The annual group travel exhibition, the Group Leisure & Travel Show is now under way in Hall 19 of the NEC in Birmingham, where hundreds of exhibitors and visitors are networking and sharing their passion for travel.

Group Leisure & Travel Show 2018

Visitors pack the aisles at the 2018 Group Leisure & Travel Show, held at the NEC on Thursday 11th October, 2018.

The Group Leisure & Travel Show, now in its 22nd year, is a huge event in the group travel calendar and a must for organisers of group travel all across the country, many of whom return to visit the show year after year.

The show provides GTOs with the opportunity to find inspiration and advice for organising group travel, from UK day trips to river cruises and long haul trips around the world.

The list of exhibitors includes some of the biggest names in national and international group travel, with everyone from rail companies and cruises lines to hotels, stately homes and gardens attending.

The GLT team has already spotted many exciting highlights whilst walking around the exhibition including competitions to win holidays and tasty giveaways. You can also find Shakespeare’s realistic-looking Frost Phoenix at Magic Alley (stand 305), snap a photo in the Bodmin Jail stocks (stand 261) or head to Visit Skipton (stand 307) to see their puppet dragon.

Plus, on our very own GLT stand (stand 654), there’s a huge Group Leisure & Travel magazine cover for visitors to pose with. Share your pictures with us, tweet @GroupLeisure or email them to editorial@groupleisureandtravel.com.

In addition to the exhibitors, the show also hosts a free-to-attend Seminar Theatre which yet again has been hugely popular.

The Seminar programme includes three celebrity speakers, all experts in their fields.

The first speaker today was TV personality and ‘culture vulture’ Gyles Brandreth, who gave a talk on Travels of a Lifetime.

This afternoon will see two more celebrity speakers: senior travel editor of The Independent and travel guru Simon Calder with his discussion titled Travel Talk; and celebrity gardener Carol Klein, who will talk about Britain’s Best Gardens.

“We look forward to welcoming group organisers, travel buyers and exhibitors today,” said show director Graham Yandell. “Whether you’re looking to make new contacts, renew existing business relationships, or simply seeking top ideas for group trips and holidays; the Group Leisure & Travel Show provides the ideal platform.”

The show is open today, Thursday 11th October, until 4pm. Visitors can claim free entry to the show at grouptravelshow.com/register or by turning up.

For more information visit www.grouptravelshow.com.