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Issue 55 November/December 2013 £2.75
Show set to include meetings sector
Historic sites ‘top priority’ for visitors By Christina Eccles VISITS to castles, stately homes and famous buildings, such as those featured on the likes of Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter films, are now a top priority for overseas visitors to Britain, with research showing that 8.9m visits a year involve a trip to this kind of property. According to VisitBritain, nearly 30 per cent of all visits to Britain include a visit to built heritage sites, with the amount spent by those who do so amounting to £6.5b over the entirety of their trip. In a poll of 15,000 respondents, 47 per cent recognised “interesting built heritage” as a top holiday attribute associated with Britain – a 10 per cent increase on preOlympic perceptions. Britain’s “interesting built heritage” was also ranked second against that of France, the USA, Australia and Italy – higher than its previous third place ranking prior to the London 2012 Games and subsequent GREAT marketing campaign launch. Marketing director at VisitBritain Joss Croft said: “With our rich history and culture, Britain has some of the most iconic buildings in the world that visitors want to come and see.
“As an all year round location we know that people are drawn here by the chance to see castles like those at Alnwick, Conwy, Edinburgh and Windsor. “Alongside that, adaptations of classic novels by Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters – as well as the growing success of period dramas such as Downton Abbey – are helping to increase interest in visiting stately homes across the UK. “Britain’s built heritage is a fantastic asset and one of the key strengths of our visitor experience. As we look to entice 40m overseas visitors a year by 2020, we will be increasing our promotional activity in key markets around the world by using images that highlight the mystical charm of castles and romantic appeal of historic houses.” Marketing director at English Heritage Luke Whitcomb added: “This August a record number of visitors, over 1,066,000, enjoyed the castles, abbeys and historic homes in our care. “From the Battle of Hastings to Charles Darwin's home, it appears that more than ever visitors – from home and abroad – want to stand on the spots where history was made.”
Popular venue the SSE Hydro in Glasgow has played host to the 2013 MOBO Awards, delivered by Logistik Group for the eighth consecutive year. The star-studded televised awards included performances from chart toppers Rudimental, Iggy Azalea, Tinie Tempah (pictured) and Laura Mvula and was hosted by BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford and DJ and presenter, Trevor Nelson. Picture: 2013 MOBO Organisation Ltd
THE industry has welcomed the news that Best of Britain and Ireland is to widen its traditional travel leisure offering to include the meetings sector. The two-day event takes place from March 12-13 2014 at the NEC and has also received support from hotel groups who have and continue to exhibit at the show. Director Live and Conferences NEC Adrian Evans said: “NEC is delighted to support the Best of Britain and Ireland plan to extend the show’s reach to the meetings sector. “The move is good for the meetings sector, good for Birmingham and particularly good for meeting planners and organisers who work and operate within the Midlands, the North and West of England, Wales and Scotland. “Many within the industry do not realise that the NEC hosts over 400 conferences and live events every year on top of the exhibitions we run, so it is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase all that the NEC has to offer.”
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DESTINATIONNEWS The Aston Martin DB5 which appeared in James Bond’s Skyfall is now on display at the Heritage Motor Centre until spring 2014. The model on display is the actual car, which was used for most of the driving sequences in the film, which stars Daniel Craig as 007.
Record figures for York By Christina Eccles RECORD tourism figures have been announced at Visit York’s annual Tourism Conference where 200 businesses gathered to listen to an expert panel of speakers, hosted by BBC Radio York presenter Adam Tomlinson and sponsored by Santander. So far in 2013, visits to attractions are up by a record 16 per cent (January-August 2013 v January-August 2012). Over 311,000 people have visited the Information Centre at 1 Museum Street since the beginning of the year and a record-breaking
1.3m people have visited the flagship centre since it opened in May 2010. Hotel room occupancy for the year so far is on a par with last year at 77.2 per cent, higher than the national average (excluding London), and room rates are up by two per cent to £76.54. Visits to the Visitor information Centre over the summer months of June, July and August were also up 9.2 per cent year on year. And the addition of new attractions and events such as the National Railway Museum’s Mallard 75, interest in Richard III at the Yorkshire Museum, the new
attraction Revealing York Minster, good weather over the summer and increased marketing activity have all had a strong impact. Chief executive of Visit York Gillian Cruddas said: “York has put on more quality events, festivals and exhibitions than ever before. Our latest tourism figures demonstrate that visitors appreciate the huge variety of things to see and do here. “I hope that the conference and our expert line-up of speakers gives delegates valuable insights into the current tourism climate, inspiring them to ensure York’s tourism industry continues to flourish as we head into 2014.”
