Visit County Durham has partnered with Group Travel World to showcase the county to key group travel organisers, tour and coach operators. Following a visit to The Auckland Project, preview of the 2025 season of Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, and accommodation at Park Head Hotel, we hosted the group so they could enjoy even more of the county’s leading attractions. Visits to Locomotion, Beamish Museum and The Bowes Museum highlighted the incredible range of the county’s offer, and accommodation at Lumley Castle demonstrated the range of group-friendly accommodation options available across Durham.

The familiarisation visit is part of an annual programme of activity delivered by Visit County Durham as part of our Discover Durham groups and travel trade consortium. The group, which has been established for over 10 years, raises the profile and appeal of the county through partner marketing, itinerary development and trade show attendance.

Group travel is an important part of the county’s visitor economy, with its quality and variety recently recognised at the Group Travel Awards with Durham shortlisted for Best Collective Destination, alongside Kynren who are shortlisted in the Best Group Friendly Attraction category.

The Group Travel World Awards are designed to honour the best in the group travel sector, and are based on nominations and votes from group travel organisers and industry professionals.

To vote for Durham and Kynren, visit: grouptravelworld.com/gtw-awards