| We
put alot of emphasis on ensuring that we maintain an excellent
working relationship with partner companies. Click on the Tour
Operators in the list below to see their testimonials on working
with us as business partners:
Hotelbeds
As one of the UK’s leading tour operators, Hotelbeds has worked successfully with the National Trust for Scotland for many years. In an increasingly competitive market it is essential that unique ideas and added value are incorporated into our individual and group programmes. Over the years the Trust has adapted and is constantly coming up with new ideas which have made our client trips a great success. This year they proved to us how they can go the extra mile when they assisted us with a group of Norwegian architects who visited Culross. The Trust provided the group with a member of staff who specialised in buildings and was able to tailor his talk to the group. We also had very positive feedback from our American cruise ship passengers who enjoyed a private lunch and tailored talk at Culzean Castle. The National Trust for Scotland staff have assisted us over the years in giving our FIT, groups, cruise ship and incentive clients a memorable trip to Scotland.
Gillian Rae - General Manager
Aragon Tours Ltd
With over 30 years experience of operating shore excursions for
some of the largest and most prestigious of the worlds cruise
ships, Aragon Tours has developed a very strong working relationship
with the National Trust for Scotland. The partnership ensures
the very latest information and facilities are combined to make
sure the tour itineraries offered by Aragon Tours are regarded
by the cruise industry as the most innovative available.
2005 saw Aragon`s cruise clients visit an extensive number of
NTS properties throughout Scotland and driven by a common desire
to continuously develop and improve the tours on offer, as well
as launching new itineraries, this figure is sure to increase
in 2006.
The combined professional partnership of Aragon Tours and the
NTS ensures visitors to Scotland receive the very best of service
to enhance their visit experience leading to lasting memories
of their cruise vacation.
Malcolm Payne, Aragon Tours Ltd
Behringer Touristik
The National Trust for Scotland is a very good partner for Behringer
Touristik and most of our groups visit their sites. One very popular
landmark for our groups is Inverewe Garden in the North-West Highlands.
The outstanding plant collection is from every corner of the world
and this is what the German guests like most. WE are looking forward
to continuing the good relationship with The National Trust for
Scotland.
Mirjam Steyskal, Behringer Touristik, Germany
Chiltern Trains
Chiltern Trains Ltd is a national holiday operator with over
30 years experience of running rail inclusive short breaks within
the UK. Chiltern Trains has also actively supported the NTS and
its work and always recommends that customers consider joining.
Where possible, excursion itineraries are geared to include a
selection of NTS properties, for example the ever-popular Crathes
Castle for holidays in the Aberdeen area. New for 2006, Chiltern
Trains is including the Hill House in its Edinburgh Tattoo holiday
based in Glasgow.
Tony Parkins, Chiltern Trains
Discover Travel
& Tours
For many years Discover Travel and Tours has featured NTS properties
in its tour programmes. The Trust`s many outstanding castles and
gardens are always popular highlights for our overseas visitors
and the Discovery tickets are an important component of the company`s
successful Connoisseur Car Tour range. The Travel Trade office
is unfailingly helpful and is always brimming with ideas to help
us with our tour programmes.
Andrew Grieve, Managing Director, Discover Travel & Tours
Excursions Ltd
As the leading shore excursion operator in Scotland for the cruise
industry, Excursions Ltd have been promoting The National Trust
for Scotland properties for several years. With the launch of
our Scottish office in January 2005, opened in order to focus
on the high number of cruise ships visiting Scotland’s shores,
we have had no hesitation in significantly increasing the number
of cruise passengers visiting NTS sites.
The Travel Trade team have risen to the challenge, not only with
the greater number of `standard visits`, but also enthusiastically
working with us to create tailor-made events, special openings,
private lunches and more, enabling us to offer exclusive and unique
tours to our increasingly demanding and discerning clientele.
It has been a pleasure developing our portfolio with the team
and we look forward to continuing our rewarding relationship with
The National Trust for Scotland.
Tracy Norris, Manager, Inbound Operations, Excursions Ltd
Experience Scotland
One email to Travel Trade and all visits are arrangedeffortlessly.
Our groups, mainly from Europe, have enjoyed memorable visits
over the last 12 years the most popular being Crathes Castle,
Inverewe Gardens and the Royal Burgh of Culross. We look forward
to continuing our excellent relationship with the National Trust
for Scotland Travel Trade Department.
Catherine McGeechan, Groups Manger,
Experience Scotland Conference & Incentives.
Falcon Travel
Since the beginning of the introduction of Discovery Tickets
in our programme this year, we have had a great demand and the
comments from our clients are very positive.
We find that the work and services of the National Trust for
Scotland are very much appreciated by our customers. There is
such a large variety of properties included as well as some beautiful
gardens and reserves. We feel that there really is something for
everyone to enjoy. Also the idea behind it of preserving heritage
and culture (and therefore "history") for future generations
is well supported by our clients.
