Tourism South East recently hosted its annual Excursions™ 2025 show, the UK’s longest-running and original one-day group travel event, at Wembley Stadium. This year’s show followed the success of the 50th anniversary event held the previous year, with continued positive feedback from both exhibitors and visitors.
The event once again brought together industry professionals, exhibitors, and group travel organisers, with over 600 attendees, to explore new opportunities and connect with potential partners for future group travel experiences. It served as the first major event of the year for group travel organisers, coach operators, tour planners, and itinerary experts, offering a platform for discovering destinations, attractions, venues, cruise companies, hotels, and resorts from across the UK and Europe.
The Georgettes of Oxford entertained visitors with in celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary. Guests were also offered free Wembley Stadium tours, with special presentations from Ellen Smith Tours, who were part of the Private Coach arrivals programme. This was followed by an exclusive fam trip to Potters Five Lakes Resort and Epping & Ongar Railway.
Pam at Ellen Smith Tours said, “A big thank you to all involved in organising our fam trip during the Excursions™ weekend, we had a ball. The exhibitors on offer were excellent and we all picked up lots of ideas for future trips. It was a very successful weekend and everyone in our group commented on how useful it was.”
With budget constraints in mind, many exhibitors at this year’s show chose to take a partnership approach. Destinations and attractions, like Visit Kent and Experience Oxfordshire, teamed up to share a stand, allowing them to highlight the best their regions have to offer.
Alanna Kite, Visit Kent said, “We had another great day at Excursions™, showcasing everything Kent has to offer for group visits. It was fantastic to be joined by nine of our Kent partners, and we had the opportunity to meet group travel organisers who were very keen on visiting our county.”
Fran Downton, CEO of Tourism South East said, “Excursions™ remains an invaluable event for the group travel industry, highlighting the sector’s ongoing demand for group travel. Exhibitors reported valuable discussions, reinforcing Excursions™ as a crucial opportunity for quality networking and business development. We’re proud to be at the heart of these connections, helping to spark fresh ideas and foster collaboration within the industry.”
Click here to discover more about Excursions™.
