Last week, Her Majesty The Queen and the Duchess of Sussex (Meghan Markel) made their first official, joint engagement to Chester. If you’ve never visited the ancient roman city, why don’t you follow their example? Poldark also appeared on our TV screens which means that later this year, he’ll appear on yours. Talk to me about an On Location tour to Cornwall.
Elsewhere this week’s updates focus on product developments you may not hear about, but which will appeal to anglophile and culturally-minded clients.
If you have clients who are quilters, let’s start an email conversation about putting together a small group tour to one of our major Quilting Fairs. I’ll have more to say on this idea in my next update.
If you’re a CTIE or CTC, go to the Travel Institute’s Lounge and take a thoughtful look at the huge, untapped potential on the UK side of the Manchester Gateway. Finally, use the Galway Oyster Festival as bait for a customised Gourmet Tour of Ireland.
If something fires your imagination, email me at ptickner@customgb.co.uk
Royal Visit to Chester
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Clovelly, A World of DifferenceTwo weeks ago, Season Three of Poldark was launched with Aidan Turner’s emergence from the waves. As it will appear on Masterpiece Theatre later in the year, start thinking about a Cornwall tour that blends together locations used in the filming of Poldark, Doc Martin, a close encounter with Arthurian legends, some beautiful gardens, and two nights in the picturesque cliffside village of Clovelly. Let’s explore the possibilities. |
Pavilioned In SplendourEast Anglia, the eastern corner of England is featured in very few major tour operator’s brochures; which is disappointing, as it is home to many magnificent privately owned stately homes, award winning gardens, stunning cathedrals, ancient country pubs, and some fine Best Loved Hotel properties. Some say this is the real England which makes this tour worth a much closer look. |
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Keith Haring Exhibition LiverpoolTate Liverpool has announced the first solo show in the UK of the American artist Keith Haring (1958–1990). He emerged as part of the legendary New York art scene of the early 1980s, becoming known for his political activism and collaborative approach as well as his iconic visual language. He influenced his generation’s counterculture taking inspiration from street and pop. I can help you to put together a fund-raising itinerary your contacts will have never seen before. |
The Illumination Festival of FlowersThe Winchester Cathedral Illumination Flower Festival takes place between 5t h– 9th September with an exuberant array of flower arrangements inspired by the striking and floral displays evoking the Winchester Bible’s exquisitely illuminated initials and decorative schemes. Add the RHS Show Wisley (4th – 9th September) and a Dahlia Day at Pashley Manor (both 5th – 15th September) for an unforgettable late summer gardens and cathedrals tour. |
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UK Quilting FairsA recent request for a 2019 Quilting tour reminded me that I’ve not recently mentioned that this is a niche market where I have some very good UK contacts. None of our big shows are comparable to Paducah but, after the late winter shows in Edinburgh and Harrogate, there’s Quilts UK in Malvern (May) and the Festival of Quilts at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham (August). Edinburgh again provides the base for the Scottish Quilt Championships (September). |
Manchester The Gateway For Four Country ToursIn addition to their daily flights to Manchester from New York and Atlanta, from March 2019 Virgin Atlantic will be offering a new direct service from Los Angeles along with increased departures from Boston and Las Vegas. This link will show why the Manchester gateway is the launch pad for customised tours to Scotland, England’s North Country, North Wales, and Ireland. |
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Strokes of GeniusFor readers who are CTIEs, CTCs or CTAs, visit your Members Only Lounge where you’ll see my White Paper on Inspirational Tours Beyond the Manchester Gateway. As your Museum, Art Gallery and other culturally minded contacts are often looking for something new and different, it introduces tour suggestions that they won’t have seen before. |
Gourmet IrelandDon’t forget my September Ireland Gourmet Tour. It will tickle the taste buds and fire the imagination, as it brings together some of the best Irish locations for food lovers. To generate interest, use the Galway Oyster Festival as bait for a customised FIT or small group. Catch the flavour of the tour by asking for the full itinerary. |
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Paull Tickner, owner of U.K.-based Custom GB, is known for his expertise in creating and operating imaginative, value-added tours of Great Britain and Ireland. Visit his website at www.customgb.co.uk or email him at ptickner@customgb.co.uk.
