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We would like to invite you to attend the Great West Way Travel Trade Marketplace 2026. This hybrid event is free of charge for eligible buyers and will take place as follows:
The virtual one-to-one meeting event will bring together tour operators and wholesalers with products, destinations and services that feature on the route, including attractions, hotels, transport, ground handlers and other sectors of the route’s tourism infrastructure.
This event is suitable for B2B international and domestic tour operators and wholesalers who are interested to find out more about our tourism suppliers and destinations along and within easy reach of the route.
Suppliers will include destinations/LVEPs, attractions and activity providers, refreshment and accommodation providers, tour guides and other tourism related suppliers.
At the Networking Day you will be able to meet suppliers in person, follow up on conversations you had at the virtual event and network with industry professionals.
You'll gain a better understanding of the destinations between London and Bristol and be in an excellent position to contract tourism businesses as part of your new bookable Great West Way programmes for 2027 and beyond.
We recommend that buyers attend the whole event and to support international buyers, we've included travel days on Wednesday 23 September & Thursday 24 September. However, there is an opportunity for buyers to explore the area on bespoke self-guided Discovery Visits before or after the in-person networking event on Friday 25 September in Bristol.
Prior to the day, you will receive log in details to the automated virtual meeting platform where you will be asked to add/check/edit your profile information, set your availability for meetings and request your meeting preferences with delegates.
A number of meetings will be matched automatically and assigned for you, but gaps in your calendar will enable you to have the ability to request, accept or decline additional meetings if you wish. This will work in the same way for registered suppliers, who may be in touch with you to request additional meetings.
On the day, you will log into the platform to view and manage your appointments between the hours of 9am – 5.30pm (UK time). Each meeting will be 15 minutes in length and please note that meetings will NOT automatically end so you will be required to take note of the time and end your call in order to move on to the next meeting. We suggest you keep an eye on the timer and/or set an alarm for 15 minutes. If you overrun appointments an administrator can interrupt and end your meeting. The format for the day will run as follows:
GMT(UK) or equivalent time zone
| TIME | DETAILS |
| 9:00 | Log in to the meeting platform |
| 9:20 | Welcome note |
| 9:30 - 13:00 | Morning one-to-one appointments (including 2x coffee breaks |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00 - 17:30 | Afternoon one-to-one appointments (including 2x coffee breaks) |
| 17:30 | End of Event |
This day enables international tour operators the opportunity to travel to the UK for the networking day. If you would like an optional self-guided Discovery Visit along the route please fill out the Discovery Visit Enquiry Form.
Draft Schedule for the day:
| TIME | DETAILS |
| 08:00 - 08:15 | Buyers meet at London Paddington |
| 08:30 | Train departs London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads - Travel kindly sponsored by GWR. |
| 10:02 | Arrive at Bristol Temple Meads |
| 10:00 - 10:15 | Meet group at Temple Meads Landing |
| 10:15 | Bristol Packet Boats - City Dock Experience. Travel kindly sponsored by Bristol Packet Boats. |
| 11:15 | Buyers and Suppliers arrive at Brunel's SS Great Britain - the world's first great ocen liner in her original dry dock |
| 11:30 | Welcome speeches |
| 11:45 - 13:00 | Choose from a range of visitor experiences at Brunel's SS Great Britain (see below) |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Buffet Networking Lunch |
| 14:00 - 15:30 | Choose from a range of visitor experiences at Brunel's SS Great Britain (see below) |
| 15:30 - 16:00 | Afternoon Refreshments |
| 16:00 | Bristol Packet Boat Ferry departs Brunel's SS Great Britain. Travel kinndly sponsored by Bristol Packet Boats. |
| 16:45 | Arrive in Bristol Temple Meads |
| 17:00 | Return train from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington (18:39) - Travel kindly sponsored by GWR. |
Choose from a range of visitor experiences at Brunel's SS Great Britain:
** Please note schedules are subject to change
Please note your application will go through an approval process and you will be informed about your acceptance to attend.
Please see our Marketplace Terms and Conditions. Please note that cancellation terms and conditions apply and will incur a fee of £50 plus VAT per delegate.
By submitting your delegate booking form you are agreeing to accept these terms and conditions.
If you have any queries please contact flowallace@GreatWestWay.co.uk.
© Great West Way 2026.
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