Marketing Engagement with English Destinations

What is VisitEngland’s international set-up?

What activity has VisitEngland undertaken overseas?

What future activity does VisitEngland have planned?

How do I work with VisitEngland internationally?

I have heard working with VisitEngland may be more cost effective in relation to media buying, how do I find out more?

How do I ensure my destination is featured more often nationally and internationally?

I understand VisitEngland is doing more with the Travel Trade both domestically and internationally, how can I get involved?

I want to undertake activity in Ireland but do not know who I should speak to?

I know there is a fantastic international opportunity with the Rugby World Cup, who should I speak to?

I have other questions for the Marketing Team in VisitEngland, who should I speak to?

Marketing Contacts

Destination contacts outside of the Marketing Team

What is VisitEngland’s international set-up?

VisitEngland has been active overseas for the last 8 years (first as EnjoyEngland and more recently as VisitEngland) and has had a small number of expert local staff who work on your behalf in Europe and North America since 2008.

VisitEngland works in international markets similarly to its sister agencies, the National Tourist Boards of Scotland and Wales. VisitEngland (and indeed VisitScotland and VisitWales) works predominantly in markets familiar with the UK (e.g. The United States and Germany).

We have staff in  North America (New York)  Northern Europe (Brussels)

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 Central Europe (Berlin)  Southern Europe (Madrid)  Asia-Pacific (Delhi) with short-term contract staffing arrangements in markets such as Australia.

VisitEngland works both with, and on behalf of, approximately 200 destination organisations across .

VisitBritain is active in over 21 international markets and VisitEngland works with VisitBritain to provide English destinations with access to market. We also support the Britain-level strategy for international published by VisitBritain. Please see www..org for more information.

What activity has VisitEngland undertaken overseas?

VisitEngland has invested in International Leisure and Business tourism, delivering destination campaigns in familiar markets predominantly with inbound carriers such as Easyjet, Jet2.com and DFDS for the leisure market and organising England stands as a platform for partners at shows such as IMEX and EIBTM for the business market. We also undertake Press and PR as well as Travel Trade activity with and on behalf of destinations in core markets. However, it should be noted that similarly to our sister agencies, the majority of our funds are focussed on the domestic market.

What future activity does VisitEngland have planned?

VisitEngland has made an application to the Regional Growth Fund which if successful will increase the visibility of English destinations in overseas markets. A decision is expected in July.

VisitEngland will for the first time look to hold a stand at ILTM the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes in December 2013. If you are interested, please get in touch with Polina Perry (Polina.Perry@.org) as soon as possible.

VisitEngland holds an international campaign budget to match-fund English destinations to undertake international promotion. The ambition is that the destination provides 25% of the funds, VisitEngland 25% and an industry partner the final 50%. Please contact Anke Monestel ([email protected]) directly should you wish to know more or discuss your international marketing ambitions generally.

How do I work with VisitEngland internationally?

VisitEngland is your National Tourist Board and we work for and on your behalf. We can act as your sole point of contact for all your needs, be it Destination Management, Marketing, Leisure and Business Tourism and Domestic and International activity. We can then work with VisitBritain in markets where we may not be able to provide the reach you need. For a list of VisitEngland contacts please see below. Please do feel free to talk direct to our overseas staff.

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I have heard that working with VisitEngland may be more cost effective in relation to media buying, how do I find out more?

Please get in touch directly with our Media Manager Manasi Kumar ([email protected]). Manasi is an ex-agency side Media Planner and provides a media advisory service to destinations. We purchase media extremely competitively both domestically and overseas. We can pass this rate on to you.

How do I ensure my destination is featured more often nationally and internationally?

We have a small in-house team of writers and an external Image Library Manager managed by our Editor Emma Field. Please contact her direct to ensure your destination content is used throughout our domestic and international channels. Please note that the Image Library is a free tool for all destinations to store their imagery online; and, if you need new photography please contact Emma ([email protected]) and we may be able to part fund your shoot. VisitBritain have complete access to all of our content and can also use this in their own promotions. Any news in your destination are also very important in our work – we will use these whenever we speak to domestic and international journalists and trade. Please ensure that you feed in information as far enough as possible – particularly international trade and journalists want to know now what is happening in 2014. All news content should be sent to [email protected].

I understand VisitEngland is doing more with the Travel Trade both domestically and internationally, how can I get involved?

Stuart Heath’s team has been working on the travel trade channel particularly through the recent work with Wallace and Gromit as well as an England Expert Travel Trade training module. The overseas teams also attend overseas trade missions and events where we represent English destinations and their product. Please get in touch with Claire Burdall ([email protected]) if you’d like to find out more.

I want to undertake activity in Ireland but do not know who I should speak to?

VisitEngland essentially treats the Irish market as a domestic one but nevertheless has representation in the market where we undertake Press, Trade and Marketing activity. If you are interested in this market please contact Gayle Molloy ([email protected]) who is based in Dublin.

I know there is a fantastic international opportunity with the Rugby World Cup, who should I speak to?

The Rugby World Cup is the 3rd biggest sporting event in the World (after the Olympics and the Football World Cup) and it is held in England in 2015. Approximately 3 million tickets will be sold, with 500,000 being sold internationally. It will be held throughout the country during the shoulder season in September and October. VisitEngland is recognised by the organising body (ER2015) as their principle partner. Host destinations and venues have just been announced and we will work closely with them to ensure that the opportunity is maximized. Whilst many destinations throughout England will benefit from staging games during the tournament there are also opportunities to be involved with the Training Camps and from touring fans who will very often have weeks to enjoy our tourism offer. Please contact Jeremy Brinkworth ([email protected]) for further information.

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I have other questions for the Marketing Team in VisitEngland, who should I speak to?

Georgina Heathcote ([email protected]) is our Destination Marketing Partnerships Manager and would be pleased to talk with you.

Marketing Contacts

Head of International Operations: [email protected] Head of Business Tourism (International): [email protected]

Regional Manager Northern Europe: [email protected] Regional Manager Central Europe: [email protected] Regional Manager Southern Europe: [email protected] Regional Manager North America: [email protected] Regional Manager Asia-Pacific: [email protected] Manager Ireland: [email protected]

Head of Marketing Partnerships: [email protected] Head of Press & PR: [email protected] Head of Marketing: [email protected]

Events & Exhibitions Manager: [email protected] Media Manager: [email protected] Editor: [email protected] Rugby World Cup Project Director: [email protected] Destination Marketing Partnerships Manager: [email protected]

Marketing Director: Alex [email protected]

Destination Contacts outside of the Marketing Team

Head of Destination Management: [email protected] Head of Research & Insights: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications: [email protected]

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