Group Leisure & Travel Show 2023: what first time exhibitors are looking forward to

It’s the first year that Layered Reality (Stand 521) is exhibiting at the GLT Show, which takes place at the Marshall Arena. It offers groups immersive experiences which combine the latest in performance technology with live actors and feature quality sets such as Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience and The Gunpowder Plot Immersive Experience.

Marketing and business development manager Cherise Cross told us: “The show will provide us with invaluable networking opportunities and the chance to forge new business relationships. It offers a fantastic platform to showcase our experiences to a diverse range of attendees, including travel operators, group travel organisers and tourism experts.

“We’re most excited about meeting lots of different people and sharing our passion about Layered Reality experiences - and hoping that some of that excitement will rub off. We hope to gain market exposure and ultimately drive business growth.”

Overseas inspiration

There’s more overseas inspiration this year with the addition of See You Travel (Stand 230) this year, which offers groups a variety of breaks in Cyprus and Greece, plus GLT Show newbies Readytours (Stand 527) which provides groups with British and European coach tours.

Emma Smith of Readytours, said: “We understand the significance of the Group Leisure & Travel Show as the premier event for the coach travel industry. As a key player in the south east, we’re committed to leading our sector, which means networking with the industry’s finest at the show.

“It presents the perfect platform to promote our brands (Readybus, Turbostyle, Arena Travel, and LJ Edwards) which sell and operate our coach trips and holidays, to a broader, nationwide audience.

“Being at the Group Leisure & Travel Show means we are in the heart of our sector, and we are determined to make every minute count. We can also get to hear from some great speakers, such as Simon Calder.

“From benchmarking our business against other operators to sharing ideas and innovations, we are always looking for the next step to creating a memorable experience for our passengers. The Group Leisure & Travel Show really is the place to be.”

Ozbek Omur Dedekorkut at See You Travel added: “There’s an increased demand for special interest tourism in Cyprus including for pilgrimage tours, cultural tours, walking and photography experiences. We expect to meet group organisers of all kinds at the GLT Show and we are excited to promote our culture.”

Ever been to Malta before? Well, visitors to the exhibition in Milton Keynes can learn about the highlights offered by the Maltese destination such as historical marvels, outdoor activities, delicious cuisine and more this year, by speaking to the Visit Malta team (Stand 236).

Louise Zammit, marketing executive, said: “We want to attract people who are actively interested in travel and looking for new destinations to explore, which is why we chose to exhibit at the GLT Show.

“We want to use the experience to gain an understanding of what group organisers are looking for and potentially add the Group Leisure & Travel Show to our annual consumer events.”

Cruise line Star Clippers (Stand 307) will also make an appearance at the GLT Show for the first time, offering groups a vast range of luxurious tall ship sailings across the world. 

Emma Moore, agency sales supervisor, said: “Our groups business is growing rapidly and we’d like to explore the market further. This is our first time exhibiting at a dedicated groups event and we are excited to meet new people, build new relationships and get the Star Clippers name out there.

“We will be sharing our passion for tall ship sailing and offering visitors more information about our summer 2025 sailing season.”

The Group Leisure & Travel Show offers group organisers and coach operators the chance to meet all types of specialist exhibitors including top attractions, tourist boards, accommodation providers, coach companies, tour operators, cruise lines and more. You can see the full exhibitor list by clicking here.