Mediaboss Marketing

by Department of Economic Development

ISLE of Man Tourism has just published its latest handbook for group travel organisers, which provides a comprehensive guide to the diverse attractions of the Island for group visits. The Isle of Man Group Travel Guide Issue 2 is designed to demonstrate the tremendous value for money available to groups visiting the Isle of Man and covers travel to and transport around the Island, accommodation options, tours, attractions and eating out. 
 
Produced in a handy perfect-bound A5 format, the 92-page guide includes useful maps that pinpoint all the key points of interest within the Isle of Man’s main towns as well as showing approach roads and group drop-off points for the main visitor attractions.     
 
For ease of reference, the guide is divided into four sections, North, South, East and West,  in each case spotlighting that region’s main towns, attractions and tours. 
 
To cater for the growing interest in themed breaks, the 2012 Group Travel Guide also includes a section on the wide choice of specialist activities, tours and attractions available to group visitors.  These range from wildlife tours and specialist boat trips to see basking sharks and bottlenose dolphins to ghost tours and activities that include quad biking, sea kayaking and golfing.
 
As a shortcut to planning group trips, the guide features three full day and five half day  itineraries.  Each has been designed to focus on what makes a visit to the Isle of Man quite distinct from touring in the UK and to help group travel organisers make the most of the Island’s unique heritage and cultural attractions. 
 
For example, on one such itinerary, groups take a trip on the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to Ramsey before rejoining their coach to go back in time at the Grove Rural Museum and Milntown.  The trip continues along part of the world famous TT course to Peel and its 11th century castle before returning to Douglas.
 
Details of 12 hotels suitable for larger group bookings are included in the Group Travel Guide and a full list of accommodation is available at http://www.visitisleofman.com.
With excellent local produce that includes award-winning Manx Queenies, smoked kippers and rare breed Loaghtan lamb, the guide also explains the Taste Isle of Man quality assurance scheme that signposts where groups will find the best home grown food on restaurant menus and supermarket shelves.  Group travel organisers are encouraged to get a copy of the free Taste Isle of Man Directory, available online at http://www.visitisleofman.com/taste or to pick up from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal in Douglas. 
  
Mr Geoff Corkish, MBE, MHK, Member of the Department of Economic Development responsible for Tourism said:
 
‘Year round visits by groups are incredibly important to tourism on the Isle of Man, which means that the new Group Travel Guide will be a valuable tool in encouraging group travel organisers to consider arranging trips to the Island in the coming year. 
 
‘In these challenging times, we are keen to send out a message to the groups’ market that the Isle of Man is a great value destination on the doorstep of the UK and Ireland.’
 
As part of the drive to attract more groups to the Island, Isle of Man Tourism will be exhibiting on Stand E80 at Best of Britain & Ireland (BoBI), which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 14-15 March.  Copies of the Group Travel Guide will be available to stand visitors, where members of the Isle of Man Tourism team will be joined by six industry partners: Flybe, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Manx Heritage Railways, Manx National Heritage, Manx2.com and Premier Holidays. 
 
Copies of the Guide are available on request by calling Julie Colquitt on 01624 686888 or emailing traveltrade@gov.im.  It can also be downloaded from the official Isle of Man Tourism website at http://www.visitisleofman.com/groups.

-ENDS-

In Other Isle of Man News

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

Send your Isle of Man news to:webmaster@manx.net

© Manx Telecom Ltd 2012

Manx Telecom Ltd, Isle of Man Business Park, Cooil Road, Braddan, Isle of Man IM99 1HX
Registered in the Isle of Man Reg no.5629V Vat Reg no GB 003-2919-12

Link:
2012 Group Travel Guide Launched by Isle of Man Tourism