• UK's biggest choice of travel brands with over 750 exhibitors across both shows
• London show will celebrate its 25th year
• Celebrity speakers include Rick Stein, Michael Portillo, Julia Bradbury, Charley Boorman
  and Timothy West
• Exclusive for 2018, the Blue Planet II production team will lead talk on the popular BBC TV series and new book
• Manchester EventCity, 18 to 21 January 2018
• London Olympia, 1 to 4 February 2018

November 2017: The UK's leading and longest running travel event, 'Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show', is set to be more successful than ever in 2018 as it celebrates its 25th year in London.

As always the show will take place at two locations in London and Manchester, with over 550 travel brands in London and 200 in Manchester.  Destinations offers the UK's biggest choice of travel brands under one roof, with leading and independent tour operators, over 70 tourist boards from across the globe, and numerous top travel brands. 

The show provides exhibitors an ideal opportunity to engage with consumers eager for travel inspiration for the year ahead.  Last year's show welcomed a record 73,270 visitors across the two shows and research shows that over two thirds booked a holiday within 6 months as a direct result of visiting the show.

Travel professionals are invited to attend the event free of charge, providing an excellent way for the industry to gain insights into new and existing travel products and opportunities for new connections. 

Destinations is delighted to have a number of new travel brands confirmed for this year.  New exhibitors in London for 2018 include Botswana Specialists, Grape Escapes, Leakey Safaris, One World Discoveries, Purely Pyrenees, Royal Caribbean, Simpson Travel, Steppes Travel and Swift Group Ltd.  Manchester will welcome new travel brands including ANZCRO (Australia and New Zealand), Just You, Oman Air, Royal Caribbean, Travelsphere, Grand American Adventures and G Adventures.

Rob Debenham, Destinations Show Manager comments: “Destinations attracts passionate, active and affluent travellers who take on average 6 trips each year and last year spent over £351 million on holidays.  91% of Destinations visitors do not attend any other travel shows so the event provides a unique opportunity for travel brands of all kinds – from niche tour operators to tourist boards - to engage with consumers looking for inspiration.”

Brands exhibiting will be part of this innovative and content-rich annual celebration of all things travel, which will attract visitors with a variety of special features.  Consumers can enjoy 50 hours of free expert talks and panel sessions, 'show-only' exclusive offers, discounts and upgrades, and special events from travel photography masterclasses, food tastings to travel health advice.

A popular feature of the London show is the 'Stanfords Travel Writers Festival' - a programme of exclusive talks by acclaimed writers. From explorers and adventurers to politicians and poets, the festival brings to life the magical world of travel writing.  Celebrity speakers for 2018 event will include Rick Stein, Michael Portillo, Julia Bradbury, Charley Boorman, Timothy West, and more.

Exclusive for 2018, the Blue Planet II production team will lead a talk on the new book Blue Planet II and the much-loved popular BBC TV series and how they brought to life the different habitats of the oceanic world.  This talk will feature breath-taking stills and photographs from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage. The science and technology behind the making of the programme is explained together with how the team captured these amazing adventures - many of them filmed for the first time.

Visitors will also be inspired at the two 'Meet the Experts' Theatres which provides over 50 hours of free travel advice, whilst the 'Experience the World' stages are designed to showcase the cultures, foods and entertainments across Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa.

For further information on exhibiting, please contact Rob Debenham at  rob.debenham@clarionevents.com

or visit www.destinationsshow.com/london/why-exhibit

To book two complimentary travel trade tickets visit www.DestinationsShow.com and quote ERD when booking

ENDS

DESTINATIONS LONDON - Advance ticket prices are £11 (£15 on the door).

DESTINATIONS MANCHESTER - Advance ticket prices are £8.50 (£9.95 on the door).

For advance tickets go to www.DestinationsShow.com

ENDS

For more information please contact Minty Woolgar, Elena Toselli or Sarah Sackfield at destinations@brightergroup.com  or phone 020 7326 9880.

About Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show

Destinations is in its 25th year in London and seventh in Manchester and attracts over 70,000 British consumers seeking ideas and inspiration for travel experiences and holidays. The show runs at EventCity, Manchester: 18 to 21 January 2018; and Olympia, London: 1 to 4 February 2017.  Both events are organised by Clarion Events.