Update from Sally Everton - Director
6th July 2021
Visit Devon’s Director Sally Everton has been busy continuing to drive promotion of Devon as a county and keeping tourism industry up to date with everything that is happening nationally.
In June, Sally has been working on the following:
- Beach accessibility across Devon plus beach wheelchair hire outlets - submit content for VB feature
- Radio interview for GHR Network for Devon Day and it's meaning, and benefits for the county
- HEROG meeting - on behalf of Devon & the GSW Tourism Group (LEP led - now monthly)
- SWTA meetings with regional DMOS/DCMS and continued work on the GSW Recovery plan (fortnightly)
- HotSWLEP working group meetings (fortnightly)
- Exeter Visitor Recovery Group meetings ( monthly)
- DMO Review Roundtable - finalise details with DCMS/invitees and venue
- Coordinate pre DMO roundtable zoom call with all attendees and those not included on the list. Priorities and input
- Mail on Sunday feature - riverside hotels
- Attend business Recovery Webinar run by Visit Britain
- Connections June campaign commences - with competition link to Visit Devon site
- Industry update and activities for the DATA board meeting 9th June
- ITV West Country - interview on half term, Covid restrictions, over tourism etc
- April business Impact Survey results - share with SWTPG
- Meeting with Exeter Airport and SWBC New routes and work on ideas to promote Devon to all routes Manchester, Scotland, Norwich and CI
- Prepare flier to promote Devon to Manchester/Edinburgh/Norwich via the airports, Blue Islands/LoganAir via Judy Groves and Tim Jones
- Numerous meetings/discussions with GSWTP re the Recruitment crisis affecting the sector and sharing information and input on formal paper (ongoing)
- Attend DMO Review Roundtable with South West Region with challenge committee in Tiverton
- KIT's with Vince Flower and update on numerous initiatives
- Media request for content for dog friendly accommodation and attractions across Devon for TravelSupermarket - submit
- Meeting with Caroline Taylor Consulting - on behalf of Kents Cavern
- Ongoing recruitment crisis discussions - media coverage ITV Westcoutry/BBC Spotlight and R Devon.
- Submit content for Talking Tourism Summer Edition (B2B Tourism update for our partners)
- Explore idea of Visit Devon / NHS South West joint initiative to promote vaccination programme to young people working in the hospitality sector, working with Michael Caines.
- Interview with i-news and other national media re recruitment shortages across the sector.
- Content and images to TravMedia for family friendly activities for summer and beyond
- VB update - round up webinar on VB/VE activities, and international c
- Working with GWR and TSWBC on the A 303 ongoing works commencing in September
- HEROG presentation of Recruitment Crisis paper - now part of small task group to tackle issue at government level
- GSWTP business impact survey - input and circulate to members and non members via our newsletter, social media channels etc
- Meeting with new owners at Highbullen - re plans and development of the estate into a luxury upmarket resort
- Meeting with Jo Osman at Blue Islands re working collaboratively and the plans of their collaboration with Aurigney/LoganAir on various routes
- Joint press release with Visit Devon and NHS Devon CCG with Michael Caines backing the vaccine programme, release to the media 30th June 2021. (BBC Spotlight/ITV Westcountry & R Devon)