news Issue 29 www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org June 2014

Searching for our next Tourism Superstar

Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural The five shortlisted candidates will be announced in the Cotswolds Tourism Superstar, we are Gazette in July and there will then be an online delighted to announce that we will again be running this vote, which will close on 29th July 2014. initiative. The winner will be announced at the Oxfordshire In association with VisitEngland, the national tourist Cotswolds Summer Networking Event that will take board, and the Witney Gazette, our media partner, we place at Eynsham Hall on Tuesday 19th August between are now searching for the 2014 Oxfordshire Cotswolds 5pm and 8pm Tourism Superstar, an individual who is instrumental in giving the visitor the best possible experience. The winner will be eligible for nomination to VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2015. We are looking for an individual working in the tourism sector in , either front of house or behind the scenes, who is passionate about the The Criteria Oxfordshire Cotswolds and goes above and beyond the call of duty to make the visitor experience that little bit The Oxfordshire Cotswolds Tourism Superstar must: more special: a person who is welcoming, friendly and - Work in a business that welcomes visitors has demonstrated a commitment to making every visitor’s trip memorable. - Go above and beyond the call of duty to make the visitor experience one to remember It’s time for you to nominate someone from your business to give them the recognition they deserve. - Be available and willing to attend the finalists’ event on Tuesday 19th August We are looking to shine a light on the fantastic range of businesses and individuals that we have across the - Be aware that they have been nominated and happy Oxfordshire Cotswolds whether the business is large or to participate in any related PR and media small, an attraction or accommodation provider, a tour opportunities guide or an events company. The individual will be one that interacts with customers and enhances the visitor Nominations close on Wednesday 25th June. For more experience so it could be a receptionist, waiter, information and to make your nomination visit customer services assistant, or tour guide – anyone you can think that really makes a difference. www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/superstar

We look forward to receiving your nominations!

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org VisitBritain in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds

North American Buyers’ Visit Following on from the work we have been doing in the North American market over recent years we were delighted to host a travel trade delegation from North America and Canada in March as part of VisitBritain’s Hosted Buyers’ Market Place event.

The group consisted of 30 delegates: key buyers and agents; travel media and VisitBritain overseas staff. The visit was a great success and was based on our new Downton Abbey product, which is proving very successful in this market. VisitBritain European Staff Visit We worked in partnership with the following businesses In May we were also delighted to host VisitBritain’s to deliver the familiarisation visit and would like to thank European B2B Team for their annual strategy day and them for being involved: The Swan Inn Swinbrook, familiarisation visit -. a great opportunity to promote the Cogges; Bampton Archive, , The Old area to those who actually manage the overseas markets. Swan & Minster Mill and International Friends. Representatives attended from London, Sweden, Germany, France, Denmark, Poland, Spain, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Italy and Russia.

We worked closely with local businesses to ensure this was a great showcase for the area and would like to thank the following businesses for their participation: Eynsham Hall, Museum, Wychwood Brewery, Blenheim Palace, The Macdonald Bear Hotel and First Great Western Trains.

This was a great profile-raising opportunity helping to promote the Oxfordshire Cotswolds in these important Laurie Scott, the Partnership Development Manager for overseas markets. VisitBritain in New York said: ‘The group thoroughly enjoyed their visit. It was great to Kevin Jones, B2B and Commercial Manager at VisitBritain see so much of the product that we promote and really attended the visit and said: interesting to see the new Downton Abbey itinerary. The buyers and media were very interested in the ‘We were amazed by the kind hospitality of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and what it has to offer’. Oxfordshire Cotswolds and all their destination partners. It really was a great showcase and all of the VisitBritain One of the buyers, Laure DeMaio – Director at Global team went away enthused and knowing a lot more Consolidated Services Inc., commented: about the destination that will help us to promote it out ‘Now that I’ve seen how beautiful your part of the in the different markets’. country is, I need to make sure we’re showing it off the best way and in as many ways as possible!’

