VisitBritain has established partnerships with a number of key commercial tourism organisations and leading industry associations, some of which are listed below.

Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group

Britain’s Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group (TIER) is a small group comprising key tourism industry organisations and government.  The group develops plans for crisis scenarios as well as managing the tourism industry’s response to a specific crisis.

TIER is facilitated by VisitBritain and comprises 10+ industry representatives.  Members of the group include the Association of British Travel Agents, UKinbound, British Hospitality Association, Britain’s national tourist boards, British Airways and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. Other groups are called on depending on the location and nature of the crisis.

Read our Special Bulletin from 20 April 2010 regarding the Icelandic volcano ash cloud.

Tourism Alliance

The purpose of the Tourism Alliance is to identify and develop policies and strategies that raise standards and promote quality within the industry, and to work with and lobby Government on key issues relevant to the growth and development of tourism and its contribution to the economy. It also acts as a conduit for the flow of information between Government and the Tourism Industry.

British Tourism Development Committee

The British Tourism Development Committee (BTDC) is VisitBritain's main consultative mechanism with the tourism industry. It acts as a forum for discussion and representation to Government, VisitBritain and other statutory tourism boards, as well as other public and private sector organisations. Meetings are held four times a year in London.

Partners for England

The objective of Partners for England is to bring the tourism industry together to identify and address the key issues affecting England's visitor economy. The initiative was founded by the Chairs of the South West Regional Development Agency and VisitEngland.

UKinbound

UKinbound, (formerly the British Incoming Tourism Operators Association) is the official trade body representing tour operators and tourism suppliers to Britain. Members include national and regional tourist boards, tour operators, ground handlers, accommodation providers, destination management organisations, transportation, restaurants and catering companies and other tourism services - all dedicated to offering the best possible service to visitors to Britain.

British Hospitality Association

As the national trade association for hotels, restaurants and caterers, the British Hospitality Association’s primary role is to lobby government across the UK and in Europe, representing the views of all sections of the industry - not just the large organisations but also thousands of individually owned hotels. Its membership also includes restaurateurs, contract caterers, clubs, transport caterers, theatres, attraction, outside caterers, universities, suppliers to the industry and many others.

Business Visits & Events Partnerships

The mission of this partnership is to lead the way in supporting a competitive, high quality and more profitable business visits and events sector in Britain. It provides a cohesive, independent industry voice to represent Britain's business visit and events sector working in partnership with VisitBritain. Its membership is aimed at the leading trade associations and government agencies with an interest in conferences, meetings, exhibitions, trade fairs, outdoor events, incentive travel, corporate hospitality, cultural, sporting and leisure events. The Partnership is made up of members representing all areas of the events sector.