Contacts EDITORIAL Judith Halkerston group editor 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Christina Eccles reporter 01226 734463 ce@scriptmedia.co.uk Dominic Musgrave reporter 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk
PRODUCTION Stewart Holt – studio manager – sth@scriptmedia.co.uk Laura Blackburn – graphic designer lb@scriptmedia.co.uk
ADVERTISING Siu Lon Wong product manager 01226 734482 Tony Barry sales and marketing director 01226 734605
CIRCULATION Kelly Tarff 01226 734695 kt@scriptmedia.co.uk Web: www.destination.uk.com
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DESTINATIONCOLWYN BAY
The fortunes of a North Wales coastal town have been transformed thanks to a multimillion pound redevelopment. Dominic Musgrave visited Colwyn Bay to find out more.
New beach brings rise in footfall HALF a million tonnes of sand were pumped on to the Colwyn Bay coastline to create the new dry family beach. And this opening, as well as other new facilities for the town, have led to a five per cent rise in footfall. Climate change meant that £11m needed to be spent to protect the town from coastal erosion but, instead of building a large beach wall, the council opted for the beach option. Rupert said: “The new beach was borne out of the need to protect the coast and promenade, and a vision that we could go that bit further than just building a wall. We knew it would have an impact on visitor levels to Colwyn Bay, but even we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly local businesses have seen the results. “Creating the beach became a pivotal part of the regeneration programme, and was a key venue for the successful Forties’ Festival and Prom Xtra events that we held in the summer. We now want to re-lay the promenade path and paint the safety fencing to make it look a lot tidier and fresher. People can now walk or cycle all around the Welsh coast down to Newport.” Plans are also now being worked on to restore the town’s Victorian Pier to its former glory as an arts, culture and community facility. The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded, in principle, £5m to the project. Rupert added: “The council here is very forward-thinking and recognises what it has got and works with it. It affects the things that it can, and those that you cannot it leaves alone to a later date. The pier will be a multi-million pound project but we need to work out how we are going to make it sustainable.”
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Pulling in music and sports fans THE centrepiece of the project is the new 6,500-capacity Eirias Stadium, which cost £6.5m to build. It was created to provide topquality coaching, analysis and conditioning for young Welsh rugby players as the WRU sought to tap into the potential talent from the one million people living in the area. But as well as hosting top rugby international matches and providing a training camp for the country's rugby and football teams, the stadium has also seen pop stars including Pixie Lott, Olly Murs and Little Mix play to sell-out crowds as part of a summer festival. And an adjoining indoor training centre, which is also used by several local school teams, can be transformed quickly into a marquee for weddings, conferences, exhibitions and sporting events. Heading up the facility is WRU general manager of development Rupert Moon, who played more than 20 times for Wales. He said: “The challenge for us in Colwyn Bay was how do we get people here, and through the stadium and other facilities that we have developed we hope to
Rupert Moon have enhanced the town’s reputation and that people leave here with a smile on their face feeling positive, be it after attending a sports event or one of the pop concerts. “The indoor arena is a flexible, multi-purpose venue that can be used by a school for training one day and then as a 3,000 seat arena for a major darts tournament the next. “It is cost effective and means that here we can cater for either outdoor or indoor events, small or large. We want the stadium to be a centre of excellence for sport.”
The statistics speak for themselves. On numerous occasions the stadium has broken the attendance record for and age-grade rugby game in Wales, while more than 1,000 people turned up to watch the Cardiff Blues host a two-day open training session. And 8,000 people watched Little Mix as the stadium was transformed into a two-day summer festival venue for Access All Eirias. All of this has led to a major boost in tourism for the resort, which has seen more than £50m investment being spent on a range of projects as part of the Bay Life+ programme. The scheme includes a recently opened seafront watersports centre, Porth Eirias, with celebrity chef Bryn Williams opening a bistro in the development shortly – his first outside of London. The rest of the money has been spent on revamping the country's oldest cinema Theatr Colwyn and improving the town centre's streetscape. And a new family beach, which has been created to improve the town's sea defences, hopes to bring holidaymakers back to the town.