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

Learn the secrets of PR Moving Crocodiles Do you read the papers in the morning and wonder how on earth that local business manages to get their news in the Congratulations to Shaun Foggett and his team press week in, week out? It's time to answer all of those at Crocodiles of the World. nagging questions and find out how you can do exactly the Not only did they successfully manage their same. move to smart new premises on the Burford On Tuesday 24th June we are running a fantastic FREE half Road near Brize Norton (the old Foxbury Farm day workshop in Witney, hosted by PR Agency Director site) but they’ve also been busy acquiring some Catherine Warrilow of Seriously PR, in which you will learn: great new exhibits including three young adult female Salties (Saltwater Crocodiles) – the  How PR, marketing, advertising and social media are world’s largest living reptiles! different  How to prepare your business for PR  The basic principles of PR to help you start communicating your news  How to really understand your target market  Finding your news story  Getting your news into the press and on the radio  Some really important do's and don'ts  Monitoring your efforts and maximising your impact

This is an interactive workshop with activities, question time The UK’s only crocodile zoo is now open seven and lots more, all designed to help you get the exposure that days a week and a great addition to both the your business deserves. year round and child friendly attractions in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Catherine has over 10 years industry experience and will be able to answer all of your questions - she's full of great ideas www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk and really knows how to find the newsworthy stories within your business. She'll give you tips specific to what you do and help you to feel inspired and motivated to promote your business effectively.

Seriously PR specialises in travel, tourism and leisure so this workshop is especially beneficial if you fall into these categories but will be relevant to all business sectors.

Booking is essential, as places are limited: contact Chris Jackson to reserve a place.

Date: Tuesday 24 June Time: 11am – 3pm (light lunch included) Venue: Committee Room 2, West Oxfordshire District Council, Woodgreen Offices, Witney OX28 1NB The Bedroom Browser

Many thanks to all those local businesses who supported this year’s publication.

If any accommodation providers have still not got their copies then don’t worry there are still some available in the Visitor Information Centres in Burford and Witney or you can contact Chris Jackson.

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

The countdown to next year’s Rugby World Cup has begun – there are now less than 500 days to go.

When you’re planning next year’s marketing it may well be worth bearing in mind that: many of our most important overseas markets have teams playing in the competition: USA, Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Japan have all qualified; Kingsholm (in Gloucester) is one of the official match venues; (with four fixtures including USA v Japan on 11th October); there is a lot of ‘free time’ for fans to fill in be- tween matches and given how close we are, a good opportunity for them to visit!

If you have any ‘rugby connections’ or other possible rugby related PR stories then it is probably time to start dusting them off and getting ready to use them.

The Rugby World Cup runs from 18th September until 31st October 2015. www.rugbyworldcup.com

The Cotswolds Destination Management Plan

In February 2013 VisitEngland invited local tourism partners and businesses across the Cotswolds to step forward and develop a Destination Management Plan. After a great deal of discussion and consultation a Destination Management Plan for tourism across the Cotswolds is now complete.

The vision for the Cotswolds aspires to make it a year round destination through the sustainable growth of the Cotswolds visitor economy by 5% per annum. The plan aims to set strategic direction for tourism across the Cotswolds and harness collaboration across all sectors to bring growth in the industry.

You can download a copy of the Destination Management Plan and view comments that were received as part of the consultation for tourism across the Cotswolds on The Cotswolds website: www.cotswolds.com/trade-room

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Promoting the Oxfordshire Cotswolds

Great for Groups - Manchester

The Oxfordshire Cotswolds will be having a stand at this year’s Great for Groups exhibition at Trafford Park in Manchester on September 3rd.

The show will inspire group travel organisers and tour operators looking for great trip ideas. The event is set to attract over 1,000 group organisers and is a great opportunity to promote the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.

