November 2017 media highlights

Consumer news and features

International

Outlet: Go Nomad Reach: average 85,000 UVM Headline: , England, Looks Back and Ahead Date: 11/11/2017 US blogger Max Hartshorne’s first post on Bristol (based on a two-day visit to the city) explored a lit- tle of its darker history (the transatlantic slave trade exhibit at M-Shed) before checking out the very now Cargo. His second post (Bristol, a Seafaring City that looks Forward and Back) appeared in early December.

Outlet: Ryan Air Reach: 1.4 million Facebook, 278k Twitter, 14.7k Youtube. Headline: None. Date: 28/11/2017 With Destination Bristol’s help, Ryanair sent a videographer to shoot a short, lively film on Bristol to include accommodation (Brooks Guesthouse), food and restaurants (St Nicks Market, Paco Tapas, Root, Pinkmans Bakery), street art, street scenes and attractions (SS Great Britain, Insight tours, among others). The film will be shared across Ryanair’s social media platforms.

Outlet: Finding the Universe Reach: 994,141 Facebook / 25.2k twitter / 46.7 k instagram Headline: 2 Days in Bristol: Itinerary and Planning Guide Date: November A post from Laurence and Jessica Norah of Finding the Universe. While in Bristol the pair covered Bristol City Museum, Cabot Tower, the Georgian House Museum, Christmas Steps, St Nicholas Market. Street Art Tour, sunset at suspension Bridge, Day 2 aquarium, cathedral, We the Curious, SS Great Britain and Underfall Yard.

National

Outlet: Travellous World Reach: 8,158 Twitter / 2,271 Instagram Headline: Bristol – Days Trips from London Date: 5/11/2017 London-based Dutch blogger Maaike van Kuijk visited Bristol on the day of eerie light created by Sahara desert haze (her photograph of St Mary Redcliffe looked magnificently weird). In a better light, she compared Bristol’s Harbourside to Rotterdam and waxed lyrical about the beauty of the Old City architecture. Her blog also covered Banksy, Clifton Suspension Bridge and visits to SS Great Britain, Underfall Yard, Red Lodge Museum and Bristol Cathedral.

Outlet: Zanna Van Dijk blog Reach: 177k Instagram /19.6k Twitter Headline: Bristol Travel Guide: A UK City Break Date: 13/11/2017 As part of Visit England’s Influencer ambassador programme – aimed at reaching a Millennial audience - A-list fitness and lifestyle blogger Zanna Van Dijk was one of five key influencers invited to do seasonal trips around England. Zanna spent two days in Bristol, staying at the Harbour Hotel and Brooks Guesthouse. Zanna’s Bristol post covered walks (and jogs) around the city and highlights of the Harbourside and Wapping Wharf, Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road, Clifton and the Old City.

Outlet: Visit England Reach: Mailed to over 2000 press contacts (digital, national, regional). Headline: What’s Hot 2018 Date: 14/11/2017 Visit England’s November press mailing on What’s Hot in 2018 picked out Bristol as one of two Hot Destinations – thanks to the opening of Being , the new Aardman public arts trail, the launch of the new-look Old Vic Theatre, the revamped St Georges concert venue and Bristol Balloon Fiesta’s 40th anniversary. Visit England’s media centre, which compiles the monthly press mailings is largely dependent on information shared by regional DMOs (in this case, Visit Bristol’s own press release on What’s new in 2018).

Outlet: The Sun Reach: Daily readership, 15,68250 Headline: Fab UK Festive Holidays Date: 18/11/2017 A Christmas round-up on the Sun’s Saturday travel pages included Longleat’s Christmas Festival of Light and Bristol’s Spiegeltent.

Local

On Friday 17 November, DB hosted a Christmas-themed press trip for a group of local bloggers designed to showcase the festive offerings of the city. Featured businesses included Pieminister, Bristol Shopping Quarter Christmas Market, Swoon, Pi Shop and the Winter Fair led by We the Curious. Participants were encouraged to share live social media from the event and use #MerryBristmas.

