Is it time you re-invented your business? Maybe with 2012 fast approaching it high time you gave your company a new face? Are you launching a new product, have you changed your company logo, maybe you’re offering an additional service? On the other hand, maybe despite this overly drawn out recession you’ve found the funds (or a banker who is an exception to the rule and is actually lending during our current crisis) to start up the business you’ve always dreamed of. If any of these are you, then here at Balloons Over Britain we have just the thing for you!

When you’re driving along in your car and you see a hot air balloon in the sky no one can resist the temptation of a good luck. If you’re lucky you even get to catch a glimpse of the burners going or the passengers and pilot themselves. Myself I’ve seen many special shaped balloons, or balloons with messages printed on them. I’ve seen balloons with advertising banners across their baskets or trailing along behind in the wind. Without fail, every single time, I’ve squinted to read the print, despite to find out what it says before it’s out of sight! And it appears I’m not alone, we’re all the same, strangely drawn in by hot air balloons and their messages, so why not use this as a base for your new advertising campaign?

At Balloons Over Britain we have our own design specialists who can individually tailor special shaped balloons to cater for most designs. With a wealth of experience, we pride ourselves in making balloons which are sure to be the centre of attention in most marketing forums!

Hot air balloons are also used to generate publicity at events such as balloon fiestas, major sporting occasions, outdoor shows and events that attract television coverage. Proven to generate desire and action in most any target audience, balloons develop awareness and interest. In fact, research suggests that the cost of balloon advertising ‘per thousand opportunities to see’ is by far lower than the figure for newspaper, posters, radio or television advertising. When you consider then that the balloon will also be seen on television coverage of the events, or in editorial press of the events, the audience is them increased greatly!

A hot air balloon will always draw in an audience, so if you’d like to discuss how we could help your business find new customers and expand, simply contact us on 0845 071 6388 or get in touch via the website.

On the Sunday 11^th September this year at 7:40pm, the British ballooning team consisting of David Hempleman-Adams and Simon Care landed their balloon after taking part in the Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race 2011. The pair landed after 20 hours of flying in their Lady Luck balloon, finding themselves in Worgl, Austria, when a thunderstorm became a threat.

Enjoying a scenic flight over the luscious French Alps, the Swiss Alps, and the Austrian Alps, Hempleman-Adams and Carey initially launched their balloon from Gap in France at 10:40pm on the Saturday. Reaching a distance of 580.9 km, the pair weren’t far off the German Team 2 winners who reached 645.6 km, landing just outside Saltzburg. The German team 1 came in at second place. Our very own Flight Director Clive Bailey (of Bailey Balloons) and Luc Trullemans, maintained communications with the British team at regular intervals throughout the flight, from the HQ in Bristol at the Bristol Hotel.

Clive commented;

“We are especially proud of David and Simon given the competition they faced. They have had an exciting and stunning flight which was much shorter than last year’s flight due to the high altitudes that they had to fly at and bad weather but it was a flight that was hard work but ended with a perfect stand up landing.”

Upon landing Hempleman-Adams phoned to say;

“We had to land as there were thunder storms all around. We had a truly spectacular flight with amazing views over the Alps, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn…incredible. Nige and Bob, the retrieve crew turned up within a few minutes of us landing and we all then had to sort out the balloon after which they celebrated with some whisky and then retired to a local restaurant to savour some hot food.”

At Balloons Over Britain you can choose from a long list of locations to enjoy your airborne adventure; why not pick a part of Britain which has always captured your heart and experience it from a completely different perspective?! With a long list of fully licensed and highly experienced balloon flight operators making up the Balloons Over Britain group, you’ll be guaranteed of not only a magical and thrilling experience, but of being in the safest possible hands too.

You can order your voucher by phone where we’ll answer any of your questions, simply call on 0845 071 6388 or alternatively, our book online process is very quick and straight forward. You can request for your voucher to be sent instantly by e-mail, or you can have it sent to you in the post, it’s completely up to you. Available vouchers include;

The Weekday Morning Voucher – Weekday morning flights (excl Bank Holidays) from our huge range of different launch sites across the UK. Includes full colour gift voucher which is valid for 12 calendar months, of course the essential hot air balloon flight, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and the presentation of our flight certificate with return transport to the take off site. You will be given the option to upgrade to other weekend or evening flights, however the voucher is non-refundable once purchased. – Price – Just £89.00 per person (price includes a £30 reduction P/P!).

Weekday Voucher – Weekday flights (excl Bank Holidays) from an extensive selection of launch sites across Britain. Price includes full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, the flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return transport to the take off site. You will have the options to upgrade to other weekend/evening flights and as with all of our vouchers, they are non-refundable once purchased. – Price – Just £115.00 per person (price includes a £17 reduction P/P!).

