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Kent Greeters Dedicated Media Greeters welcome fellow journalists to Kent. All editors of the Kent Messenger Group and Kent Regional News and Visit Kent Ltd, the official Destination Management Media have volunteered as Media Greeters to Organisation (DMO) for Kent and Medway, promotes welcome visiting journalists from home and overseas to Kent in the run-up to the London collaborative working to support and grow tourism in Olympic Games and beyond. the County. Tourism contributes over £3.2bn for the local economy, benefitting from its reputation as the ‘Garden of England’ and accessibility to London and Europe.

Visit Kent led the creation of Thanet Greeters in 2007, the first Greeters programme in Europe and the first UK members of the international Global Greeters Network (GGN). The programme has subsequently been extended to incorporate the rest of the county of Kent. Richard Karn, Regional Managing Director said: “Our editors are keen to meet and greet visiting journalists and, Visit Kent invested £10k into the programme and was successful in achieving funding through the European Regional Development Fund to set up the Kent whenever possible, we will share our Greeters, initially assisted by Lynn Brooks of Big Apple Greeters. This funding has editorial facilities with them as they also enabled Visit Kent’s French project partners to set up their own programmes undertake their research or file copy.” in Lille and Pas de Calais. Kent now sits on the board of the GGN and plays an LOCOG (The London 2012 Organising active role in its development. Committee) recognised the Kent Greeters through the Inspire Mark in Countryside Greeters were launched as part of the project in June 2011 to 2010, as an exceptional and innovative showcase rural Kent and attract walking and cycling enthusiasts to Kent’s project inspired by the 2012 Games. famously beautiful countryside.

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Practicalities Public liability insurance is covered as long as the volunteer abides by the rules as set out in the Kent Greeters Charter. Greeters must wear their Kent Greeter badge and are given branded jackets as well as backpacks for Countryside Greeters. Greeters must travel by foot or use public transport if necessary. Expenses are not provided and tipping discouraged. Although no formal training is given, new Greeters undertake a guidance greet with an existing Kent Greeter.

Visitors request a meeting through an on-line form which collects visitor profile and interests to match the visitor and Greeter. Once matched, the Greeter then contacts the visitor to confirm meeting place and details. Both Greeter and visitor complete feedback forms and are encouraged to post entries and photographs on the Kent Greeters Facebook page or with TripAdvisor. Kent Greeters receive glowing TripAdvisor reviews, e.g. “My Kent Over 100 Kent Greeters have successfully welcomed over 700 visitors to the Greeter opened up such an interesting county and the programme has boosted civic pride in both residents and narrative about the stories and people business owners. The city of Canterbury Greeters have welcomed the most of Canterbury, not too much history, visitors in Kent. Greeters meet visitors from Dover docking Cruise Ships, but enough to make me want to find particularly popular for short stops to Kent. out more.”

Denise from London, www.tripadvisor.co.uk, May 2011

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Lessons learned

• Volunteers are central to all aspects of the service and particularly Local Area Coordinators who match visitors with Greeters in their local town or city.

• Utilise existing community / volunteer groups for recruitment.

• Greeters market Blue Badge Guides and other professional guide services for more in-depth visits.

• Games Times Greeters are now being recruited to greet in key Kent locations during the Olympic Games.

Contact details: • The France Greeter scheme has expanded very quickly, partly Kerstin Andrews, Greeter Manager, due to national PR and support. [email protected], 01622 221908 • Visit Kent is working with colleges and universities to investigate the potential for a Young Volunteers Greeter programme. Visit www.kentgreeters.co.uk WEB