ISSUE 27 www.oxfordshirecotswolds.orgnews AUGUST 2013 Good News for Tourism: The Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review

The Government recently announced their “Retaining our budget will help us to maintain our core Comprehensive Spending Review and generally this was activity that includes: supporting and stimulating local good news for tourism. areas and their tourism businesses to deliver, manage and market a quality tourism product throughout the VisitEngland ( ) saw no change www.visitengland.org country; amplifying national campaigns at local level in their core grant. VisitBritain ( ) www.visitbritain.org through the Regional Growth Fund; leading on national saw a (relatively small) cut of 5%. The tourism bodies marketing campaigns; providing research and industry were pleased and reassured by this clear commitment intelligence, business tools, and industry platforms to from Government to tourism in England. facilitate continual progress and sustained growth.” VisitEngland’s Chairman Lady Cobham said: VisitBritain’s Chairman Christopher Rodrigues CBE said: “We recognise the public purse is under ever increasing “This is a good result for us and clear evidence of pressure so we are delighted that tourism’s significant Ministers’ commitment to the tourism industry. This contribution to the economy has been recognised by Government understands the importance of tourism Secretary of State, Maria Miller, and Tourism Minister, as one of the country’s leading export industries and Hugh Robertson, in securing this settlement. Our a powerful engine of job creation. We appreciate the role is to grow tourism in England. We never lose efforts of Hugh Robertson and Maria Miller in batting sight of this goal and we will continue to work closely for us through a tough spending round.” with Government and the private sector to ensure continued support for the industry.

Yet another accolade!

Congratulations to the Feathered Nest Country Inn, who just seem to keep on winning awards and accolades at the moment.

In May they were named Tourism Pub of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2013; they also gained a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

In June their Front of House Manager, Carl Morgan, was one of the Cotswolds Tourism Superstar finalists and now they have won the ‘Best Pub Restaurant’ at the Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards 2013.

www.thefeatherednestinn.co.uk

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Marketing the Oxfordshire Cotswolds

Go! Asia Pacific Destination Britain North America We are now In September the Oxfordshire Cotswolds will be entering our 7th represented at Destination Britain North America in year of targeting the USA in a North American programme hosted by the emerging China VisitBritain. market as part of the Tourism South Over 90 tour operators from the United States and East Go! Asia Pacific Canada will be attending the mission. The key aim of campiagn. this event is to gain new business contacts in addition to building on existing relationships. Tourism South East has established itself Through meeting with qualified leads we will be as the most active region in the China market outside promoting the Oxfordshire Cotswolds as a must see of London. Their successful engagement with the market visitor destination to the lucrative North American allows the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and our partners region. to target the China and Asia market place and gain a foothold in one of the top predicted growth markets.

This campaign includes targeting trade and media in the Asia Pacific Region focussing on China and Hong Kong, with potential additional activity in Korea, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Meeting VisitEngland’s overseas team VisitBritain International Business Exchange In July we were invited to meet the VisitEngland overseas team in London. Representatives from the following In October we will again be attending the VisitBritain markets attended; Asia Pacific, Brazil, Italy, North America, International Business Exchange in London where we Northern Europe, Central Europe and Ireland. will meet with all of their Market and PR specialists from around the world as well as their London Head Office. This was a great opportunity to highlight new products for 2013/2014 as well as cement key relationships to Over 180 UK Travel Trade companies attend this event ensure that the Oxfordshire Cotswolds is a featured and it is one of the biggest London based events of the destination within these markets. year. This event gives us the opportunity to discuss how our destination product fits in each market, enabling us to maximise our exposure from the local trade press and ultimately get more international business.