Anytime Voucher – Our weekday and weekend flights are available from the widest selection of launch sites in the UK. Package includes full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return transport to the take off site. And yes, the vouchers are non-refundable once purchased. Price – Just £129.00 per person (price includes a £16 reduction P/P!)

Anytime Premium Voucher – Weekday and weekend flights from all of our launch sites in the UK, with price including a full colour gift voucher valid for 18 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return transport to the take off site. Enjoy a complimentary in flight photograph, the option to change to other activities and the exception of being fully refundable. Price – Just £290.00 per person!

Sunrise Exclusive For Two Voucher – Exclusive flight for two people available on any weekday morning (excluding bank holiday mornings). Flights available from the widest selection of launch sites across the UK but excluding Scotland. Many choose this option for proposals, weddings, anniversaries, special occasions and promotion. Price includes full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return transport to the take off site. Vouchers are non-refundable once purchased. £100.00 off! Now just £699 for two people!

Sunrise Exclusive For Four Voucher – 4 people can enjoy an exclusive flight from our huge selection of launch sites across the UK (excluding Scotland). An excellent choice for proposals, weddings, anniversaries, special occasions and promotion and includes a full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return transport to the take off site. Tickets are non-refundable once purchased and are available on weekday mornings, excluding Bank Holidays. Maximum passenger weight 12 stone/75kg average. £100.00 off! Now just £899.00 for four people!

Maybe it’s about time you saw the world from a different perspective. At Balloons Over Britain we specialise at giving you just that! Since 1991 we have been the UK’s largest and longest established balloon flight operators and have provided a nationwide ballooning network covering areas across Scotland, England and Wales. In fact, we have over 70 different launch site locations across the UK! With over 40 balloons spread out across our member companies, we are able to offer a continuous service right across the season which is normally from March to the end of October. However some companies offer flights over extended periods. With dawn and dusk flights, seven days a week, Balloons Over Britain proudly fly over one-third of all balloon flight passengers across the United Kingdom.

All of our member companies offer a breathtaking experience and each holds Civil Aviation Authority licensing. Our member companies include the following:

Adventure Balloons – Adventure balloons covers areas across Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, South Oxfordshire, London and Surrey and have been operating since 1985! Adventure Balloons even offer a dedicated birthday balloon service which is complemented with its own ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ birthday!

Aerosaurus Balloons – Aerosaurus Balloons offer flights across locations Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, South Somerset and Wiltshire. The company have been operating for 23 years!

Airborne Balloon Flights – Airborne Balloon Flights cover the Kent and Sussex areas and have been in flight for 18 years.

Alba Ballooning – Alba Ballooning covers Edinburgh, Kinross, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland and have been flying since 2000.

Anglian Countryside Balloons – Anglian Countryside Balloons proudly covers the Essex area and began ballooning in the early 1990’s.

Balloon Rides – Balloon Rides fly over the beautiful Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, their founder having over 30 years experience in flying and manufacturing balloons.

Bailey Balloons – Bailey Balloons has locations across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Wales and offer a wealth of experience, untouchable safety record and clear passion for ballooning.

The Ballooning Business – The Ballooning Business has launch sites in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and began flying in 1989.

Broadland Balloons – Broadland Balloons cover Norfolk and Suffolk and have nearly 20 years experience in passenger ballooning.

Wickers World – Wickers World have sites in Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire and have been a passenger balloons flights company for 22 years!

To book a flight with one of the above balloon flights operators, simply call on 0845 071 6388 or book online.

The Ballooning Business are one of the Balloons Over Britain corporations best hot air balloon flights operators covering locations across Northampton, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Bedford, Huntingdon and Banbury. The company started out in 1989 and have since then flown thousands of passengers over some of Britain’s most glorious countryside! With our wealth of experience, in fact with our pilot’s decades of hot air ballooning experience, we have perfected the art of giving the ultimate ballooning experience.

Whether you’re thinking of booking a flight and want to know more, you have a date in mind and want to check availability, you want to book a romantic flight for two or you have a big group birthday party, The Ballooning Business will not disappoint. With flights from as little as £79 per person, our prices aim to please and for your money you can expect to enjoy at least three hours with us including your magical hour gracefully floating over your favourite spots, the thrill of the take off and the crescendo of your landing, but also everything in between. At The Ballooning Business we actively encourage all our passengers to help setup, inflate and of course pack away the balloon in order to enjoy the experience as a whole.

If you’d like to talk to one of our team we’re always happy to answer any questions you may have and of course to check availability and make bookings for you. Just call us on 01604 768 617, alternatively you can buy a gift voucher online, book a flight date, request a brochure or even request a call back! Finally, if you’d like to get in touch by e-mail, the address is – sales@ballooningbusiness.co.uk.

