The inaugural Best of Britain & Ireland 2009 concluded this week to resoundingly positive feedback from the domestic travel industry.

Over 300 exhibitors including national and regional tourist board, hospitality, attraction, transport and tour operator partners were showcased under one roof to nearly 2,500 trade visitors from Britain and overseas.

Organised in partnership with VisitBritain, Best of Britain & Ireland 2009 took place from 26 � 29 March 2009 at London�s ExCeL Centre and proved an exciting and innovative successor to British Travel Trade Fair. It comprised the two-day business focused Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum followed for the first time by a two-day consumer event showcasing all that�s best in travel and tourism in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Opening the event, Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism said:

"Thank you to all of you who work in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales's tourism industry for making our product so good. We've become famous for our food, our service and the quality of our heritage, landscapes and our whole cultural offer. "Whilst the industry faces some challenges there are lots of opportunities. Our currency won't always be soft, our VAT won't always be this low, so let's use it to attract people and keep them coming back. Tourism is a vital industry to our economy."

Exhibitors from all areas of the industry have been delighted with the unprecedented opportunity to promote their product to a wide ranging audience. Feedback includes:

�The exhibitor response to the first Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum has been tremendous and we have been pleased to see some serious business taking place over the two trade days. The show testifies to the appetite for domestic tourism and the business potential for the market, and looks set to be even more successful in 2010.� -Kenny Boyle, Director of Distribution Services, VisitBritain

�The whole event has been a great success and exceeded our expectations. The consumer interest was really high with leisure tourists very positive about spending time and money in England.� - John Duncan, Manager, Visit Leeds

"New foundations have been started for a new type of tourism exhibition. The mix of trade and consumers worked very well." - Ken Milton, General Manager, Clarendon Hotel

"A truly inspirational show and one that will go from strength to strength. The organisers were very helpful throughout and obviously cared passionately about the Show." - Gillian McFarland, Partner, The Thatches Holiday Village

�We made excellent links on the trade days, and attracted a lot of positive attention during the consumer show.� - Sam Charter, Host, Wedgwood Visitor Centre

�The consumer days have been a great success and have provided Lancashire and Blackpool with a great platform to promote the region.� - Julie Holland, Travel Trade Officer, Visit Blackpool

�The event has been a great success and allowed the Good Food Ireland members, who are all volunteers, to showcase the best of Irish Food to a large cross section of visitors, media, and travel and industry personnel.� Good Food Ireland � Maurice Keller, Arlington Lodge Country House Hotel Good Food Ireland member "For a first time event the team achieved a grand show and I can now look forward to an even better experience in 2010." Warren Mills, Mid-Cornwall Tourist Pass

"BBC Magazines is delighted to have been part of this inspirational new event. We always relish the opportunity to meet our readers face to face, and to introduce our magazine portfolio to an enthusiastic new audience. We are already looking forward to the 2010 event.� Paula Al-Lach, Head of Exhibitions and Events, BBC Magazines

Rob Mackenzie, Managing Director of Best of Britain & Ireland events added:

�The feedback we�ve had has been overwhelming and we�re looking forward to even greater success in 2010. Both the exhibitors and visitors have embraced the event, which is a new concept in marketing Britain and Ireland at a time when holidaying at home could not be more relevant.� Best of Britain & Ireland 2010 will take place on 18 � 21 March 2010 in the Grand Hall in Olympia, London. As with this year�s event, the Best of Britain & Ireland 2010 will form the culmination of British Tourism Week, which will take place from 15 � 21 March next year.

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Media requiring further information should contact Liz Warburton or Chloe Handy at Fleishman-Hillard: 0207 306 9000 elizabeth.warburton@fleishmaneurope.com / chloe.handy@fleishmaneurope.com