Surrey
This is where you’ll find the latest news and what’s going on with, and for, our members in Surrey.
Guildford and South West Surrey B & B Group
The Group met earlier in the year at the Surrey Sports Park for a networking meeting. They were treated to a presentation by Surrey Sports Park on their involvement with the pre-games training camps, and a guided tour of the venue. There was a presentation on websites and discussions on various related topics including Trip Advisor and general marketing. B & B owners interested in joining future meetings should contact Guildford Tourist Information Centre on 01483 444333.
New Gatwick Website
A new Gatwick website (www.aroundgatwick.com) has been developed by Tourism South East as part of our 2012 Project, on behalf of a project group comprising Gatwick Airport, Surrey County Council, West Sussex County Council and the Gatwick Diamond Initiative.
The main objective of the new website is to provide a tourist information source for visitors arriving at Gatwick Airport. The site will have four main sections: A few hours to spare; A day in…; 48 Hours in… and Stay a Little Longer. The pages within the site have been selected on the basis of their proximity to the airport, but destinations further afield, such as Oxford and Canterbury, have been chosen for their importance to international visitors.
The site is part of a 2012 initiative and will therefore be key in the training of the London Ambassadors who will be at Gatwick during Games time, and the run up, to give them a source of tourist information to show to Olympics visitors. There will be an Information Centre at Gatwick’s South and North terminals where the Ambassadors will be based and can demonstrate the site.
Surrey Events
We aim to hold networking events during the year. These are always popular with members and well attended, providing excellent opportunities for you to meet other members in the county, share experiences and develop new strategic relationships. You are encouraged to bring any literature that others can take to share with their own guests and visitors. The events are free for members to attend but prior registration is essential due to high demand for places.
We are always looking for interesting venues for these events and our members welcome the opportunity to showcase their venues. If you would be interested in hosting a networking event, please email Marietta.
The latest networking event was held in September at the Watts Gallery in Guildford. Guests were given a personal tour of the current ‘Dickens and the Artists’ Exhibition by the Curator of the Watts Gallery, Mark Bills. His thoroughly entertaining tour brought the pictures to life and illustrated just how much Dickens influenced and inspired the artists of the time. If you haven’t already visited this charming gallery, then it is well worth a visit – the Dickens exhibition closes on 28 October.
Strategic relationships with other local business can often be an important part of growing your business and these networking events provide the perfect forum at which to do so. It is also an opportunity to keep up to date with TSE and to understand what more you can be doing to optimise your membership. The following comments were received after the most recent networking event in Guildford.
“I had the opportunity to make new contacts and find out about the progress that Tourism South East are making.” Jessye Atkinson, Tourist Network
“I found the evening very useful especially as we (English Heritage) seem to have lost a few links with TSE recently, so it was nice to rekindle them and learn what TSE has to offer us.” Karina King, English Heritage
New Members
We already have a number of members in Surrey that have joined this year, including large attractions like the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Chessington World of Adventures as well as the new 4 star hotel Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel in Guildford and the wonderful The Loxwood Joust.
Maurice Bacon from The Loxwood Joust told us: "Previously located at Berkeley Castle, our festival was wiped out in the terrible floods of 2007. Since then we have been looking for a permanent site (on high ground) and have found the most amazing place on the Surrey / West Sussex border called The Loxwood Meadow. Knowing what a great advantage it was working so closely with the tourism people in Gloucestershire, one of the first things we did when relocating was to join TSE. In these difficult economic times it makes perfect sense to join together with an organisation that can bring together an important sector to the UK's economy and we are looking forward to a mutually rewarding close relationship TSE".
Developing Local Knowledge
Courses can be organised (minimum of 12 participants) for tourism groups, local businesses and destination partners. To find out more about this course or register your interest in organising a course please contact the training team.
Conference Desk/Visit Surrey for Business
Any Surrey venue with conference or meeting rooms or private dining rooms suitable for parties and weddings can be included in the new brochure launched earlier in the year. Annual membership is £385 for which businesses get a double page spread in the A5 size brochure that is distributed nationwide to Associations and conference bookers. Members of the group also get to attend four networking meetings a year where they get to share best practice and take advantage of various marketing opportunities. Members also get copies of any incoming sales enquiries received at Guildford Tourist Information Centre. Anyone interested in an entry in the brochure and joining the group should contact Diana Roberts on 01483 444396.
Contact Us
As a member, and therefore a stakeholder, of TSE your opinion counts. So, whether you have an idea, a problem with which you need help or you want to discuss how we can work together to increase turnover and optimise your membership, please contact:
Marietta Maidman, Business Development Executive for Surrey
Tel: 023 8062 5502 or Mobile: 07967 662 721
Find out more about Marietta.