Outlet: Natacha the Franglaise Reach: Facebook x 140, Instagram x 1025, Blog x 996 Headline: Merry Bristmas Date: 23/11/2017 Natacha’s bilingual blog is posted in French and English, helping us to promote Bristol to an international audience. http://www.natachathefranglaise.co.uk/2017/11/hey-visit-bristol-avec-moi-hey-visit.html

Outlet: Heather on her Travels Reach: Facebook x 2.8k, Instagram x 19.1k, Blog x 30k, Google+ x 10.2k, Pinterest x 3.3k Headline: Christmas in Bristol Date: 29/11/2017 As leader of the Bristol chapter of Travel Massive, Heather has a wide and diverse range of connections. https://www.heatheronhertravels.com/christmas-in-bristol/

Outlet: Joyful Bristol Reach: unknown Headline: Joyful Bristol at Christmas Date: 29/11/2017 https://joyfulbristol.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/joyful-bristol-at-christmas/

Outlet: Saucy Pans Reach: Facebook x 488, Instagram x 1.3k, Blog x 2.7k, Twitter x 1.7k+ Headline: Christmas in Bristol (or 6 ways to have a seriously Merry Bristmas) Date: 27/11/2017 This blog’s food focus allowed Pieminister, Swoon and Pi Shop to feature heavily, plus Shonette’s role as Digital Manager for Destination Bristol meant a great opportunity to share on Visit Bristol’s social platforms. https://saucy-pans.com/2017/11/27/christmas-in-bristol-or-how-to-have-a-seriously- merrybristmas/

Outlet: She and Hem Reach: Facebook x 815, Instagram x 5k, Blog x 4k, Twitter x 2.6k Headline: Merry Bristmas with Visit Bristol Date: 02/12/2017 Jo and Victoria’s lifestyle blog has elements of shopping/fashion and parenting/family, which made it a great fit for the Christmas trip. http://sheandhem.co.uk/2017/12/02/merry-bristmas-with-visit-bristol/

Outlet: Practically Perfect Mums Reach: Twitter x 2.8k Headline: Christmas in Bristol and north Somerset – a family guide Date: 04/12/2017 Family activities are the focus of Jane’s blog. As well as including the blogger trip’s Christmas activities, Jane featured the upcoming festive programmes at SSGB, Noah’s Ark and Tyntesfield. https://practicallyperfectmums.co.uk/christmas-in-bristol-and-north-somerset-2017/

Outlet: Ladies what Travel Reach: Facebook x 1.6k, Instagram x 3.2k, Blog x 7.4k, Twitter x 5.3k Headline: Festive fun in Bristol for Christmas 2017 Date: 23/11/2017 Keri and Emma’s blog focuses on affordable luxury. They are South Gloucestershire-based, so this was an opportunity to promote Christmas in Bristol to their regional audience. https://www.ladieswhattravel.com/bristol-christmas-xmas-2017/

Outlet: Porth Jess Reach: Instagram x 43k Headline: none Date: various https://www.instagram.com/porthjess/

Trade

Outlet: South West Business Reach: Unknown Headline: Bristol ranked in top five cities for business meetings Date: 29/11/2017 In response to a Destination Bristol press release, the region’s B2B newsletter/e-zine delivered the news that ‘Bristol has been highlighted as one of the UK’s most popular destinations for business meetings and events in the annual British Meetings & Events Industry Survey’.

Other stories

We spotted a Bristol travel post written for Nor-Folk family blog (8 Cities in 8 Months: Bristol) – though not sure we can forgive the mis-spelling of ‘Greyson’ Perry. Able (the ‘Disability Lifestyle Magazine’) featured a travel article in which a wheelchair user visited the SS Great Britain. And the Tin Box Traveller posted a lovely review of the Mercure Bristol Grand.

Press trips and enquiries (where coverage is forthcoming)

Felicity Byrne from Australia’s Stellar Magazine visited Bristol in November. Sam Mayling from Travel GBI, spent a day in the city looking at attractions from a group travel perspective. From Brazil, two writers from Info Money and Gosto (and other titles) visited on a trip hosted by Destination Bristol and Visit Britain.

Press releases

In November, Destination Bristol compiled detailed press sheets on What’s New and What’s On in 2018. We also issued a press release about Bristol’s role as host for the south-west’s travel trade event, Showcase South West, which was picked up by travel industry magazine Travel GBI; we shared the news that Bristol has been declared a UNESCO City of Film (a permanent status); and announced details of the new Aardman Animations public art trail planned for summer 2018. These were followed by further news releases entitled Bristol named Museum’s Destination of the Year 2018 (part of the Luxury Travel Guide Awards) and we informed members of the travel trade press that Bristol is one of the UK’s top 5 cities for business meetings.

Networking and news

Lesley Gillilan from Destination Bristol’s media liaison team attended a Visit Britain/Visit England workshop and media networking event in London, catching up with national tourism marketing initiatives for 2018 and taking advantage of a chance to meet members of the press. Lesley also visited a Visit Britain’s VIBE PR event in London – a chance to meet, catch up and sell Bristol to Visit Britain’s overseas media reps in a host of territories from France and the Netherlands to China and the USA.