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DESTINATIONNEWS
Premier clubs net customer care awards FOUR Barclays Premier League clubs are to receive awards for the quality of their customer care as part of a national scheme that is improving standards of fan experience at football stadia. A panel of industry experts from the tourism, football and customer service industries voted Manchester United the VisitFootball Club of the Year for their “stand-out customer experience”. Liverpool received the Best Fan Innovation for their Family Park and Fulham’s staff won the Warmest Welcome award. The fourth award, Unsung Hero, went to steward Jo Roberts of Wigan Athletic for her dedicated work with disabled supporters. VisitFootball, a joint venture between the Premier League and the national tourism board VisitEngland, has been assessing the care that customers receive at football grounds since August 2010 and gives out annual awards for those who deliver outstanding customer service. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “Premier League clubs are working harder than ever to ensure that when supporters come to a match they receive excellent service. Last season Premier League grounds were 95.3 per cent full and we saw
record adult and junior season ticket sales. That was down to some great deals but also because clubs are being more welcoming and listening to what fans want from their matchday. “The passion and commitment of the fans is an integral part of the Premier League’s success and English football culture. The VisitFootball Awards won by Manchester United, Liverpool, Fulham, and Wigan Athletic demonstrate that not only do our clubs take looking after their fans very seriously but they are extremely good at it.” VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford added: “The Premier League has already been playing its part over the last three years to improve its football welcome and they should be congratulated for taking this so seriously and the progress made so far. “It's also important that football clubs continue to build on these improvements and we have certainly seen that Manchester United, Liverpool, Fulham and Wigan Athletic. If we want to show the commitment both the sporting and tourism industries have to providing fans with a high quality, highly memorable experience, then the Premier League VisitFootball is exactly the right signal.”
Christmas spirit abounds at Eden Project this winter FATHER Christmas, elves and reindeer bring a sleigh full of Christmas spirit to the Eden Project this winter. Visitors will be greeted by elves on arrival where they’ll receive a special letter from Father Christmas with a challenge to help him collect all of the food needed from across the globe to create the magical food that makes the reindeer fly.
After exploring Eden and visiting the reindeer, visitors can then snuggle up inside Father Christmas’s cosy tent and listen to magical fireside stories. Each child will then receive a keepsake to look after until Christmas Eve. Father Christmas will be at Eden every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from November 23 until December 23.
The Best Western Plus Castle Green Hotel in Kendal has scooped two awards at the fourth Westmorland Gazette Business and Tourism Awards. The hotel was crowned Hotel of the Year and Team of the Year at a glittering awards dinner attended by over 200 people.
Success on a plate in Yorkshire CHICKEN, chorizo and the great Yorkshire cream tea were among the foods celebrated at a glittering Deliciouslyorkshire Awards ceremony, which saw 20 businesses across the county scoop prizes for their food and drinks. The ceremony included a dazzling drinks reception, canapés and a sumptuous banquet that featured many of the shortlisted foods – including Smoked Trout
and Horseradish on Dill Scones from Best Fish winner Staal Smokehouse; Yorkshire Salami bruschetta from Best Prepared Meat winners The British Premium Sausage Company; and ice-cream from Best Dairy Yummy Yorkshire Ice-cream. It was hosted by seasoned food award judge and BBC broadcaster Nigel Barden, who brought his wealth of foodie expertise to the event. 5
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DESTINATIONLONDON
Best tourist numbers in history A RECORD 7.9m tourists visited London in the first six months of 2013, the best ever first half year tourism numbers in history. The figures from the latest International Passenger Survey show a 7.7 per cent boost on the same period last year. Tourist spending over the same period was £4.9b, a 12.4 per cent increase compared with the first half of last year. Spending in London’s tourism sector has increased every quarter for the last two years. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Last summer the palpable buzz of this great city was beamed across the globe. “Since then London’s draw has gone from strength to strength with billions of pounds of international investment and huge regeneration projects continuing apace. “These fantastic tourism figures not only support new jobs and growth in London’s economy but are yet another testament to the Olympic legacy.”
