Meetings & Events
Digital Tourism
The Visit Wales/Wales Tourism Alliance Group met on 23 February in Llandrindod Wells with introductions regarding the purpose and desired outcomes for the day from the co-chairs - VW’s Roger Pride and the WTA’s Julian Burrell; the headline issues discussed included:-
Setting the Context with Roger Pride (key issues coming out of VW’s Strategic Marketing Action Plan - conversion funnel and the consumer journey), Gill Berntsen (Digital Tourism Business Plan - an overview of key strands and how might it address the content challenge) and Jon Munro and Beth Richards (developing a Digital Strategy - one and three year plans).
“The Customer Journey” - Rehearsing the customer journey and outlining in detail Visit Wales's current functions within it.
Breakout sessions - Stakeholders outlined the areas that they considered to be clearly the role of Visit Wales and highlighted the areas that they were less comfortable with; this was followed by a discussion and summary of the outcomes.
After lunch, the group held an open discussion to revisit the outcomes of the breakout sessions and discuss the areas where they have concerns. The meeting concluded with potential delivery structures and new ways of doing things an overall summary and the next steps.
BH&HPA Conference 2010
The British Holiday & Home Parks Conference 2010 took place on 25 February at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster. Malcolm Kent, BH&HPA National Chairman opened the proceedings by looking forwards to the next 60 years’ service to the parks industry – the association was formed in 1950.
Ros Pritchard, BH&HPA Director General briefed members on the current situation and Sir Simon Jenkins provided “A mirror on the parks industry”. “Forecasting the economy and industry trends” saw the ever popular and interesting David Edwards (Head of Research and Forecasting at VisitBritain) take the stage and the morning concluded with a Parks’ Q&A session with a panel of BH&HPA National Advisers.
The afternoon saw the National Advisers in action again, this time being ‘challenged’ by the BH&HPA’s Chairmen; the conference concluded with Kriss Akabusi talking on ‘FIT4Business’.
Wales Week in New York
Wales Week in New York will be held from 1 to 7 March with a wide variety of events focusing on music and the arts. As food and drink are an important part of the Welsh way of life, a number of events will include Welsh refreshments. Among them will be Welsh afternoon tea, including Bara Brith and Welsh cakes, which will be on the menu Tuesday to Sunday at the restaurant of the Morgan Library and Museum where Dylan Thomas’ manuscripts will also be on show to the public and there will be Welsh treats on the menu too at the Boston Consulate’s Dylan Thomas Prize event on St David’s Day.
True Taste Welsh Produce Market
The second London True Taste Welsh Produce Market was held on 26 February at its new and bigger location in Golden Square, just off Regent’s Street. More than 20 True Taste award-winning companies were selling food and drink from artesian cheeses and smoked meats and pâtés, to chocolate brownies and fresh fruit, vegetables and meat from local Welsh farm shops.
Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, said “The food scene in Wales is thriving and we have a superb wealth of produce available. The market provides us with a great opportunity to showcase some of the best food and drink companies in Wales and give them the platform to exhibit and sell their products to a different market”.
Tourism Advisory Panel
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones will be attending the Tourism Advisory Panel meeting on 3 March.
South & North Wales Boat Shows
The fifth South Wales Boat Show will be held at The Prince of Wales Dock, SA1, Swansea from Friday 18 June to Sunday 20 June.
The third North Wales Boat Show takes place at the Vaynor Estate, Bangor (exit 9 from the A55) between Friday 30 July and Sunday1 August.