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Major Tourism Conference to Set Out Plans for York’s Future
Story published: Monday, 21 September 2009
Up to two hundred key players from York’s tourism industry will meet at Visit York’s second Annual Conference and AGM on Wednesday 30th September, to be held at York Marriott Hotel.
Prominent speakers, Tobias Ellwood MP, Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Jenny McGee, the new Head of Strategy at Visit England and Nick Cust, Managing Director of York based Superbreak, one of Britain’s most successful tourism operators, will be sharing their views on the future for tourism in York.
Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive for Visit York will be unveiling the company’s new plans for marketing the city and highlighting the successes and achievements of Visit York since it was formed in April 2008.
Since its official launch, Visit York has been working to create a united vision of developments for the future, working closely with the regional tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire and the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward. Closer partnership with the City of York Council has also led to new creative initiatives such as Windows of Opportunity, an initiative launched just last month to create artistic installations in shop windows.
Gillian said, ‘The formation of Visit York has led to a more joined up approach to tourism and is helping us achieve our ambition of being innovators as well as marketers. Exciting joint initiatives such as Illuminating York, Windows of Opportunity and last year the *Grand Tour generate renewed interest in York as a visitor destination. What’s critical for the city is that we never stand still or rest on our laurels. We were delighted to win the title ‘Best UK City’ in the Telegraph Awards for two consecutive years and we need to continue to champion and build upon York’s assets to ensure York is top of the list when people are choosing a holiday in the UK.’
Guests at the AGM will have the opportunity to hear about exciting plans for a new state of the art Information Centre in the heart of the city. Supported by Yorkshire Forward, the City of York Council and York Conservation Trust, the new ‘Visit York Information Centre’ will be opening its doors to the public this winter, replacing the existing service currently located at the De Grey Rooms in Exhibition Square.
John Yeomans, Chairman of Visit York said, ‘Visit York will be leading the way in information services, ensuring that York and Yorkshire have a visitor centre fit for the 21st century, using the very latest technology. The information centre will be very much at the heart of the city and the region, a resource which can be used by residents and visitors – a centre for all.’
A question and answer session will be offered for all businesses attending the AGM and Visit York is very keen to hear the views of local companies. Any businesses who wish to attend the Visit York Conference and AGM need to pre register in advance by calling Julie Kelly on 01904 554457. ENDS
For more information, please contact Kay Hyde, PR Manager, Visit York,
Tel: 01904 554451, email:
kh@visityork.org
Notes to the Editor:
*The Grand Tour was a very successful open air art project which saw replicas of paintings from the National Gallery in London, exhibited around the streets of York in 2008.
At the AGM Visit York Chief Executive will be setting out key objectives in Visit York’s business plan including:
Key objectives:
• To increase the value of tourism to the York economy by creating a stronger and more integrated industry
• To provide leadership to the York tourism industry
• To generate revenues to support the marketing of the city
Visit York’s Vision
To make York the best city to visit in the United Kingdom through partnership with residents, businesses and stakeholders
Visit York’s Mission Statement
To provide inspirational leadership for York tourism, delivering exceptional benefits to its customers
By 2012 Visit York is working to achieve:
Average length of overnight stays sustained at 4 days (2008: 3.9 days).
York tourism supporting 12,000 jobs (2008: 10,600 jobs).
A 3% increase in the ratio of visitors who intend to return to York in the next two years (to 86%)
£50 million investment in tourism over a three year period by public and private sectors 50% of York tourism businesses signed up to a Green Tourism Strategy.
Aspirations for the next three years
The following are some of the proposals which will help Visit York deliver its vision and mission statement. Views on these are welcome at the AGM
A focus on research but also on identifying and forecasting trends more sharply
Grow the value of York’s world class assets
Employ more new technology and user-generated content to sharpen promotional activity and open new marketing channels
Explore opportunities to develop green and sustainable tourism activity
Respond to the opportunities presented in the run-up to 2012 – including training camps and initiatives related to the Cultural Olympiad - events, festivals and other cultural investment
Build on events like Illuminating York, the Festival of Food and Drink, the Mystery Plays
Work as a full partner with Welcome to Yorkshire and tourism partnerships in the region
Achievements in 2008/9
Active contribution to Welcome to Yorkshire and regional marketing activity
Six Day York Pass launched – with more attractions featured than ever before
Transformed website – foreign languages section and a chance to create tailored itineraries – and now over 230,000 users a month
New Visitor Information Centre to be opened Winter 09
Tour of Britain cycle race comes to York for the first time in eleven years
Growth in membership and member services – large increase in member events
Windows of Opportunity – seeking to improve the city centre
City centre retail – dedicated market research and marketing campaign
Support for continued investment in new hotels and activities
Record levels of media relations activity
In the recent annual visitor survey, conducted by Welcome to Yorkshire, 99% of visitors said they would recommend a visit to York
Visit York
Visit York is the new driving force for the city’s tourism industry and the official tourism body for York and the surrounding area. Visit York aims to create a stronger more integrated approach to tourism, working with businesses, Yorkshire Forward and Welcome to Yorkshire. It was formed on 1st April 2008. The Chairman is John Yeomans and the Chief Executive is Gillian Cruddas.
Visit York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure and business visitor, and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York. Visit York is responsible for leisure and conference marketing, visitor services (running the city’s Visitor Information Centres), training and developing the tourism product.
Tourism in York already makes a huge contribution to the well-being of the city, however, Visit York aims to drive this to a higher level. Here are the latest figures:
• 4.09 million visitors a year - 2007/2008 – 08/09 figures to be announced shortly
• £364 million spent in York each year - 2007/2008 – 08/09 figures to be announced shortly
• 10,646 jobs in York created by tourism - 2007/2008 – 08/09 figures to be announced
• Staying visitors generated 2 million bednights - 2007/2008 – 08/09 figures to be announced
• 13% of visitors are from overseas – 08/09 (around a third of these from North America)
• Top overseas markets include USA, Germany, Netherlands and Spain.