THREE RIVERS BUSINESS FORUM 8th September 2016

David Curtis-Brignell Head of Destination Partnerships Who are we? Go To Places

In July 2015, County Council and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership awarded the county’s tourism service to destination management specialists Go To Places. During the autumn and winter of 2015/16, the team engaged with tourism suppliers and other key organisations across the county to firmly establish the new Destination Management Service (DMS) for Hertfordshire.

Go To Places Ltd was created by the successful team behind Visit Kent, and specialises in marketing and developing great destinations through partnerships, people, and the public and private sector. The highly experienced team have now developed an engaging destination strategy to strengthen inbound tourism and highlight the wealth of attractions in Hertfordshire.

The story so far

Appointed to Branding and Consumer Brand create and website launched

operate DMS development New Website

May 2016 May

June2016

Extensive – Big Weekend launched

Research 49 attractions, December December 2015

23 Investor – Stakeholder 2000 tickets, Partners January 13000+ entries July July engagement Stakeholder events

Our Investor Partners

 East Herts District Council  St Michael’s Manor  Stevenage Borough Council  The Grove  City and District Council  Laura Ashley Hotel The Manor at  Hertfordshire County Council  Marriott Hotel  Hertfordshire LEP  De Vere Theobalds Park   Warner Bros Studios London, The Making of Harry Potter  The Caravan Club   Govia Thameslink  Paradise Wildlife Park  Lee Valley   Henry Moore Studio and Gardens  Willow Farm  Vertigo Adventures  The Galleria The Branding

The Website The Big Weekend

#HertsBigWeekend results:

• 50 ticket offers 94% Very Good or Good overall satisfaction score • 13380+ applications from residents from residents • 400+ tickets for Family Holiday Association • 9291 website visits • 55,141 Facebook residents reached The Marketing

• PR • Social media • Consumer newsletters

• Gardens and Gourmet The Marketing

• 2-FOR-1

• To promote Hertfordshire as a good value destination • To increases Autumn/ Winter footfall to Hertfordshire’s attractions and destinations • To push off-peak and green travel to Hertfordshire using Govia Thameslink train services • To encourage more day and short break visits to Hertfordshire from London The Networking

• Networking events

• Newsletters – B2B