What’s in Store for 2014 – According to AMA

2014 promises to be an exciting year with big anniversaries coming up for everyone from Shakespeare to Tolkien, not to mention countless sport, music and literature festivals and events making a return. We’re expecting to see a rise in active holidays and generation-spanning group holidays plus many more ‘culinary pilgrimages’.

So here’s our round-up for what we think are the biggest anniversaries, events and trends to look forward to this year. We’re excited to be organising a whole host of press trips throughout the year, for more information feel free to contact the team.

Top anniversaries in 2014:

– January marks the 50th anniversary of the film ‘Zulu’. The famous regiment was based in Brecon and the town is mentioned throughout the film. The Royal Regiment Museum is home to the UK’s biggest collection of artefacts from the Zulu conflict at Rorke’s Drift.

– April, the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth – Our client, The Carter Company, offer bespoke Shakespeare-themed cycling tours from Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon to the Globe in London. Hay festival will also theme this years festival around this theme.

– July, 60 years since the publication of The Lord of the Rings –  J. R. R. Tolkien visited the Brecon Beacons regularly and there’s evidence to suggest that ‘The Shire’ was actually based partly on the area.

– August – 30th anniversary of Brecon Jazz – The festival will be celebrating thirty years of quality jazz music, having hosted the best in the industry from Jools Holland to Cerys Matthews.

– November, 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – Coincides with the 25th anniversary of leading European hotel chain VI International, so enjoy a double celebration in Berlin in 2014!

– 2,000 Years of Ljubljana – to mark the anniversary of the foundation of Emona (ancient Roman city) Ljubljana will host a programme of events and exhibitions, offering up theatre, music and authentic Roman cuisine.

– 100 Years since World War 1 – the borders of Slovenia played a major part during the battles of the Great War with some of the longest trenches in Europe. The Upper Soca region alone has six museums along its ‘walk of peace’. 

Big Events in 2014

– The UK’s Alternative Games – Britain’s smallest town, Llanwrtyd Wells is renowned for hosting the quirkiest events in the UK with the likes of the Man versus Horse Marathon and World Bogsnorkelling Championships. Expect more fun and excitement in 2014.

– Brecon Beacons, the mecca for walking festivals and 2014 is no different with the Crickhowell Walking Festival in March, the Talgarth Walking Festival in May, the Hay Walking Festival and the Monmouthshire Walking Festival in October.

– Dark Sky One Year Anniversary – the Brecon Beacons was designated a Dark Sky Reserve back in February 2013 and there’s a whole host of events planned to celebrate the anniversary.

– Wales’ first ever Senior Open Championship comes to Bridgend – The county is proudly hosting the historic event at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in June.

– Welsh Summer Culture – the Brecon Beacons continues to be one of the UK’s cultural hubs with the famous Hay Literature Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival and folk fans’ paradise the Green Man.

– Hay Bike Festival One Year On – after the success of the new festival, they’re doing it again in October with even more events whether you’re an avid cyclist or simply want to enjoy that famous Beacons landscape.

– ABTA Convention in Slovenia – 2014 will see Ljubljana host the ABTA Travel Convention in September.

Travel Trends

– Health Holidays – More and more travellers are choosing active holidays over poolside lounging. Our destinations offer everything from adrenalin-fuelled mountain biking to bog snorkelling – hedge laying to building your own bicycle.

– Sustainable Holidays – whether staying put or heading abroad, the focus of 2014 is on eating and shopping local wherever possible. Our clients ensure local economies are supported at every step.

– Escapism breaks – ‘Welsh desert safaris’ in one of the UK’s last wilderness areas, watching Europe’s largest bottle nose dolphin population on the West coast with silent beautiful beaches that have yet to be discovered, why go abroad?

– Cycling – from city and countryside; cycling has never been more on trend. The industry is growing 10-15% per annum, so why not book on a tour with the Carter Company or build your very own Bamboo Bike?

– Group travel – families who holiday together stay together, and the industry is seeing a rise in group holidays. Activity providers such as Preseli Venture offer a range of activity packages for all ages.

– Retro breaks – forget your phone and embrace the simple things. With a rise of steam rallies, vintage fairs and jazz music, increasing numbers of people are stepping back in time with their holidays.