A beautiful summer evening with a dinner cruise on the Thames in great company with CTA colleagues, what could be better? The 2019 AGM took place on board the MV Mercia, courtesy of CTA member Thames River Services, who put on a lovely evening dinner cruise which was enjoyed by more than 60 delegates.

The business part of the evening saw chairman John Wales and communications director Helen Bowron set out the key achievements of CTA over the past year and the plans for continuing to develop the association and benefits to members over the coming 12 months.

And the event saw the appointment of three new faces to the CTA board: Dave Parry, Parrys International; Andrew Day, Wrightsure; and Paula Ward, Hilton Hotels. 

During the AGM, John Wales highlighted the core networking focus of the association with the aim of delivering quality events and business opportunities for supplier members and operators to do business and build relationships. 

“Our annual conference is viewed by the majority of the membership as the most important thing we do, so particular focus and efforts were put in to make this year’s event worthwhile,” says Wales. “Over 700 meetings were organised this year during the Workshop with hundreds of thousands of pounds of business done. 

“I have had experience of many sectors within the travel and tourism industry and I must say that the coach tourism sector is the most enjoyable, dealing with real people, who are hardworking, professional, loyal, but also can have fun, not too corporate but deliver business from loyal clientele.”

Following the formal part of the event, delegates enjoyed dinner on board and a chance to mingle and go up on deck to see the sights of London’s riverscape on what was a lovely summer evening.

The accommodation for the event was arranged with Clayton Hotel City of London, a new hotel which impressed all who saw it. We are very grateful to Clayton and parent Dalata Hotel Group for their enthusiastic involvement in the event, as well as the fantastic support from Maciek Imiolczyk and his colleagues at Thames River Services, and Anderson Travel who provided the coach transfer.

The next CTA event is the Summer BBQ which will be at the Old Ship Hotel and i360 in Brighton on Sunday 28 July 2019 – booking details here.

And don’t delay, please book your BBQ place by Monday 24 June to confirm accommodation.

[See more photos from the event here]