American Travel Agents Discover Norwich and Norfolk’s Uniqueness

Fifteen American travel agents were in Norfolk from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 October to visit some of the county’s key heritage destinations, including HM The Queen’s Sandringham House and Norwich Cathedral, during a weekend ‘fam’ trip following British Heritage Tours’ first ‘Selling The Uniqueness of Britain’ conference.

American Airlines’ Stansted service from JFK, which begins on October 28 along with existing MAXjet and Eos Airlines’ flights are increasing accessibility to Norfolk for the US market. British Heritage Tours has announced that it’s second ‘‘Selling the Uniqueness of Britain’ conference will be in Norwich next October.

Paull Tickner, British Heritage Tours Managing Director said: “As far as American agents are concerned, Norfolk is genuinely an undiscovered destination. But it has a fantastic heritage and gardens product ideally suited for specialist American tours. The new services into Stansted will make Norwich and the wider county much more accessible, so we have decided to base our second ‘Selling the Uniqueness of Britain’ conference in Norwich next October.”

The Norfolk ‘fam’ trip included visits to HM the Queen’s Sandringham House and Estate, Houghton Hall, home of the Marquis of Cholmondley, Holkham Hall home of the Earls of Leicester and the ancient village of Walsingham, an important medieval and modern pilgrimage site. The agents also completed a walking tour of Norwich’s medieval streets with visits to the Norman Cathedral and historic market, which has been on the same site for nearly 1,000 years.

Celia Baca, a travel agent from Orange County, California said: “British Heritage Tours’ conference was first class. My head is swimming with new information. I already have three new itineraries worked out. It was my first visit to Norfolk. I cannot believe we are allowed into the Queen’s home at Sandringham. It was wonderful experience. My clients will love to come here along with the county’s other great historic houses and gardens and Norwich with its fabulous history.”

Clare Packer, Head of Marketing, VisitNorwich who co-ordinated the Norfolk ‘fam’ trip with British Heritage Tours and Norfolk Tourism said: “VisitNorwich and Norfolk Tourism have been working closely with British Heritage Tours for the last two years to raise the profile of the county in the United Sates. Our initial work was based around the Jamestown 400 celebrations. This ‘fam’ trip and the announcement that Paull Tickner is going to bring his conference to Norwich is great news for the city and county. I am sure that we are going to see a marked increase in the numbers of specialist American tours.”

Crispian Emberson, Director, Norfolk Tourism: “I am delighted that Paull Tickner and the American travel agents had such a successful visit to Norfolk. We have a superb heritage product with excellent links to America’s founding fathers and of course the US Army 8th Air Force in World War II. Norwich will be great base for British Heritage Tours’ next conference when we will have an even better opportunity to showcase the best of city and county.”