We have already booked a stand and will represent the Destination Britain APMEA Oxfordshire Cotswolds as a whole but if any tourism In May we attended Destination Britain APMEA in business wishes to partner us then please let us know by contacting Diane Blackwell. Malaysia in partnership with Blenheim Palace. This was the 11th year of running the event and is VisitBritain’s To find out more information about the show please largest overseas trade mission. visit www.greatforgroups.co.uk/north/ Around 60 UK & Irish suppliers attended as well as over 100 buyers and media from China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

The event saw us attend a full schedule of one-to-one business appointments that gave us the opportunity to meet over 100 of the best travel agents, tour operators and media from 17 markets throughout the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region to promote the Oxfordshire Cotswolds as a must see visitor destination. We met with qualified leads that will help secure business in these fast growing and dynamic regions. Interest in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds was extremely high and we have already seen a significant number of enquiries come in as a result.

Brochure request campaigns Emarketing Every year we run a number of brochure request campaigns, sending out the Visitor Guide in response to We’ve been building our media, travel trade and these requests. This year the campaigns have been very consumer contact databases sending out regular successful with over 12,000 brochures sent out already enewsletters to each sector – an average send of almost this year in response to the main campaigns. 10,000 per month with an open rate of just under 30%.

The Oxfordshire Cotswolds website Social Media The Oxfordshire Cotswolds website is currently While continuing to work on our Twitter and Facebook breaking all records: unique visitor numbers were up channels we’ve recently started putting some concerted 60% during the first four months of the year (compared effort into Pinterest with the creation of a number of to the same period last year) and website hits are now new boards and additions to existing ones. close to 1 million a month. www.pinterest.com/oxcots

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Rugby World2014 CupPhotographic 2015 Competition The countdown to next year’s Rugby World Cup has begun – there are now less than 500 days to go.

When you’re planning next year’s marketing it may well The winner is announced! be worth bearing in mind that: We received over 250 entries for this  Many of our most important overseas markets year's photographic competition, making have teams playing in the competition: USA, the choice of shortlist and then winner Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, South Africa, exceptionally difficult . A big thank you to New Zealand and Japan have all qualified all the entrants and congratulations to you all - the standardKingsholm of entries (in Gloucester) was truly is one of the official exceptional.match venues (with four fixtures including USA v Japan on 11th October) However there can only be one winner and that is ThereHoward is a Sherwood lot of ‘free, whotime’ took for fans to fill in this wonderfulbetween picture matches of a wheat field near Lyneham. He will receive a beautiful reproductionIf you have of any his ‘rugbyentry mountedconnections’ onto or a other30 x 20possible inch art canvas – ready to hang on the wall - which has been kindly donatedrugby by related Blueprint PR storiesImaging then Limited it is probablyplus a scrumptious time to start afternoon tea for two served in the Wedgwood Lounge complimentsdusting them of De off Vere and gettingVenues ready Heythrop to use Park them. Resort

TheThe image Rugby will featureWorld Cupin our kicks 2015 off Oxfordshire on 18th September Cotswolds Visitor Guide to promote the destination to potential visitors. and runs until 31st October 2015.

www.rugbyworldcup.com Oxfordshire Cotswolds Summer Networking Event

Make sure that you've got Tuesday 19th August saved in your diary!

Eynsham Hall will very kindly be hosting our Summer Networking Event between 5pm and 8pm on Tuesday 19th August. This is a great opportunity to network with other local tourism businesses and to come along and catch up with the tourism team.

The event will also see the announcement of the results of the 2014 Oxfordshire Cotswolds Tourism Superstar competition and the winner’s award presentation.

Invitations will be sent out in due course but make sure you save the date in your diary.

The Oxfordshire Cotswolds Visitor Guide 2015

We are just starting work on the 2015 Oxfordshire Cotswolds Visitor Guide, so look out for the information and entry forms arriving very soon.

This is the main piece of promotional literature for the destination and we will be printing at least 45,000 copies. It will also be available as a mobile phone App and downloadable on our website, as well as being taken to group travel and trade shows.

