Pier and a visit to ‘Another Place’ – the Anthony Gormley artworks on the beach at Crosby were other highlights of the showcase.
Churchtown was another feature of the visit with a guided tour of the fernery, park, aviary and a talk in the cafe there by local volunteers. The group also visited the WWT Martin Mere Nature Reserve and the popular ‘Courtyard at Tarleton’ retail outlet. The Prince of Wales and the Royal Clifton Hotels also welcomed the operators.
Steve Christian is the Destination Development Manager for Sefton Council:
‘Group visits are so vital to the economic prosperity of Southport – they help create and protect lots of jobs within the town and wider area. The showcase is a great way to promote our attractions and hotels to the travel trade – and ideal way to generate more coach parties,’ says Steve. ‘We wanted the tour planners to experience ‘the Southport Welcome’ which shows our group-friendly credentials. This includes a coach host welcome, visitor passports [voucher books], driver passports, designated coach drop-off points and secure coach parking at only £5 per day.
‘We’d also like to thank all of the tourism businesses that helped make this event possible,’ explains Steve
For further information about the showcase or Southport, please contact Steve Christian on:-
Tel:- 0151 934 2319
