Domestic tourism show on the move
New domestic tourism show Best of Britain & Ireland is to move out of ExCel in London Docklands to Olympia next year.
Organisers made the announcement on the eve of the debut event which opens tomorrow.
The move away from World Travel Market venue ExCel for 2010 follows feedback from the industry.
Transport problems blighted the opening days of WTM last year and resulted in global travel trade criticism of the location.
Best of Britain & Ireland – the new-look British Travel Trade Fair formerly held at the NEC in Birmingham – runs for two days and then opens to consumers at the weekend.
Rob Mackenzie, managing director of organisers BOB Events said: “We have seen a fantastic response to this year’s inaugural Best of Britain & Ireland events at ExCeL London, which is one of London’s premiere exhibition centres.
“However feedback suggests that our valued exhibitors and visitors would benefit from a West London location and we are confident that a move to Olympia for 2010 will prove very popular with them.”
VisitBritain distribution services director Kenny Boyle added: “While ExCeL, as world class exhibition hall and a location for some of London’s 2012 Olympic activities, is a very fitting location for the first Best of Britain & Ireland event, we have been conscious of a need to differentiate between our show and World Travel Market, which is now well established at ExCeL.
“A move to Olympia next year will also bring us closer to a more affluent demographic consumer audience, with whom the Best of Britain & Ireland concept has been especially well received.”
Best of Britain & Ireland 2010 will take place on March 18-21, 2010 in the Grand Hall in Olympia, London.
As with this year’s event, the event will form the culmination of British Tourism Week, which will take place on March 15-21 next year.
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