News & Events

Great start to 2015 for visits to the UK

There have been a record number of visits to the UK in the first five months of 2015, according to the latest inbound visitor statistics from the International Passenger Survey.

According to the figures, it has been a strong start to the year, with visits over the first five months topping all previous records at 13.58 million – 4% more than the previous record set last year. In the twelve months to May 2015, there were also 4% more visits to the UK, just short of 35 million, which is the highest rolling twelve month period on record, and in May 2015 alone, the UK saw 3.56 million visits – up 9% on May 2014.

It has been a good year for visitor spend too. In May 2015, visitors spent a record £1.93 billion in the UK, up 8% from the previous year and, over the last twelve months, visitors spent a combined £21.81 billion in the UK, 1% more than in the previous twelve months.

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel and Tourism, says: “It is good news that visits to the UK continue to break all records and that visitors are spending more money in this country than ever before. For visitors from the US in particular, there has never been a better time to visit, with highly favourable exchange rates at present.

“The UK is a must see destination for anyone touring Europe. From the world-famous landmarks of London to the dreaming spires of Oxford, from the history and heritage of Edinburgh to the stunning mountains and castles of Wales, the UK really does have something for everyone. The latest inbound visitor statistics demonstrate just how popular our beautiful country really is.”

Celebrating England’s history and heritage in 2016

There are always plenty of good reasons to visit England for a vacation, from the sights and sounds of London, to the beauty and tranquillity of the rolling countryside, but here are five reasons why 2016 is an extra special year to take a tour to England.

2016 is the 300^th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, England’s greatest landscape gardener. Associated with over 260 sites, including Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth, Highclere Castle and Syon Park, ‘Capability’ Brown's landscape gardens are synonymous with England's green and pleasant land. A nationwide festival of events is planned, with the opportunity to visit over 150 Brown gardens and landscapes in England, including some not usually open to visitors.

We have designed an eight day tour in celebration of the 300^th anniversary of the birth of Capability Brown. Please click here to find out more.

William Shakespeare, England’s greatest playwright, is being commemorated in his home county of Warwickshire in 2016, to mark 400 years since his death. There will be an exciting programme of events in and around his home town of Stratford upon Avon to celebrate his life and his work. New Place, his family home in Stratford upon Avon, is currently being transformed and reimagined for a 21st century audience, telling the story of Shakespeare’s mature years as a successful writer and citizen of Stratford upon Avon. It is due to open in April 2016.

The 200th anniversary of the birth of English novelist and poet Charlotte Brontë is commemorated in 2016. Charlotte Brontë was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels have become classics of English literature. She first published her works (including her best known novel, Jane Eyre) under the pen name Currer Bell. Visitors to the village of Haworth in West Yorkshire, where the sisters grew up, can discover more about the authors at the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

On the 14 October 1066, the Battle of Hastings, the most famous battle in English history took place. A number of events, both historical and contemporary, are being planned to mark the 950^th anniversary. On 14 October 2016, there will be a day of events in the town of Battle, East Sussex, and a ceremony at Battle Abbey, near to the site where King Harold was killed. Over the weekend of 15 and 16 October, there will be a re-enactment of the battle on the historic battlefield itself. Additionally, an international arts festival will take place, giving contemporary artists the opportunity to explore and offer new perspectives on the most famous date in English history.

2016 is the 150^th anniversary of the birth of author Beatrix Potter. Born in London in 1866, Beatrix Potter was best known for her imaginative children’s books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She spent many childhood holidays in the Lake District of North West England, an area that was a huge influence on her later writing. The film "Miss Potter", starring Renée Zellweger, has brought a surge of interest in the writer’s Lake District connections.

To find out more about these anniversaries and how we can create a customised tour for you to enjoy these and many other special events, please do contact us.

A great time to visit Europe

Thanks to favourable currency exchange rates and high quality tours, there’s never been a better time to visit Europe says the European tourism association (ETOA).

The latest European Travel Commission survey of travel trends in Europe shows the majority of destinations reporting positive growth in international arrivals and overnights for the first five months of 2015, with Germany (+5%), Spain (+4%), Italy (+4%) and the United Kingdom (+3%) all seeing solid growth in international arrivals.

Expectations for the year ahead are that European inbound tourism will keep pace with the global forecast of 3%-4%, which could result in European arrivals passing the 600 million milestone.

According to Janet Redler, currency exchange rates are helping to grow visitor numbers. “Figures show that forward reservations from North America are looking good at +7.1%, with those travelling from America to Europe getting more euros in their pockets for the dollars.”