Airborne Balloons are one of Balloons Over Britain’s most prestigious balloon flights member companies, in fact they are the largest and most respected company offering flights in and across Kent and Sussex.  With stunning launch sites at venues such as Leeds Castle, the Hop Farm and Buxted Park, you can be sure that you’ll enjoy a beautiful flight over some of England’s most delightful countryside. With Airborne’s new Winter Offer, you can be sure that your finances won’t get in the way of you booking a flight this year. With a deposit of just £50, you won’t have to pay another penny until 1^st April 2012‼

You have a choice of different flight options at Airborne Balloons:

Earlybird – A sunrise balloon flight followed with a champagne celebration! – Just £99 per person Monday – Friday.

Midweek – A weekday champagne balloon flight choosing between sunrise or sunset. – Just £120 per person Monday – Friday.

Open – The most flexible option offering either sunset or sunrise flights, followed by a champagne celebration any day, seven days a week! Just £135 per person.

Exclusive – A very special VIP flight for two passengers in an executive balloon flying at either sunrise or sunset, seven days a week! Just £695 all in!

Group – A VIP flight for up to eight people for corporate or private bookings. Available seven days a week for a total of £995!

Nationwide – A flexible ‘open’ voucher fiving you the choice of over 70 different locations across the UK, seven days a week! Available at just £169 per person.

To book simply call us on 01622 873200, email: sales@airborneballoons.co.uk or book online!

Balloons Over Britain are the UK’s leading balloon flights co-ordinator managing balloon operators right across the UK. Most of our members companies have been operating passenger balloon rides for over ten years and some hold experience for twice as long as that! It’s no wonder that Balloons Over Britain are the UK’s number one choice for passenger balloon rides!

Considering our extensive list of member companies along with the many years experience held by all, Balloons Over Britain hold an unparalleled wealth of operational experience combined with the highest operating standards. However more impressively, from our endless experience has come many of the procedures that have now been incorporated into the industries standards via our regulatory body, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)! And to clarify, all Balloons Over Britain members hold Air Operators Certificates issued by the CAA. Please note that this certification is only granted to fare-paying-passenger carrying companies who satisfy the organisational and safety requirements required by the CAA.

You can experience an intimate balloon ride for two or even make a booking for a party of 16, that’s the beauty of Balloons Over Britain, with all our member companies, we have a choice of so many balloons! Take a look at our map of the UK for an idea of the areas we cover, or alternatively view our list of balloon ride operators.

However many of our customers are not looking for a standard passenger balloon ride, instead they turn to us for help with Corporate entertainment as incentives for their customers and clients or even their staff and often people come to us regarding Commercial opportunities for balloon operation and advertising. Whatever it is you’re looking for, simply visit our site or call us on 0845 071 6388 for more information.

Hot air ballooning began as a crazy hobby entertained by the wealthy (or the slightly insane) and for many years ballooning over certain distances and oceans became an ambition of many. It has now established itself as a highly beneficial medium for advertising, as a popular corporate entertainment activity or incentive, and at the top of many people’s ‘Top Ten Things to Do Before They Die’.

In terms of corporate entertainment, what better way to treat potential clients and respected clients than a hot air balloon ride, particularly a ride which ends where the balloons lands within the grounds of a conference venue and is summed up with chilled champagne! When launching new products and campaigns hot air ballooning has taken its crowd by storm launching balloons of almost any shape into the sky. The company brand or product can be seen by thousands over a massive area.

In 1991, 6 of the UK’s largest and longest running balloon flight operators created the nationwide flight network which today we know as Balloons Over Britain. However the popularity of hot air ballooning only grew, as did their network; Balloons Over Britain now has 12 member companies who cover pretty much every flyable area in the UK. With locations dotted around London, the Lake District, Scotland, the South West of England, Wales and more, Balloons over Britain are proud of their achievement as the only comprehensive national balloon flight network throughout Britain.

Ballooning itself is a treat for anyone of any age who seeks any kind of thrill. A weather dependant activity it can often be a case of third time lucky, which just adds to the adventure! When the conditions are right, you’ll get that call and before you know it you’ll have helped set up the balloon and will be waiting with anticipation in the basket itself – that’s right – you, in the basket of a hot air balloon, your dream being realised. Imagine the butterflies in your tummy when it dawns on you that you’ve actually started rising, when you realise the basket is no longer on the ground, your airborne!

This could be you with just one phone call, or a couple of clicks. You can book online, read more about Balloons Over Britain and our member companies on our site, call us for a chat, or even book it with us over the phone; it’s simple, just call 0845 071 6388 or visit us at www.balloonsoverbritain.co.uk.

