Update from Sally Everton - Director
1st October 2019
Visit Devon’s Director, Sally Everton, has been busy driving promotion internationally and encouraging visitors to come to Devon.
In September Sally has been working on the following:
DOMESTIC
- Continuing with meetings throughout the month with existing members and potential new members about the VisitDevon benefits and being involved.
- Active sales calls to secure partnership funding VEMEX 2019 and IBTM to enable our attendance.
- Itinerary planning for blogger / influencer for travelling by train covering Devon with pre school children 'Midlands Mummy'.
- Other journalist requests - food and drink hotspots and food festivals.
- The Guardian - re Best Forest Stays in Britain - Dartmoor number 5 - see link https://amp.theguardian.com/travel/2019/sep/28/20-best-forest-stays-autumn-uk-log-cabins-cottages-camping?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&__twitter_impression=true
- Keeping in touch meeting regional manager - GWR.
- Attend Safe & Legal dinner with SWTA - to continue to lobby safe and legal accommodation.
- Meeting with Emma Mead Head of Global PR for VisitEngland as SW region re Staycation domestic campaigns targeting Microgapping and Family in early 2020.
- Various meetings with the SWTA, VisitEngland, TDA, the LEP re the LIS and tourism sector deal.
- ATP - keeping in touch meetings and planning for 2020.
- Attend GWR Annual Conference - new and more frequent timetables, rolling stock, new stations and much more.
- Produced a series of short promotional films for Devon - use for members, the media and social media.
- VisitDevon marketing meeting- planning our campaigns for next 12 months
- Hosting various journalists and bloggers for future coverage on Devon, activities, targeting pre school children and empty nesters
- Strategy planning day - VisitDevon board
- Board Meeting - VisitDevon
INTERNATIONAL
- Active sales calls to secure partnership funding VEMEX 2019 and IBTM to enable our attendance.
- CVENT membership set up VisitDevon platform - RFPs especially for the US meeting planners.
- Content for VisitBritain writer on Devon to cover global market. Submit
- Rosenbluth Vacations (US agent) - clients in Devon for 10 days, said it was best vacation they have ever had. Testimonial available.
- Confirm VEMEX 2019 - largest media event in the US. Partner funded.
- Confirm sales week on East coast of US - with VisitCornwall October 2019
- Confirm our attendance at VIBE (VisitBritain International Business Exchange) in October and request appointments
- Working on partner participation for IBTM in November - targeting business tourism
- Meeting with US agents re Devon itineraries - at Bovey Castle
- Meetings with both Plymouth and Dartmouth Mayflower 400 re US markets
- Liase with Chinese blogger from Shanghai - from DB China 2018
- Planning for 2020 events - working in collaboration with VisitCornwall
DEF PROJECT
- Continue to work with VisitCornwall and the tour operators /agents and DMC's to get our product onto their selling platforms for late 2019 and 2020
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES - Trade show and press/buyer educationals
- VEMEX 2019 - annual US media event LAST CALL CLOSING FRIDAY OCTOBER 4th: Partner opportunities to get in front of US travel and lifestyle press, bloggers and influencers
- US Sales Mission - October 2019 Partnership opportunities LAST CALL CLOSING FRIDAY OCTOBER 4th
- WTM November London November 2019 Partnership opportunities
- IBTM - November 2019 - Partnership opportuntities LAST CALL - CLOSING FRIDAY OCTOBER 4TH
- Camping and Caravan Show -Feb 2020 NEC Partnership opportuntities
- Press and FAM visit requests - national and provincial. Requests covering all areas