Update from Sally Everton - Director

1st November 2021

Visit Devon’s Director Sally Everton has been busy continuing to drive promotion of Devon as a county and keeping the tourism industry up to date with everything that is happening nationally.

In October, Sally has been working on the following:

- Continuing with the follow up on BTTS leads and contacts (Internal and external)

- Finalising all content and ensuring landing pages work with RH and DATA for the Golden Ticket competition and associated marketing campaign (internal). Ready to run.

- Working on CSR representation as part of SWTPG to submit to government (external)

- Producing letters of support for planning - these need to be cleared with the board chair before progressing

- Completing and submiting the Business West quarterly ECONOMIC survey highlighting the challenges facing tourism (skills shortages and recruitment issues)

- Making contact with Jo Osman at Blue Islands to continue with our collaboration of working the CI together -both corporate and leisure (external)

- Ongoing work with the HEROG and SWTPG papers - ongoing (external and internal)

- GSWTP meetings - back to fortnightly meetings (external)

- Exeter Visitor Recovery Group submit national industry update from DCMS/Government and SWTPG activity (monthly) (external)

- Working with Susie Jones at DCC RE funding for the businesses Mobile Boost Scheme - will be sharing details with our marketing partners, Ignyte go out via our comms channels

- Meeting with Institute of Hospitality RE working with our members/us

- Attending webinar and subsequent meeting with Indagare Travel RE Devon as a destination for 2022 (itinerary suggestions to list in 2022 brochure)

- Writing content for features and publication on Geneology and Ancestry (Connections Project) for 2022 travel itineraries (external)

- Applying for GWR match funding for our marketing campaign - submit initial EOI (internal)

- Content for BBC Spotlight on half term projections, B&Bs & VAT thresholds etc (external)

- Attending VB webinar - German Market update (can share webinar via WeTransfer if anyone interested) (external)

- Looking after journalist requests from the Conduit Magazine West Dorset (20k readers) Mum's & Dad's Magazine Manchester (60K readers), TravelMag.co.uk; Travel & Motoring Magazine - all for half term week with families, so unable to accommodate.

- Meeting with Excursions organiser - negotiate 'Devon' stand with costs - working with the ATP's. Ongoing (external)

- Emma Middleton - Group Coach Tourism & Travel Today. Meeting to ascertain working together for 2022. Ongoing. (external)

- Visit Devon meetings - campaigns, marketing and board (internal)

- Submit update on summer visitor stats and broader background report to NDevon MPs (external)

- TMI Conference - Virtual attendance as possible during the 2 days (External)

- Present Visit Devon update to DATA board meeting attendees (external)

- Meeting with Miki Travel RE Network event proposal for 2022 itineraries (external)

- ETOA AGM - update on current trends and activity for 2022 for ETOA members (external)

- Ben Lerwill - National Geographic to Exeter and Sidmouth (Press trip - 3 days ) (external)

- Daily general admin in response to emails and calls - Visit Devon (internal)

- Submit video content to Cruise Britain for Devon for 2022 promo (external)

- Working with National Rotarians for promo on Devon - Submit video content (external)