There will be representatives from the following markets in attendance: Brazil, Canada, USA, Australia, China, India, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

This is a great opportunity to showcase the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org The Oxfordshire Cotswolds Tourism Superstar

The search for the very first Oxfordshire Cotswolds Tourism Superstar is over: the initiative, a search for the unsung heroes of local tourism, was run by West Oxfordshire District Council in partnership with VisitEngland and the Witney Gazette - the first time the national initiative has been developed at a local level. Businesses were asked to nominate their superstars and then an online public vote was run, so the residents of West Oxfordshire picked their winner.

Hayley Beer, Tourism Services Manager for West Oxfordshire District Council, commented:

“We are delighted to be the first destination in England to run the Tourism Superstar initiative at a local level and we have had a fantastic response. We had an extremely high calibre of nominations for the award and the public really got on board and engaged with the voting. It is great to be able to celebrate the talent we have here in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds that help make it such a superb visitor destination”.

The ten shortlisted candidates (pictured above with David Cameron, MP and Lady Cobham, Chairman of VisitEngland), who were nominated for the Oxfordshire Cotswolds Tourism Superstar, were:

• Graham Kew (Minster Lovell Experience) • Amanda Baker (The Old Swan & Minster Mill) • Lorna Dillon () • Walter Stewart-Brown (Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park) • Tony Simmons (Combe Mill) • Biz Gooddy (Wheelgate House B&B and Biztro) • Stephen Baughan (Aston Pottery) • Bill “Spectre” Ritchie (Bill Spectre’s Ghost Trails) • Carl Morgan (The Feathered Nest Country Inn) • Richard Martin (Cotswold Woollen Weavers)

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Tourism Superstar

Then at the Oxfordshire Cotswolds Summer Networking event, kindly hosted by Eynsham Hall, Walter Stewart-Brown was announced as West Oxfordshire’s first ever Tourism Superstar by the Rt Hon David Cameron, Prime Minister and MP for Witney.

Walter, aged 23, a food and beverage assistant at the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park, was nominated by his employers as someone who helps to make customers’ visits extra special and goes above and beyond the call of duty to offer them an unforgettable experience.

Walter was thrilled to be the winner and said:

“The award means so much. I love the customer interaction and the hospitality industry is such fun. Ensuring that customers have a good experience gives me a lot of pleasure and I hope they will come back and visit. I am very passionate about West Oxfordshire and Heythrop Park and I like to share this with visitors.”

David Cameron said at the event that he had a personal passion for West Oxfordshire and a personal passion for the issue of tourism. He went on to say:

“Locally this is massively important with 12% of people working in tourism related industries and we welcome over 4 million people each year. We’ve got some fantastic natural resources, amazing countryside, some fantastic heritage and we’ve also got brilliant pubs, shops, high streets. I would like to commend VisitEngland and West Oxfordshire District Council for the work they do for tourism. One of the keys to succeeding in tourism is making sure that people come, and then come back again. The level of repeat visits depends on how well people are looked after, how good the attractions are, how good the service is and how warm the welcome is. I think we do give people a warm welcome in our country, but you can always raise standards up and doing this Champions’ initiative is highlighting some really good individual performances to set as role models for others. It is an excellent scheme and has my complete backing.”

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Tourism Superstar

The event was also attended by Lady Cobham, Chairman of VisitEngland and over 100 local industry representatives.

Lady Cobham stated:

“The Oxfordshire Cotswolds is the first destination to run a local Tourism Superstar, pioneered originally by VisitEngland. I’m delighted to see this national campaign adopted at a local level and believe they will provide the blueprint for many more destinations to follow in their footsteps.”

Cllr Richard Langridge of West Oxfordshire District Council said:

“Thank you to everyone who took part in this competition, we had some excellent nominations and it was good to see the public supporting them all online. They are our unsung heroes who help make tourism the huge success it is in West Oxfordshire.”

We would like to congratulate all the finalists in the competition who are great ambassadors for the destination.