Tom Jenkins, CEO of ETOA commented: “This is exchange rate driven. Both US and Chinese visitors are getting about 22% more Euros than this time last year; Indian tourists are enjoying 17% higher spending power, while those from the Gulf have as much as 25% more money in their pockets.”

Says Janet: “With its wealth of cultural and heritage destinations and the strength of what the Dollar can buy in Europe, there really hasn’t been a better time to visit.”

BBC garden expert welcomes Swedish garden enthusiasts to Wales

BBC garden writer and broadcaster Tony Russell welcomed a delegation of Swedish visitors to Plas Brondanw in Gwynedd, on their recent tour of the gardens of Wales.

The well known expert was on hand at the Clough Williams-Ellis Estate near Portmeirion to meet and welcome the group of Swedish travellers, who were visiting the gardens of Wales as part of a new tour developed by Janet Redler Travel and Tourism in Montgomery, to help bring more overseas visitors to Wales.

The seven day itinerary took in many of the most spectacular gardens in Wales, from Bodnant in the north to Aberglasny in the south, as well as including a number of intimate private gardens.

Tony Russell said: “I was delighted to welcome the group from Sweden as part of their tour of the gardens of Wales. Wales really does have some of the most wonderful gardens and so I am pleased to able to support Janet Redler Travel and Tourism in their efforts to bring more overseas visitors to our beautiful corner of the world.”

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel and Tourism, said: “We are so pleased that Tony Russell could join us to welcome our inaugural garden tour from Sweden. The tour was extremely well-received and we are already planning a follow up next year. We hope this will be the start of a long and successful relationship between the garden enthusiasts of Sweden and the picture perfect gardens of Wales.”

Esther Roberts, Managing Director of North Wales Tourism, was also happy with the tour and is looking forward to welcoming more visitors from Sweden. “North Wales has many fabulous gardens, from the well-known Bodnant to hidden gems such as Plas Cadnant and Brynbella. We are keen to encourage many more people from around the world to come and see just how beautiful these places are and to experience the warmth and hospitality of a trip to Wales.”

The photo shows the Swedish visitors at Plas Brondanw with garden expert Tony Russell (far left) and head gardener John Rippin (far right).

New Andalusian Heritage tour launched

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new tailor-made tour to Southern Spain and Morocco, exploring the shared Moorish history and culture of these closely linked regions.

Working with our local partners, we can now offer a truly unique, tailor-made trip to Europe that takes in a taste of Africa.

Southern Spain and North Africa share a common heritage and the shared influence is visible in the architecture and the cuisine.

Why not take a look at the sample itinerary we have put together to showcase the very best of Southern Spain and Morocco?

Andalusian Heritage Tour Itinerary

American visitors explore their Welsh roots

David Melding AM, Deputy Presiding Officer at the National Assembly of Wales, welcomed visitors from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania to the Senedd during their recent tour of Wales, which we organised.

Bryn Mawr College is a women's arts college in the town of Bryn Mawr near Philadelphia in the United States. The town of Bryn Mawr takes its name from a house near Dolgellau which was owned by Rowland Ellis, a Quaker who emigrated to America in1686 as a result of religious persecution. Bryn Mawr College itself was founded by Quakers in 1885.

The group travelled all over Wales on a 10 day tour organised on behalf of Academic Arrangements Abroad by Janet Redler Travel and Tourism in Montgomery. As well as the National Assembly and Cardiff, the group visited Swansea, Snowdonia, the Conwy Valley, Llangollen and of course the Bryn Mawr Estate near Dolgellau.

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel and Tourism, said: “We are seeing increasing interest from visitors across the world in coming to Wales. In this case, Bryn Mawr has a deep association with Wales and a history going back over 300 years. It was a pleasure to help bring these tourists over from America to find out more about Wales and their Welsh heritage.”

Visit Wales, the body set up to encourage more tourism to Wales, has offices in the US and works closely with tour operators like Janet Redler Travel and Tourism to bring visitors to Wales to experience the culture, language and historic towns that the country has to offer.

David Melding AM said: “I was delighted to welcome this American delegation to the Senedd and to show them the hospitality that Wales is renowned for across the world.”

Meet us at World Travel Market 2015

World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is a must attend four day B2B event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and international travel professionals. This year it takes place on November 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th at ExCel London, in London Docklands.

Jan, Nick, Helen, James and other members of the JRTT team are looking forward to meeting fellow trade professionals at the UKInbound stand.

Come and see us to hear the exciting ideas we have for 2016 and beyond! Book an appointment or contact us direct: info@janetredlertravelandtourism.com

What's happening in the UK and Europe in 2015 and 2016?

Here is just a small sample of events taking place in the next year or so - and a few more reasons to visit the UK and Europe!

Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scotland, August 7 to 29, 2016. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an experience like no other. Taking place on the esplanade of Edinburgh's iconic castle, you can expect an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony, theatre and dance, with performers from every corner of the globe.

Edinburgh Festival, Scotland, August 7 to 31, 2016. The giants of the arts gather in Edinburgh for the International Festival every August. Once a year, Edinburgh becomes an international epicentre for the performing arts, offering an exciting, rewarding and thought-provoking experience for visitors from all over the world.

Palio di Siena, Italy, August 16, 2015. The historic town of Siena in Tuscany hosts this famous horse race each summer, in a tradition dating back to 1656. Jockeys ride bareback and the race includes an exhilarating lap around the city's spectacular main piazza. No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to some of the most beautiful and culturally important Tuscan towns, such as Florence, Siena and Pisa, of course, with its well-known 'leaning tower'.

Notting Hill Carnival, London, August 30 and 31, 2015. Every summer since 1966 the streets of West London have come alive with Caribbean sounds and smells at Europe's largest street festival. If you're looking to spice up your trip to England, then what better way than to join in with this fast, fun and frivolous spectacular.

Rugby World Cup, London and UK, September 18 to October 31, 2015. The mega event for Rugby fans. Follow the US team from their training base and in the pool matches but catch your other fancied teams too!

Venice International Film Festival, Italy, September 2 to 12, 2015. The 72nd Venice International Film Festival takes place on the Venice Lido for eleven days this autumn. Founded in 1832, this is one of the oldest, most important and most glamorous film festivals in the world and offers visitors to Venice a chance to rub shoulders with the stars! Soak up the atmosphere, see the films and explore one of the world's most amazing cities.

Oktoberfest, Germany, September 19 to October 4, 2015. Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, Bavaria, each autumn and, as well as being the world's largest funfair, is a 16 day folk and beer festival, with more than six million people attending each year. Although many other towns and cities around the world now hold Oktoberfest style celebrations, the Munich Oktoberfest is the original, dating back to 1810. The festival is a great way to experience traditional Bavarian culture, food and drink and is a must for beer lovers everywhere.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Scotland, December 30 2015 to January 1 2016. Why not welcome 2016 in style in Edinburgh, the spiritual home of New Year celebrations. Three days of concerts, parties and festivities start with the famous torchlight procession and culminate in the New Year's Eve street party. For many, this is an experience not to be missed and is at the heart of a winter break to majestic Scotland.

St Patrick's Festival, Dublin, Ireland, March 17 to 20, 2016. Experience the best of Irish hospitality at the annual St Patrick's festival in Dublin. A festival of Irish music, theatre and culture, the event is most famous for its spectacular St Patrick's Day parade on March 17. For anyone interested in their Irish heritage, a visit to the St Patrick's Festival is well worth it.

Cannes Film Festival, France, May 11 to May 22, 2016. The 69th Cannes Film Festival takes place in this exclusive French Riviera town and offers the perfect opportunity to "see and be seen", as the world's film stars and media descend on the town. You may not have accreditation to the "Palais des Festivals", which is reserved for film professionals, but you can soak up all the atmosphere and enjoy open air film screenings at the "Cinema on the beach". The festival is a highlight of any vacation for film buffs and celebrity watchers alike.

UEFA Euro 2016 Soccer Championship, France, June 10 to July 10, 2016. The Euro 2016 Championship is perhaps the most important football tournament after the World Cup. In 2016, 24 teams will compete for the first time, up from the previous 16 teams, and the matches will be played in stadiums around France including Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux. For football fans the world over, this is one of the beautiful game's highlights and well worth including in a trip to Europe.

Wimbledon Championships, June 27 to July 10, 2016. The Championships, Wimbledon, is one of the world's greatest sporting events and a showcase for the best tennis has to offer. There is always a huge demand for tickets, so to make sure you are not disappointed, get in touch with us now for a good choice of tickets, accommodation and transport.

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol of Wales, July 29 to August 6, 2016. The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the world's largest festivals and in 2016 it takes place on the outskirts of Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. A celebration of Welsh language and culture, the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol welcomes over 150,000 people each year from all over the world.

Who better than our own Janet Redler, a first language Welsh speaker born and bred in Wales, to organise your visit to the Eisteddfod? Whether you have Welsh blood running through your veins - or are simply curious to experience this unique festival at first hand - call Jan or email jredler@janetredlertravelandtourism.com, for a very special insight into Welsh culture.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help organise a tailor-made trip for you or your group, which includes a visit to any of the exciting events listed above, please do contact us at any time for a no obligation discussion.