By Kathryn Davis, Managing Director at Visit West
September heralds the start of a new travel trade season – a vital time for the team at Visit West. This means planning a programme of events, activities, meetings, and discussions with agencies (both in the UK and overseas) to continue to raise the profile of Bristol, Bath, and the West of England.
Visit West ensures that the right mechanisms are in place to meet consumer demand. For group travel, this includes making sure that the right hotels are connected to the right partners. Sometimes, this role is taken by a central office, but often, having insights from locals, such as the employees at Visit West, is essential. The quirky, boutique and homely B&Bs are also vital to fill visitor capacity.
It isn’t just about having a place to stay, though. Connecting cultural, heritage and family attractions and experiences to our network ensures that there is a steady stream of visitors to the West of England, as well as visibility in itineraries both in print and online. Independent travel and online agencies provide us with opportunities to reach new customers – and these are both incredibly important to the success of the region.
This autumn and winter, the Visit West team will be representing the region at key events in the travel calendar, including Visit Britain’s Destination Britain North America 2023, as well as some of the world’s most influential shows like the World Travel Market in London and IBTM in Barcelona. These events host hundreds of key meetings that take place on behalf of the region and its businesses.
Inbound international tourism is a key business in the West Country, with the 2022 International Passenger Survey indicating that Bristol was the 7th most visited destination by overseas visitors, and Bath was the 12th most visited. The Visit West team will continue to welcome travel media and influencers from across the world, further raising awareness and profile of the West of England, inspiring future leisure travellers and business events. Our aim is to make the region the main hub for visits to the UK.
- Log in to post comments