Global Hosted Buyer Programme 2026/27

The programme will focus on three core areas:

Spotlight Manchester  – Gateway to Northern England and North Wales (FAM Trips)

New for 2026/27, this pilot regional B2B event and FAM trip programme will bring 35 high-potential international buyers and selected travel trade media from the USA, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, the Nordics and India to northern England and North Wales. The media will help raise awareness of the destinations and their products. 

This programme aims to bring top International Buyers that have been selected for their potential to develop and promote programmes featuring northern England and North Wales to the UK to experience it first-hand. Itineraries for both group and FIT consumers that increase volumes and the value of international visitor spend, in the northwest and North Wales. Multi-day FAM itineraries will be followed by a dedicated day of one-to-one meetings and networking with suppliers from across the two regions. 
 

For UK Suppliers: Travel trade-ready businesses that would like to be involved in future FAM trips should contact their regional LVEP or Strategic Partner. 

• VisitScotland: [email protected]
• Visit Wales: [email protected]
• VisitEngland: [email protected] or [email protected] 

Britain & Ireland Marketplace (FAM Trips)

More than 60 buyers from Brazil, Canada, China, the GCC, Japan, South Korea, the USA, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the Nordics and Spain will attend Britain & Ireland Marketplace on 22 January 2027. Post-event FAM trips will showcase destinations and products across Britain’s nations and regions. 
 

For UK Suppliers: To register your attendance at BIM, please use the discount code 27VBBIM 

Market-led FAM trips 

Across 22 key inbound markets, our overseas network will continue to deliver FAM trips in cooperation with strategic partners, local destinations and industry stakeholders, throughout the year.

FAM trips give key international buyers first-hand experience of Britain’s destinations and products, helping them develop new itineraries and confidently sell Britain to their clients. By bringing buyers into the nations and regions, they strengthen destination knowledge, build direct relationships with local suppliers and convert interest into bookable programmes that drive international visitor spend and growth. They also provide valuable market insight for destinations and businesses, helping them understand buyer needs and tailor their trade-ready offer for future international opportunities. 

Since April 2026, we have hosted Indian buyers in the West Midlands and Japanese buyers in the East Midlands and East of England. Spanish buyers have explored Manchester and Yorkshire, while Canadian agents have visited Wales. Further trips across Britain’s nations and regions are being planned.

For UK suppliers: to engage with this programme check out the Resources for travel trade and contact your regional LVEP or Strategic partners (contacts above).


 

Get in touch with us to discuss how VisitBritain can support your business with international reach and all other opportunities.