Industry News

Visit County Durham was delighted to attend the 2026 Excursions Show, the UK’s longest running and most influential group travel exhibition, bringing together tour operators, coach organisers and destination partners from across the country.  

Promoting the county’s group friendly attractions and accommodation at the event at Farnborough International Conference Centre on 24 January, under the dedicated Discover Durham travel trade brand at the, Visit County Durham attended alongside key partners Beamish Museum, The Auckland Project and Kynren, showcasing the breadth and quality of experiences available for groups across the county.  

Together, the partners engaged with group travel organisers and tour planners, highlighting ready-made and bespoke itineraries designed to inspire future visits.  

County Durham’s offer for group travel was strongly received, with interest in its rich heritage, cultural attractions and incredible experiences. From the world-famous Beamish open-air museum and The Auckland Project’s unique collection of historic attractions, galleries and gardens, to Kynren’s spectacular live outdoor show and exciting summer 2026 historical day park development - The Storied Lands - the Discover Durham partnership demonstrated how the county delivers memorable, high-quality experiences for groups of all sizes.  

The Excursions Show provided a valuable platform to strengthen relationships with the travel trade, generate new leads and reinforce the county’s reputation as a welcoming destination for groups. Attendance at the event supports ongoing efforts to grow group visits and ensure County Durham features prominently in future tour programmes.  

Michelle Gorman, managing director at Visit County Durham said: “Domestic group travel is an important market for many of the county’s attractions and accommodation providers, and through the Discover Durham brand we deliver an annual activity plan to raise the county’s profile and appeal amongst this market. Working in partnership to attend events such as Excursions under the ‘Durham’ umbrella is vital, as it presents the strongest possible offer for the county and showcases everything we have on offer.”  

Francesca Boyle, Communications Officer at Beamish Museum, said: “Events like the Excursions Show highlight the real value of working together as a destination. By partnering with Visit County Durham and fellow attractions under the Discover Durham banner, we’re able to present a very exciting offer to the group travel trade. Collaboration strengthens our collective voice, helps inspire new itineraries, and ensures visitors can experience the very best of Beamish Museum and the wider county as part of a memorable group visit.”