Tourism Marketing Update - 12.05.06
Welcome to this week's e-bulletin packed with information about what the regional tourism marketing team have been up to.
Regional visits
The tourism marketing team have been out and about in the region to visit and experience the tourism product we have to offer both the domestic and international visitor. This week we spent a day touring North Northumberland with visits to attractions in Holy Island, Ford & Etal, Berwick and Bamburgh. Guided by award-winning Blue Badge Guide Jan Williams, the tour offered the whole team an opportunity to increase and develop their own product knowledge, and will be supported by upcoming visits to Sunderland and Tyne & Wear Museums in June, in addition to further familiarisation visits throughout the year.
UK Activity Update
Regional Guides
Over 100,000 Holiday and Short Break 2006 Guides are now in the marketplace, promoting the region's attractions, events and accommodation.
This guide will be supported by the launch of the region's first North East England Pocket Guide 2006/07 in June 2006. Providing key visitor information in an easy-to-use format, it will be distributed at inspected accommodation throughout the region. For more information please contact Caroline.Adams@onenortheast.co.uk.
Following the launch of the Walking Guide and Cycling Guides, a Gardens Guide is in production to promote the regions strong gardening product. Available from June 2006 the guide will be supported by a high profile media campaign in quality nationals and targeted press such as BBC Gardener's World Magazine, The Garden RHS magazine, the Sunday Telegraph and the Guardian. To request information on our regional product guides please contact Katherine.Hodgson@onenortheast.co.uk.
Cycling Campaign Update
Over the past two weeks A5, four-page inserts promoting the cycling guide have run in Cycling Weekly, The Guardian Weekend and the Mail on Sunday. This follows the successful launch of the region's Cycle North East England Guide at the Outdoor Show in Birmingham earlier this year. To request information on themed campaigns please contact katherine.hodgson@onenortheast.co.uk.
Walking Campaign Update
Since March 2006 over 200,000 inserts have run in Walk magazine, The Guardian Weekend, Country Walking and Camping & Caravanning publications. The free Walking Guide has been well received across the UK, providing an introduction to the most inspirational routes across the region. To request information on themed campaigns please contact katherine.hodgson@onenortheast.co.uk.
International Activity Update
VisitBritain Italy experience the region
Two members of the VisitBritain Italian office jetted in to North East England earlier this month, following the region's attendance at BIT Milan.
Invited by the North East England Tourism Marketing Team they enjoyed many of the region's attractions during a three-night stay, including Hadrian's Wall National Trail, Alnwick Castle, The Alnwick Garden, Durham Cathedral and Castle, NewcastleGateshead Quayside and Hartlepool Maritime Experience.
Alessandra Lolli, VisitBritain Press & PR Italy, said of the visit "Our stay in NewcastleGateshead and tour around North East England was very enjoyable. It was lovely to see all of the beautiful scenery and attractions that the region has to offer - especially as they are so easy to get around. There are many attractions here that the Italian visitor will enjoy, especially the Harry Potter connection. It is a great opportunity for us to visit and will help us to encourage visitors and the Italian media to visit here in the future." Alessandra and colleague Danja Nebuloni, will now report back to colleagues in the Italian office of VisitBritain about their experiences in the North East.
The visit supports our continued work with VisitBritain - a key organisation in the promotion of Britain as a world-class destination. For more information on North East England's coordinated international activity with VisitBritain please contact Helen.Mcloughlin@onenortheast.co.uk.
E-news for International visitors
The first international e-newsletter will go out to 700 overseas contacts in Germany, Holland and Norway in the forthcoming weeks. It will also be received by 80 consumer and trade contacts in Ireland following the region's attendance at Dublin Holiday World earlier this year. For more information on how you can contribute to the next international edition, please contact Philip.marshall@onenortheast.co.uk.
Tourism PR Update
Over the past few weeks, the tourism PR and marketing team have welcomed a host of media from around the world.
Dutch media jet into region
Five Dutch journalists and a representative from Jet2.com visited North East England to coincide with the launch of the new service from Amsterdam to Newcastle.
Their two-day visit was a great success and feedback to date has been very positive. Guided to some of the region's hidden gems previously unknown to the Dutch tourist to tempt their readers to visit, the journalists also experienced existing favourite and familiar places including the North Pennines, High Force, Durham City and Beamish, The North of England Open Air Museum. Journalists who were unable to participate in this visit are being offered the opportunity to visit North East England in the future. For further information please contact val.lowther@onenortheast.co.uk
Norwegian Media visit
Following attendance at international exhibitions in Norway earlier this year, One NorthEast is working with NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) to host 6 Norwegian journalists and 3 representatives from DFDS Seaways on a familiarisation visit on 11-13th May 2006. They will meet with Chris Davy, Chair of the Durham Area Tourism Partnership, following a tour of Durham City, The Bowes Museum and Beamish, the North of England Open Air Museum. For further information please contact val.lowther@onenortheast.co.uk
Return visit for USA writer
Together with NGI, we will host a second visit to the region of Joyce Hauser, writer for Arts Leisure News Service. The regional itinerary includes a full day in Tynedale (hosted by Tynedale Council) and a visit to The Alnwick Garden. For further information please contact val.lowther@onenortheast.co.uk
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