To view footage of the event and presentation of the award go to www.witneytv.co.uk/videos/oxfordshire-cotswolds-tourism-superstar-awards

For more information and images go to www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/superstar

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org ...and more marketing news

Group Leisure and Travel Group Travel Trade Fair at Trade Show Heythrop Park

For the past few years the Oxfordshire Tourism South East has announced it will be holding a Cotswolds have had an exhibition stand at ‘Beautiful South Group Travel Fair’ at De Vere Heythrop the Group Leisure and Travel Trade Show at Park Hotel on Saturday 1 March 2014. Birmingham NEC. This is a great opportunity for tourism businesses large and small who are looking to grow their group business. This exhibition invites more than 250 group travel buyers such as women’s institute leaders, retirement associations, social group leaders, youth groups and tour itinerary planners to come along to this one day event, discover group travel product around Oxfordshire and further afield.

This year the exhibition is on the 18/19 September and we will be one of 200 exhibitors at what is undeniably Britain’s biggest and most successful annual group travel event, attracting 2,000 visitors to a two day bonanza of group travel ideas, offers, holidays and services. This is a value for money event, ideal for smaller This is the perfect way to meet group travel businesses and a show described as an event to discover organisers, leading coach operators and trade ‘Hidden Gems’. The event will be working in conjunction buyers. with , with free shuttle service available to visitors as an add on to their day out at the show. If you are interested in being a partner at this show please contact Diane Blackwell Stand rates start from £295 and stand share options are also available.

To discover more contact Joanne Channon at Tourism South East - E: [email protected] T: 02380 625472

Visitor Guide Work is now underway on the design and content of the 2014 Oxfordshire Cotswolds Visitor Guide, which will be ready by November 2013.

If you would like to advertise in the publication please contact Diane Blackwell.

To view a downloadable version of the current guide: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/guide

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org A baby rhino is born News in brief Great news from the Cotswold Wildlife Park, who have announced the birth of their first baby Rhino. VICs selling tickets for the Born to first time parents Nancy and Monty on the 1 July, Big Feastival the baby is doing fine and can be seen daily from 10am - Burford and Witney Visitor Information 6pm in the paddock, in front of the Manor House, which Centres are selling tickets for the Big the rhinos share with a herd of Chapman’s Zebras. Feastival – the joint venture between Jamie Oliver and Alex James at Churchill Heath Farm in Kingham.

There’s something for everyone at The Big Feastival – between eating, drinking and dancing, drop in on a celebrity cook- off, shop ’til you drop or take a spin around the vintage funfair!

The festival takes place on the 31 August and the 1 September.

If you are interested in the Visitor Information Centres selling tickets for your attraction or event, then please Photographic Competition contact Vivienne Stobo This year’s competition was won by Paul Chapman from Enstone, who sent in a beautiful image of the Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Restaurant Cotswolds countryside. Awards Paul received a beautiful canvas print of his winning image, created by Blueprint Imaging Limited, mounted onto a 30 Good luck to all the local restaurants that x 20 inch art canvas and ready to hang on his wall. have been nominated for the Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards.

Voting is now open, so please vote and let’s try and ensure a local winner!

www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk

Blenheim Palace Highly Commended

Congratulations to Blenheim Palace, who were Highly Commended in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2013.

The Bedroom Browser Oxfordshire Business Awards Many thanks to all those businesses that supported this The Awards Dinner was held on the 21 June year’s revamped bedroom browser. at the Thames Four Pillars Hotel.

The browser has been widely distributed to Congratulations to Cotswold Woollen accommodation providers but if for any reason, you’ve Weavers (finalists in the Milton Park Small not seen or collected copies of this year’s browser please Business Award) and The Old Swan & contact Chris Jackson Minster Mill (finalists in the Four Pillars Cultural Events & Tourism Award) www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org New Cotswold Visitor Giving Scheme launched

