Nearly 300 UKinbound members are expected to attend the association’s annual convention next year, which will be held in Bristol (February 5-6, 2020).
The association unveiled the 2020 convention city during its awards dinner last night (February 7), which was the final evening of its 2019 annual convention in Glasgow.
Next year’s event will feature industry panel debates, a keynote speaker address, business-to-business workshops, networking events and a black-tie gala awards dinner.
Destination Bristol and UKinbound will host familiarisation trips for delegates, to showcase the city’s tourism offering and build relationships between buyers and local industry.
Joss Croft, UKinbound chief executive, said: “We will work closely with Destination Bristol to provide as many commercial and networking opportunities as we can for our delegates, to grow their businesses and showcase Bristol’s outstanding visitor offering, which includes Bristol Cathedral, Aerospace Bristol and Brunel’s SS Great Britain.”
Kathryn Davis, head of tourism at Destination Bristol, added: “To be chosen to host such a prestigious event is a real testament to the strong partnerships in the region, and businesses of all sizes who work so hard in the tourism, cultural and hospitality sectors.”
The awards dinner also saw Ryan Sanders (Brunel’s SS Great Britain) and James Berry (MBNA Thames Clippers) named as the joint winners of UKinbound’s inaugural Young Excellence Award.
The other awards were:
Tour Operator of the Year – Angela Shanley Associates
Individual Attraction of the Year – The Beatles Story
Accommodation Provider of the Year – glh Hotels
Destination Management Organisation of the Year – Experience Oxfordshire
Service Provider of the Year: Transport & Sightseeing – Evan Evans
Service Provider of the Year: Restaurants, Retail & Ticketing – Azzurri Group
Service Provider of the Year: Professional Services – TravelBeat
Regional Member of the Year – Tourism South East
Chairman’s Award – Tristram Yarde-Leavett, managing director, Tourwise
Pictured from left: Jon Bagby, Continuum Attractions; Ryan Sanders, Brunel’s SS Great Britain; James Berry, MBNA Thames Clippers; and host, Scottish comedian and presenter Des Clarke