Good news for groups and their trip planners arriving at this London Airport - you can now speed through immigration and skip the lines.

For planners arranging group travel - perhaps corporate meetings, organized tours, alumni or incentive trips, or sports teams - their group members, who are traveling together, can bypass the lines at Heathrow airport's immigration in terminals three and four (and will soon also be able to do so in terminal five) and head to a dedicated area in the Immigration Arrivals Hall designated "group travel".

This is a free service offered by the UK Border Agency, aiming to offer a warm and efficient welcome to overseas groups. Members of the group are processed by a dedicated Immigration Officer, a great way to fast-track through Immigration and Passport Control, keeping group members together for their baggage collection and onward transportation.

Group planners do not need to make any advance arrangements to use the fast-tracking. However, groups of 100 or more may wish to contact the airport to make arrangements prior to arrival; for arrivals into Heathrow terminal three, contact (011 44) 208 745 6900, and into terminal four, contact (011 44) 208 745 4700.

VisitBritain offers information and planning assistance for meeting planners and group travel organizers at www.visitbritain.com/trade