More than 1,500 business meetings took place in Liverpool City Region as the British Educational Travel Association (BETA) hosted its largest-ever Youth & Student Travel Summit.
The event welcomed international hosted buyers from key markets including the United States, Canada, China, France, Spain, Italy and Germany, connecting them with UK suppliers from across the accommodation, education, attractions, transport and tourism sectors.
Collectively, the hosted buyers represented £322 million in annual UK business and almost 500,000 young visitors, underlining the significant international opportunities available to destinations and tourism businesses across the UK.
The main business programme, hosted at Liverpool Football Club, featured a packed schedule of pre-arranged appointments, industry insights and networking opportunities designed to help buyers and suppliers develop new partnerships and future travel programmes.
Alongside the business meetings, delegates explored the latest trends shaping the youth and student travel sector through a conference programme that included findings from BETA’s Business Barometer, discussions around screen tourism and a keynote presentation from customer experience expert Geoff Ramm.
International buyers also took part in a familiarisation programme across Liverpool and Chester, giving them the opportunity to experience the region’s tourism offer first-hand. Highlights included a Mersey crossing aboard the new Royal Daffodil, visits to local attractions, accommodation providers and language schools, a Roman walking tour of Chester and a visit to Chester Zoo.
The programme was designed to give buyers a deeper understanding of the experiences available across the region and inspire the inclusion of Liverpool City Region within future youth and student travel itineraries.
Natalie Wyatt, Managing Director of Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, said:
“We were delighted to support BETA’s biggest-ever Youth & Student Travel Summit and welcome international buyers to Liverpool City Region. Events like this provide invaluable opportunities to showcase our world-class visitor offer, build new business connections and inspire future visits from young travellers. The Summit has highlighted the strength of our tourism sector and the important role it plays in driving economic growth across the city region.”
The Summit opened with a welcome event at the iconic Cavern Club, supported by Visit Liverpool and Bayswater Education, giving delegates an introduction to the city’s world-famous music heritage and hospitality.
Emma English OBE, Executive Director of BETA, said:
“The Summit is about turning connections into opportunities for UK businesses. Liverpool gave us a fantastic setting to do that, with inspiring speakers, productive meetings and a warm welcome from our hosts.
For international buyers, experiencing the region first-hand helps them confidently develop programmes that take young visitors beyond London. We are hugely grateful to our sponsors, members and destination partners for making this possible.”
The event further strengthens Liverpool City Region’s reputation as a leading destination for group travel, educational visits and international tourism, while creating opportunities for local businesses to engage directly with influential travel buyers from around the world.
For more information about the event, click HERE.
