TOURISM conferences in Wiltshire and Cornwall in March have been announced as part of the South West Tourism Growth Fund, with the aim of helping businesses in the region to do things differently and increase tourism throughout the year.
The conferences are at Bowood House near Chippenham on 10th March and at the Eden Project near St Austell on 16th March. The speakers at the Bowood event include adventurer and author Simon Reeve, Harry Murray MBE, chairman of Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa near Bath, and Lord Lansdowne, leader and entrepreneur who has been at Bowood’s helm for 44 years. There will also be experts in running B&Bs, using Twitter and hospitality marketing.
Bowood House (pictured) has been the Lansdowne family home for more than 250 years. It is set in beautiful grounds next to a large lake, created by Capability Brown back in the 1760s. Additional attractions include an adventure playground, a championship golf course and a boutique hotel. Lord Lansdowne’s vision, over the past 40 years, has been to harness Bowood’s natural assets while preserving its heritage by creating something that interests all tastes and ages.
The Cornwall speakers include travel journalist Simon Calder, customer services and marketing expert Geoff Ramm, Malcolm Bell of Visit Cornwall and experts covering hospitality marketing and case studies from other tourism businesses.
The conferences and related workshops across the South West are intended for those who are keen to attract more year-round tourism business, and especially for those looking for customers in May to July, or at times when English children are at school.
There are currently multi-million-pound marketing campaigns in Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, USA, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand promoting the South West region.
Malcolm Bell says: “To make the most of this once in a decade investment by the government, we need businesses to be ready to capture and deliver for these new customers and improve your profitability.”
To find out more or to book a place at one of the conference visit www.swtgfevents.co.uk