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Month: May 2018

Sweet success for ‘Southport Pick ‘n’ Mix’

A new travel trade initiative introduced by Visit Southport to attract more groups to the town is being hailed a success, with interest up around 15% year-on-year.

‘Southport Pick ‘n’ Mix’ was launched at the British Tourism & Travel Show in March. Developed jointly with coach tourism consultancy Stuart Render Tourism, the initiative offers a range of inspiring ideas for a bespoke 4-night itinerary for groups. It gives group travel organisers and coach tour operators the opportunity to combine the town’s many attractions with visits to attractions in the surrounding area.

Southport

 

Steve Christian, destination development manager with Visit Southport says that the initiative has been one of the most successful trade campaigns in recent years.

“In 2017 Southport went through a re-branding exercise, introducing a new strapline ‘Different Every Time’. When we were looking for ideas for a trade campaign to support the new branding, we came up with ‘Southport Pick ‘n’ Mix’. We launched it at the British Tourism & Travel Show where, I’m delighted to say, it seems to have captured the attention of GTOs and coach tour operators in a way we haven’t seen for many years.

“The level of interest has far exceeded our expectations. Supported by our trade media advertising and PR activity the flow of enquiries coming into our trade team is around 15% up year-on-year. What we’re hearing is that while most GTOs and coach operators know about Southport, they hadn’t really given much thought about coming to visit. They’re telling us that not only does the ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix product stand out, but it also makes it so much easier to understand what the group offer is.”

Southport

 

The ‘Southport ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix’ attractions and destinations that groups can visit in the surrounding area include WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre near Ormskirk, the National Trust’s Formby Beach, Samlesbury Hall near Preston, The World of Glass in St Helens, Ena Mill and The Courtyard, Tarleton, and a full day out in Liverpool.

Southport

 

The launch of ‘Southport Pick ‘n’ Mix’ follows on from the introduction of the ‘Southport Welcome’, an initiative launched at the end of 2016 to remind coach operators tour planners why the seaside destination is coach and group friendly.

For more information and to obtain a free copy of ‘Southport ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix’, email steve.christian@sefton.gov.uk. For more information about Southport, go to www.visitsouthport.com

Southport

New Lanark Mill Hotel celebrates 20th anniversary with 4-star rating from VisitScotland

New Lanark Mill Hotel, situated at the heart of New Lanark Mills World Heritage Site in Scotland, has received a 4-star grading from VisitScotland.

 

New Lanark Mill Hotel
New Lanark Mill Hotel is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new 4-star rating from VisitScotland

The accolade comes at the same time as the hotel is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

A two-year investment programme of around £350,000 has seen all 38 bedrooms refurbished to a modern, contemporary style. All the bedrooms look out onto the River Clyde or the surrounding conservation area. The hotel features a heated indoor swimming pool, gym, sauna and steam room, the Mill One restaurant, a bar and spacious lounges.

The move from a 3-star to a 4-star rating doesn’t affect existing group rates, which remain unchanged.

The hotel building was originally one of the four mills that made up New Lanark Village, the 18th century cotton mill village set alongside the River Clyde, now less than one hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh. By the 1990s, ‘Mill No. 1’ was in an advance working state of disrepair. The New Lanark Trust made the welcome decision to restore the building and turn it into a hotel. After many years of painstaking work the hotel opened in May 1998.

Commenting on the 4-star rating, John Stirrat, the hotel’s general manager, says: “Over the last two years we’ve invested heavily in the hotel, so I’m absolutely delighted that VisitScotland has awarded us its prestigious 4-star rating. This isn’t just about the building of course, but testament to all the staff who work here. In January this year we launched ‘Spinning a New Yarn’, a new travel trade campaign to raise awareness of what we have to offer groups. That has encouraged more group travel organisers and coach tour operators to take a closer look at what we have to offer. Our new 4-star rating looks set to make the hotel even more attractive to groups wanting to experience the delight of waking up in a World Heritage Site.”

New Lanark Mills World Heritage Site is set in a beautiful location alongside the picturesque River Clyde and the nearby ‘Falls of Clyde’ waterfalls. Visitors can discover Scotland’s hidden past and see how villagers lived, learned and worked with recreated millworkers’ houses, historic working machinery and the ‘Annie McLeod Experience’, a ‘dark ride’ that tells the story of a child millworker. The Mill Shop offers an extensive range of contemporary gifts, souvenirs, Scottish produce and the New Lanark Wool & Textiles range.

Stuart Render Tourism launches press release-writing service for coach operators

Coach tourism consultancy Stuart Render Tourism has launched a new press release-writing service for small and medium-sized coach operators.

 

The new service aims to offer professional support for those coach operators that want to raise their profile in the local and regional media but who don’t necessarily have the time or knowledge to carry out that activity for themselves.

As part of the new service, operators will also be given professional advice and guidance on generating more positive PR stories to help enhance their reputation in their local communities.

The introduction of the new service builds on work carried out by the consultancy with destinations, visitor attractions and tourism suppliers to attract more coaches and groups.

“Talking with coach operators I’ve found that when it comes to shouting about their good news, they can find that writing a press release, or coming up with ideas that will generate positive PR, presents a real challenge,” says Stuart Render. “Whether it’s talking about a new coach, staff successes, the latest tour programme or a new product, this new service offers a low-cost solution that will enable operators to promote their successes and maximise positive PR opportunities.”

For more information, call Stuart on 07760 172773, or email stuart@stuartrendertourism.co.uk

 

 

Salisbury Showcase shows city is open for tourism

A special trade-only tourism event – ‘Salisbury Tourism Showcase’ – is to be held to remind tour planners that Salisbury is open for visitors.

Organised by VisitWiltshire and Steve Reed Tourism, the free event will be held in the city on 21 May.

The event has been organised following the poison attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in March, and the resulting drop in visitor numbers.

The government has allocated £2.5 million to support the recovery of businesses in Salisbury, including £200,000 to boost tourism.

Salisbury tourism
The Salisbury Tourism Showcase will highlight why the city is ideal for group visits

The showcase will start at 10am in Cathedral Close in Salisbury, and include a visit to Salisbury Cathedral, which is home to a copy of Magna Carta.

The afternoon includes visits to Mompesson House and Gardens; Arundells, the home of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath; and other Salisbury attractions.

The event is free to group travel organisers, coach tour operators and other tour planners, but subject to availability and eligibility.

For more information, email Steve Reed at Steve Reed Tourism on steve@stevereedtourism.co.uk.

Salisbury Tourism
Mompesson House is one of Salisbury’s most visited attractions
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