4 minute read
Tourism & Hospitality
Strength of tourism can power economic recovery
HERTFORDSHIRE’S TOURISM INDUSTRY is one of its greatest assets. Located just 20 minutes from London by train but far away from the stresses of the big city, this picturesque, green County is brimming with exciting things to do and some great places to stay and explore.
The Visit Herts website lists just a few of Hertfordshire’s finest attractions: St Albans Cathedral, Hatfield House, Knebworth House and Warner Bros Studio Tour London, where people can sample the magic of Harry Potter. For those seeking a glimpse of wild beasts or want to explore Roman ruins, sculpture gardens, traditional English villages and five-star luxury or boutique B&Bs, Hertfordshire is truly the place to be.
All of this attracts hundreds of visitors each year – and that means a lot of money floods into local businesses. According to the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the County’s visitor economy topped £2.4 billion for the first time ever in 2019, drawing in around 29 million visitors. An estimated £139 million was spent on average in the local economy each month as a direct result of the County’s tourism and hospitality industry.
ª The Comet Hotel is one of
Hertfordshire’s most iconic buildings.
It has been welcoming visitors for close to 100 years, so has firmly established its place in the hearts of the local community. After a multi-million-pound refit two years ago, it has been refurbished for the modern age and is now a unique combination of luxurious modernity, period features and refined glamour. Originally the hotel was named for the locally built de Havilland Comet DH.88 racing aeroplane, which had been developed specifically for the 1934 England Australia MacRobertson Air Race.
Philip Jenkins, general manager at the hotel, says: “Our refurbishment and extension is based on the rich heritage and period glamour of the original Comet Hotel, hearkening back to this golden age of air travel, glamour and sleek design. Beautiful period architecture, classic design and future-facing technology combine to create a welcoming and exciting environment, a genuine rebirth for Hatfield’s most iconic building.
“However, our popularity is not just based on the luxurious building; it’s also based on the people who work here. A lot of customers have commended us on our excellent customer service and willingness to go the extra mile.
“Hatfield is a corporate-led destination so we do rely on businesses for a significant part of our custom. The hotel is easily accessible, it’s in a great location and is kitted out with Wifi.
ª This philosophy is also in evidence
at the DoubleTree by Hilton London
Elstree in Hertfordshire. Director of Sales, Hollie Adams joined the company in January this year having been in the hotel industry for 12 years, and says she was immediately struck by the care and attention shown to customers by all of the staff.
She says: “We’ve started to recover from the COVID pandemic, with wedding and religious ceremony enquiries picking up and corporate events starting to come back. Whether guests are travelling for business or leisure, our carefully considered amenities are designed to make their stay as comfortable as possible.
“We completed a £4.5 million refurbishment and rebranding. The product is now even better than it was before. We are in a great location with good transport links and we are able to offer our Hilton Honors rewards programme for our guests. Naturally, we’ve done everything possible to make our premises COVID-secure following the Hilton CleanStay initiative and we’re seeing customer confidence returning. All we can do is make sure that we’re as thorough as possible for our customers. People want to be out and about and have some form of social contact.”
ª For those who want a change of
scenery, a trip to Shenley Park would be a good option. Shenley
Park Trust was established in 1992 as an independent charitable trust to develop, manage and maintain a 45-acre rural park for the inhabitants of Shenley and neighbouring parishes. It is now famous for its Walled Garden, where fruit and vegetables are grown and open-air concerts have been hosted.
Liz Ensor, one of the gardeners at the site, says: “It’s a beautiful park which we kept open during lockdown. Lots of people came here to appreciate the “The COVID situation was a difficult time for all tourism businesses and there’s some uncertainty in terms of when social distancing restrictions will be lifted. All we can do is be as agile as possible and take the necessary precautions to look after our staff and customers.”
natural surroundings and get some exercise. Shenley Park is also a perfect destination for staff get-togethers or business away-days – a break from the monotony of office life or working from home.
“The Walled Garden is really popular. We have open-air theatre and concerts in the natural grass amphitheatre during the summer and a famous Apple Day each October. As well as the Walled Garden and amphitheatre, we have an orchard, meadow, some lovely woodland walks and historic buildings. It really is the perfect getaway and I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t yet sampled these delights to come along and do so.”