Only at Alba Ballooning can you look forward to a flight this September with a £20 discount PER PERSON! In celebration of 11 years in operation, here at Alba Ballooning we’ve decided to show our customers the gratitude we feel for their consistent loyalty and custom. We offer balloon rides near Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh and the surrounding and truly stunning Lothian and Peeblesshire countryside. You can even book flights over the scenic region of Perth, Kinrosshire and Fife, and our newly acquired flight location of the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders along with Northumberland from near Morpeth.

If you’re thinking about getting involved remember, we schedule daily flights during early morning and evening slots, this way we’re able to capture the most beautiful parts of the day. Our flights run from mid March to late October and you’ll find that we fly during the winter period on occasion. With a fleet of three balloons each with baskets to accommodate between 6 and 12 passengers, we have the choice to tailor the flight to your individual requirements. Each balloon basket is sectioned into comfortably padded 2 or 3 person compartments which have safe high sides. But what pleases our customer the most is our friendly and personal touch combined with our professional service.

We relish the fact that our balloons take no more than 12 passengers, that’s quite enough! There are many companies who have balloons that will take 16 passengers and treat their customers like they’re buying tickets for a bus journey. With us we like to make our customers feel special and we consistently strive to make your day individual, magical.

We do not oversell more places than we are able to fly, this way we know that everyone will have plenty of opportunity to fly with us without the extensive waiting lists! In fact we even go as far as to display our Flight Schedules online so that you can see for yourselves when you’re likely to be in the air. Still, it always helps to talk to a person when booking an adventure such as this, so if you have any questions at all, or would simply rather book over the phone, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01875 830709.

It is thanks to their clear passion for ballooning, their great wealth of experience and their unblemished safety record that Bailey Balloons have earned themselves their remarkable reputation in the world of ballooning. Ran by Jo and Clive Bailey the company boast a friendly and personal ballooning experience and based in Bristol, they have their pick of stunning flights paths!

Bailey Balloons have a large fleet of various sized balloons which means they are capable of tailoring the flight to suit the individual. Whether it’s a balloon ride for two or a party for 16, Bailey Balloons can accommodate. The fleet includes;

G-CEWX – Original 106.5, Cameron Z350 is the newest passenger rides balloon and has a basket fitted with seats!

G-CESC – The Klober Balloon is the latest edition to the Bailey Balloons fleet and was built in Bristol at the Cameron’s factory. This balloon was used to promote Permo Air- a high end roofing underlay.

G-CDIH - Cameron Z 275 is a relatively new balloon which can carry up to 12 to 14 passengers and is used from launch sites in Bristol, Bath and South Wales. This balloon has BAILEY BALLOONS around the circumference.

G-BYYD – The Cameron A 250 (250 thousand cubic feet) is flown from launch sites in Bristol, Bath and South Wales. It can be flown from other launch sites by special arrangement and carries 12 passengers. This balloon has tasteful maroon, red and white vertical stripes.

G-CEDF – EDF – Owned by EDF Energy and operated by Bailey Balloons, the EDF energy balloon is used for exclusive balloon flights for two from the main launch sites and from other launch sites by special arrangement. Bailey Balloons have operated balloons for SWEB (now EDF Energy) for 10 years.

G-BWUU – Discovery Channel Balloon – The Discovery Channel sponsored the 2005 and 2006 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and in 2005 Clive Bailey flew from the main arena at the fiesta with Ian Ashpole suspended underneath the balloon sitting on a Chopper Motorbike! Ian leapt of at 3,500 feet and parachuted safely down. The stunt was filmed by Sky News. This balloon is used for exclusive flights.

G-CBNW – The Bristol and West hot air balloon has been in operation for six years and is used for 2-3 person exclusive hot air balloon flights. This balloon was also used in the James Bond stunt at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta in 2003.

G-CDLB – The BASS is a special shaped balloon which was introduced in 2005. This balloon made history when at the 2005 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, it became the Highest Pint Pulled. A beer engine was installed and the Captain of Bristol Rugby Team pulled a pint 3,500ft above Bristol.

G-DSPK – Another Balloon made by Cameron’s in Bristol. This balloon is flown by Bailey Balloons for D S Smith Packaging and is coloured blue, red and white, holding 5 – 6 passengers.  It can be hired exclusively and flown from Bristol, Bath, South Wales or other launch sites by arrangement.

G-BSOF – Thunder and Colt A25 Cloud Hopper – Jo used a similar balloon for the Landrover Discovery advert in Vancouver in September. A one person balloon that is used for filming and fun.