World Travel Market 'Icing on Cake'
LONDON, UK, September 26, 2005. Up to 300 travel agents at World Travel Market in November are set to break the mold of over 900 years of dark and often spectacular history at The Tower of London.
The agents, from MyTravel and The Co-operative Trading Group (CTTG), will be the first to ice skate at The Tower of London since the Thames Frost Fayres of the 15th and 16th Century, when the waters of the River Thames froze over every winter and hawkers set up stalls on the ice to sell refreshments to revellers. Skating will be followed by dinner and dancing on the river boat Bateaux Symphony.
The evening is an introduction to World Travel Market's second Wise Up! programme on Thursday 17 November which will focus on education and skills learning for all agents, both independent and from the major multiples and consortia. Agents from Thomas Cook, First Choice, Thomson and Lunn Poly will be among the agents participating in the Thursday Wise Up! programme.
"This is another first for World Travel Market", said Group Exhibition Director, Fiona Jeffery. "The Tower of London has to be the most impressive and best preserved Royal Palace and fortress in any European capital and will form a magnificent backdrop for the skaters.
"This will be a great opportunity to be part of history as well as have some fun, before getting down to some more serious and constructive learning on the Thursday." Ann S. Wilson, Sales Manager for Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that cares for, conserves and presents to the public the five unoccupied royal palaces including the Tower of London, said she and the ice rink organisers PWR Events, were delighted that World Travel Market delegates would be the first to skate on the new 1,000 square metre rink.
"For over 900 years the Tower of London has been the setting for some of the most significant events in British history", she said. "As well as being a state prison and place of execution, the Tower has been host to an arsenal, royal mint, royal zoo and jewel house. "Nearly 1000 years after William the Conqueror founded the building, we are very excited to be opening a whole new chapter in the Tower's story by hosting a magnificent real-ice rink situated in the Tower of London's dry moat."
The ice rink and Moat Caf'e will open to the public on Saturday 19 November 2005, immediately after World Travel Market, for a seven week season.
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