A November update from our General Manager
2nd December 2017
Sally Everton, Visit Devon General Manager has been driving promotion and encouraging visitors into Devon.
Sally has been working on the following during November:
- Meeting with Devon Farms – update on VisitDevon and partnership opportunities
- Round the table discussion with Sally Balcombe CEO VisitBritain and Andrew Stokes Director of VisitEngland at the VB offices in London, re opportunities to raise Devon as a DMO further and at little costs. Also access to John Glen MP -Tourism Minister and others to get our voice heard
- Meeting with new Head of Business Visits and Events – Kerrin MacPhee VisitBritain. Keen to assist us in establishing Devon as key destination for BE
- Meeting with Carol Dray – Commercial Director of Visit Britain and her team who are all new – discuss ways of working to benefit us
- Host US blogger – Jackie Gebel US Food and Travel blogger Noleftovers (4 days) with 330K Instagram followers, 310 YouTube followers. Exeter, East Devon, Plymouth, Dartmoor
- Host Lynda Falcone – Head of VB Canada – 3 days covering Exeter, Lympstone Manor, Exeter Chiefs, Salcombe Gin, Dartmoor and Mid Devon
- World Travel Market – courtesy of Amanda Lumley allowing me to be part of the Mayflower 400 stand, as well as good awareness for VisitDevon
- VisitBritain Marketing and PR team (9 pax) in Devon for 3 days. Again educating and raising awareness of the diversity of Devon for the global team. * Carolyn Custerson met them for lunch at Torquay
- Attend Destination Plymouth annual conference (Excellent)
- Meeting with various members potential, new and existing. The Deer Park, Donkey Sanctuary, Bovey Castle, Dartington Hall, Lympstone Manor
- Meeting with VisitExmoor and VisitNorthDevon re SW Showcase and working together
- Meeting with GWR in Swindon – re working together and developing links to SW England
- Meeting with AYA Venues – Julie Archer in Bristol re Biz tourism to Devon.
- South West Showcase – Gala dinner in Bristol, followed by day of appointments with 22 key global buyers
- Host FAM trip to 7 buyers who chose Devon, Gala dinner at Dartington Hall, followed by day of activities, key attractions and food and drink (England’s Seafood Coast)
- Follow up from VIBE, WTM, Destination Britain North America
- Admin - numerous requests from press, buyers, bloggers. Itineraries for key tour operators such as Kuoni, Abercrombie & Kent, AC Lux, Crystal Travel & Tours, Black Tie Events amongst others, and for Visit Britain Shop Window. Secure funds for Vakantibeurs for January to stand share with VisitCornwall
Looking ahead to December:
SW Tourism Alliance Dinner – Dec 5th
China Working Group – in association with VisitBritain and CBBC. To grow the overall experience for the Chinese visitor outside London for experiential itineraries
Business Tourism meeting – second meeting with relevant partners to incorporate this key segment into our strategy – Dec 6th
Partnership Opportunities 2018
There are partnership opportunities to attend or be involved with national and international trade shows as VisitDevon, please contact me for further details.
- Vakantibeurs – 10th – 15th January 2018. Utrecht (partnership funding required – opportunities being discussed with SW Partnership group to keep costs to a minimum. We have £4,500 towards this. Please contact me should you wish to be part of this key trade show targeting the Dutch markets.
- ExploreGB – 1st – 2nd March 2018. Newcastle. (Registered to attend – sold out and on wait list but will require partner funding) **Have now secured a place to attend. Funding required
- ITB Berlin – March 2018 (To be partner funded) Again discussions with SW partnership Group. Please contact me or we will miss the chance. Key to growing the German market
- IMEX Frankfurt – May 2018 (to be partner funded – business tourism) has been discussed with partners at the Business Tourism meeting on the 17th October at Sandy Park. Will send formal invitation. Already sold out, but being new to market – VisitEngland will allow us to stand share
- MeetGB – in London April 2018. (To be partner funded – business tourism) Incentive, corporate buyers hosted by VisitEngland. Buyers from Europe, North America and UK
- Destination Britain North America – Oct 2018 (To be partner funded – 25% already secured) Venue TBA by Visit Britain in early 2018. 75% sold out. Registered already
- Destination Britain China – Nov 2018 (To be partner funded –) Venue TBA by March 2018
- ITBM – Nov 2018 (To be partner funded – business tourism)
- WTM – November 2018. Excel London. (To be partner funded)