For further information please contact Diane Blackwell or visit www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/advertise

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

Winners, one and all! The Cotswolds

Congratulations to all the local businesses who have won awards and Discoverer - it's just the accolades over the past few months! Here are just a few of the ticket! recent winners…

At the West Oxfordshire Business Awards (WOBAs): The Cotswolds Discoverer pass is the Witney Lakes Resort won the Heythrop Park Leisure, Tourism and perfect and hassle-free way for your guests Hospitality Award to travel around and explore much of the Cotswolds by bus and by train. Aston Pottery wont the Blenheim Palace Rural Business award With either a one-day or three-day pass At the Oxfordshire Business Awards winners aren’t announced unitl offering unlimited* travel, they can visit a the awards dinner on June 20 but we are guaranteed a local winner wide range of attractions, towns and in the Four Pillars Cultural Evets & Tourism Award as all three villages including gardens, historic buildings, finalists are from the Oxfordshire Cotswolds! Good luck to The Old picture-postcard villages. Swan & Minster Mill; Chipping Norton Literary Festival and Aston As well as enjoying a great day out or short Pottery. break, they can also save money on travel costs, as well as helping to look after our VisitEngland Awards for Excellence precious environment by leaving the car The Feathered Nest behind.

Country Inn won the *not valid on rail services before 08.50, Mondays to coveted national Tourism Fridays. Pub of the Year category – You can buy the Cotswolds Discoverer at for the second year running. any mainline train station in the UK or on participating bus services in the Cotswolds: Last, but by no means least, (Cotswold Green; Johnson's Excelbus; a special mention should Pulham's Coaches, Go Ride CIC and also be made of our very Swanbrook.) own Burford Visitor Information Centre, who Costs got a Gold Award from the Adult 1day £10 Adult 3 day £25 Green Tourism Business Child 1 day £5 Scheme. Child 3 day £12.50

Summer Showcase Spectacular

Come and meet leading venues and suppliers from Oxford and Oxfordshire who are renowned for hosting meetings and events on every scale.

• World class venues and services • Face-to-face discussions • Local businesses who can help with incentive planning • Completely free of charge to attend, including complimentary drinks and refreshments •Workshops and events scheduled throughout the event

Date: Wednesday 13th August 2014 Time: 3–7pm Venue: Saïd Business School, Oxford OX1 1HP

Register on line at www.meetoxfordshire.com or contact the Meet Oxfordshire (T: 01865 252799 E: [email protected]) www.escapetothecotswolds.org.uk/discoverer

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Eynsham Hall Refurbishment

Following the acquisition of Eynsham Hall by The Cathedral Group, Eynsham Hall has undergone significant refurbishment works - in total, £2m has been spent to date with a further £500k planned for this year.

The conference, wedding and leisure venue, set in 3,000 acres of manicured parklands and grounds, has seen a total renovation of all the function rooms including the impressive library which combines traditional oak panelling with geometric wallpaper and striped furnishings.

The bedrooms in the main hall as well as those in the separate lodge and court buildings are being made over with many already completed.

Dining facilities are impressive - many guests credit the food and the service from all staff as being the real draw to this venue, on top of the Jacobean grandeur of the mansion house.

www.eynshamhall.com

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org A big summer ahead in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds

The Times recently ran an article on the best music festivals this summer and of these no less than three were right here in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. When you consider the other major events taking place, like the CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace, you can see that there’s a great summer season ahead.

Major events this summer include:

Blenheim Palace Flower Show - 20/22 June Cornbury Festival– 4/6 July CLA Game Fair – 18/20 July Wilderness Festival – 8/10 August The Big Feastival– 30/31 August Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials – 11/14 September

For more information on these (and many other events taking place locally) then visit the What’s On section of our website www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/whats-on

DIARY dates 11 June Using Social Media for your Business Subsidised workshop - Moreton in Marsh 24 June Learn the Secrets of PR Free workshop - Witney 13 August Summer Showcase Spectacular Oxford 19 August Oxfordshire Cotswolds Tourism Superstar & Summer Networking Event - Eynsham Hall

15-21 September West Oxfordshire Week

Join the Oxfordshire Cotswolds (OxCots) on

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 Wendy Dancer Tourism Development Officer Visitor Information Centres [email protected] [email protected] 01993 861563 01285 623261 www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org