The Cotswolds Visitor Giving Burford-based Manor Cottages, which scheme, set up by the Cotswolds operates over 250 holiday cottages Conservation Board, is modelled throughout the Cotswolds, was the first on similar schemes elsewhere - in business to sign up to the scheme and is particular the Lake District National looking forward to playing its part in helping Park, which has successfully raised to look after the Cotswolds. more than £2m over nearly two decades for environmental and “We are very proud to be able to support landscape enhancement projects. the Cotswolds through this scheme. As a long-standing provider of holiday The scheme works through tourism accommodation in the Cotswolds, we fully businesses asking their customers for appreciate the need to conserve the very a small voluntary donation via their asset that attracts visitors here in the first bill or fees in recognition of their place. We have therefore agreed to donate impact on the environment on which an additional pound to every one pound the tourism industry relies. donation generated through our bookings, which will go towards supporting worthwhile projects The money raised by businesses will go towards a in the Cotswolds,” said Manager, Chris Grimes at the range of landscape and environmental projects across launch of the scheme. the Cotswolds to help conserve its natural beauty and enable people to access and enjoy the area now and in For further details of the scheme, please go to: the future. www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/visitorgiving

Free Social Media Seminars Free Disability Awareness Training

Urban Element, a web design VisitEngland still have free places available on their and online marketing company online disability awareness training programme. based in Witney, are offering complimentary social media The course, designed in partnership with seminars on using Twitter and LinkedIn. DisabledGo, looks at different types of impairment and offers practical advice on providing an The seminars are intended to help local businesses accessible service and acceptable language to use improve their online marketing strategy and use of when communicating with disabled customers. social media. They are running sessions in August and September (see Diary Dates section). With one in six people having an ‘activity limiting’ health problem or disability, it is a great way to help www.urbanelement.com tourism staff deliver excellent service to disabled customers.

Free ‘Accommodation Know-How’ The course consists of six modules, VisitEngland’s Accommodation Know-How website which can be is now completely free for all users. completed The website offers clear guidance and practical online at your information on the legislation that affects convenience. accommodation businesses, including a handy The whole checklist and updates on the latest legislation course takes affecting health and safety, food and drink, marketing between one and two hours to complete. laws, premises, guests, staff, finance and business. Businesses can register for up to 5 free places at: www.accommodationknowhow.co.uk www.disabledgo.com/tourismtraining

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org £3m Cultural DIARYdates Destinations Programme:

open for applications 27 Aug Using LinkedIn effectively Witney, 9:30am - 11am VisitEngland have been working with Arts Council [email protected] England to develop an Arts Lottery Funded programme.

This £3m grant programme aims 27 Aug Using Twitter to promote to drive visitor economy growth your business through building the capacity of Witney, 12:30pm - 2pm arts organisations, museums and destination organisations to work [email protected] in partnership to develop the cultural offer. 18/19 Sept Group Leisure and Travel Trade Show Birmingham NEC Contact Diane Blackwell

19 Sept TSE Members Conference They are encouraging applications from partnerships made up of at least one destination organisation and 23/29 Sept West Oxfordshire Week one cultural organisation.

Partnerships must be able to demonstrate a 24 Sept Using LinkedIn effectively commitment to work together to deliver a series of Witney, 9:30am - 11am outcomes that will drive local visitor economy growth. [email protected] The deadline for applications is 26 September 2013 and there will be 10 to 15 grants of between £250,000 24 Sept Using Twitter to promote and £350,000. Projects will run from March 2014 for a maximum of three years – ending no later than March your business 2017. Witney, 12:30pm - 2pm

For further details, or to apply, visit the Arts Council [email protected] England website: www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-for- 5/6 Oct VisitBritian International funding/cultural-destinations/ Business Exchange

Join the Oxfordshire Cotswolds on and

West Oxfordshire District Council Tourism Team

Hayley Beer Diane Blackwell Tourism Services Manager Tourism Development Officer [email protected] [email protected] 01993 861561 01993 861553

Chris Jackson Vivienne Stobo Tourism Development Officer Visitor Information Centres [email protected] [email protected] 01993 861563 01993 861780