The lovely guide that is provided is a great help for choosing
a site and makes sure one does not miss anything interesting on
the way. We will certainly recommend your passes to our customers
again in the future.
Gilbert de Pierre, Falcon Travel, Switzerland
Gulliver`s Travel
Associates
We at Gulliver`s Travel Associates regard The National Trust
for Scotland as one of our strongest and most helpful partners
in our inbound operation to Scotland. Having personally worked
closely with Geraldine Graf and Anne Edwards in the Travel Trade
for the last five years, my confidence in selling Scotland as
a destination is superbly supported by NTS.
I know that I can fully rely on the co-operation of the organisation
to encourage new business, as well as in developing new tour ideas.
I think that the working relationship is demonstrated accurately
by the fact that our question to NTS is usually `How can we?`
rather than `Can we?`
John Guy, GTA/Gullivers
JAC Travel
At JAC Travel Scotland Ltd we are delighted with the excellent
relationship we have developed with the National Trust for Scotland
Travel Trade team and are grateful for the opportunities we have
had to experience a range of Trust properties through regular
site visits. As a result, our Business Development team is continually
incorporating further NTS properties into our programmes an optimising
our use of the passes to provide competitively priced packages,
which include an excellent range of visits. Furthermore, we have
received very positive feedback from our European agents on the
new properties we have included, many of the agents requesting
to repeat the visits again in 2005.
Karen Forsyth, Director of Group Travel and Marketing,
JAC Travel Scotland Ltd
Lochs & Glens Holidays
Lochs and Glens Holidays are now working closely together with
The National Trust for Scotland and entrance to many of their
properties has been added into our inclusive holiday packages.
We have found working with the Trust an efficient and `no hassle`
experience. The response to queries and requests are reacted upon
by return, thereby assisting in the smooth running of our daily
excursions programme.
Alison Moore, Lochs and Glens Holidays
Morrison Tours
As one of the premier destination management companies servicing
cruise ships in this country, we have found our relationship with
The NTS very fruitful. The staff at NTS HQ are very approachable
and helpful, recently introducing a centralised booking system,
and personnel at the individual properties are often willing to
go that extra mile to welcome, inform an entertain their visitors
as cherished guests. We would not hesitate to recommend NTS venues
and services to any companies seeking quality experiences for
their clients.
Peter Schuller, Manager, Morrison Tours
Prestige Corporate/Prestige
Tours/Scottish Tours
Scottish Tours operates an extensive programme of sightseeing
tours from Edinburgh and Glasgow. We carry passengers from all
over the World, all of whom trust us to introduce them the very
best that Scotland can offer. In order to deliver the very best
products we seek out and work hard at developing partnerships
with like-minded organisations. We find working with the NTS to
be a very positive experience.
Recently we were seeking to enhance our tour product. We thought
it an excellent idea to give our customers the opportunity of
visiting and learning about the unique history and natural environment
of Glen Coe. When we approached the National Trust for Scotland
we found a real can-do attitude, which is something we really
like! We decided to include a visit to Glen Coe on our most popular
itineraries from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Each day during the summer
months over 100 of our passengers enjoy a visit to the Glen Coe
Visitor Centre. The staff at The National Trust for Scotland HQ
and at the visitor centre have been monitoring our visits carefully.
Where little issues have been identified they have bent over backwards
to adapt so that our customers have a trouble-free visit.
From our point of view we like doing business with NTS. We like
the fact that the admission charges that we pay and the revenue
that the attraction makes from our passengers are all going to
help protect Scotland`s heritage for future generations to enjoy.
The teamwork between Scottish Tours and the National Trust for
Scotland is truly one where everyone benefits!
Euan Finlayson Prestige Corporate/Prestige
Tours/Scottish Tours
Service Reisen Giessen,
Germany
As Germany`s biggest wholesaler for groups, we are glad to have
a steady augmentation of numbers of groups travelling to Scotland.
For this we would also like to thank the NTS for helping us to
promote this wonderful destination with its fantastic properties.
The famous Inverewe Gardens as an example is a must for all our
groups going to the North-West-Highlands and offering the Discovery
Ticket, the NTS makes it easy to combine different sights and
to get a good experience of Scotland. The NTS always helps and
gives new ideas to improve our programmes and ensures this way,
that our clients see the very best. Thanks NTS!
Gunda Knüppel, Service-Reisen Giessen, Germany
Tourwise of London
Ltd
We have been working with The National Trust for Scotland for
a substantial number of years and found property and head office
staff extremely helpful to accommodate our sometimes very tight
time schedules. The Trust has supported us with FAM trips for
our overseas agents to make the Scottish product more transparent
and they and our customers have been very impressed with what
is on offer. We will continue using Trust properties whenever
it fits with our itineraries and customer requirements.
Tristram Yarde-Leavett, Operations Director,
Tourwise of London Ltd
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