Greenwich offering grows GREENWICH has expanded its offering for groups, with new experiences, more accommodation and a host of exhibitions opening over the coming months. Highlights to watch out for include new exhibition – Turner and the Sea – which will be on view at the National Maritime Museum and group bookings on City Cruises’ new ThamesJet RIB.
Boris Johnson and Michael Bloomberg
Boris renews tourism alliance with Big Apple By Christina Eccles THE mayors of London and New York have renewed their commitment to boosting tourism and business by encouraging visitor travel between the two cities. The agreement between the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg recognises the importance of the leisure and hospitality sectors in both cities and the positive impact the tourism industry has on economic development.
The mayor’s official promotional organisation London and Partners, and its counterpart, New York City and Company will exchange media advertising space for promotions in both cities and share best marketing and tourism practice. The year-long partnership follows a previous agreement signed by the two cities in 2009. A key programme will be aimed at driving up visitor numbers at large and small cultural venues in each city and encourage even greater cooperation between cultural institutions.
Chinese spend is up by 31%
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SPEND by Chinese visitors to London’s Luxury Quarter of Mayfair, Piccadilly and St James’s topped £262m in 2012, an annual increase of 31 per cent. Figures show Chinese travellers spend on average £1,656 per transaction in the London Luxury Quarter, 122 per cent more than anywhere else in the UK. This shows the importance of Chinese retail tourism and how it continues to play an integral role in maintaining a buoyant retail economy in London’s West End. Managing director of Bond Street Beverley Aspinall said: “The Chinese ultra high net worth traveller is a knowledgeable and sophisticated shopper. “They are deeply interested in knowing every detail of an item before they purchase and they have a huge amount of respect for the history, design and engineering of the product.”
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “As great world cities for culture, London and New York offer the visitor an extraordinary number of attractions, so I am delighted to be renewing this important partnership. Let’s shout it out loud: London loves New York and New York loves London and as big, bold cities, tourism has a vital part to play in the prosperity of each. As the global economy emerges from this economic downturn, our goal is to build on the mighty reputations of each as pre-eminent destinations for culture hungry visitors.”
Doors to open on ‘wonder of the capital’ KENWOOD House in London is to reopen at the end of November, following the completion of a major Heritage Lottery Fund supported repair and conservation programme. English Heritage’s Caring for Kenwood project includes restoring Robert Adam’s original decorative scheme in the entrance hall, the staircase, the antechamber and the library and repainting and restoring the exterior to its 18th century appearance. Chief executive of English Heritage Simon Thurley said: “Kenwood House is one of the wonders of the Capital. Our restoration will reveal it again in its fullest glory – we really look forward to opening its doors again at the end of November.”
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DESTINATIONEXCURSIONS 2014
Anniversary exhibition to be ‘bigger and better’ CELEBRATING its 10th anniversary at Alexandra Palace on January 26, Excursions 2014 will be bigger and better than ever before with a move into the Great Hall, allowing more exhibitors, plus an exciting array of offers and benefits for visitors. Joey, the life-sized puppet star of the National Theatre production War Horse, will officially open the dynamic exhibition. Visitors can combine their visit to Excursions with a weekend away by taking advantage of Superbreak’s exclusive show offer, which gives 10 per cent off their London theatre and accommodation packages, or book a place on Excursions’ familiarisation weekends in Oxfordshire and Surrey. Group organisers invited to the show by their coach operators will be treated to a VIP welcome and a Longleat Resort afternoon tea experience before their return journey. The successful programme of free coach transfer services for visitors is being extended to over 50 pick-up points, while the service calling at six central London mainline railway stations has been reinstated. Excursions is organised by Tourism South East and Group Travel Organiser magazine, and works in partnership with Visit England and London and Partners.
War Horse life-sized puppet star to officially open dynamic event
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DESTINATIONSCOTLAND
Top award for Scottish tourism unit A VISITSCOTLAND team, which has helped generate £1.9b for the Scottish economy, is celebrating a significant industry award win. The VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit was named Best UK Conference and Incentive Destination Marketing Team at the Conference and Incentive Travel Awards in London. The VisitScotland submission showcased the team’s work in promoting Scotland as a destination for business, focusing on events including Scotland Means Business, Scotland on Tour and on-going activities in the past year. Head of VisitScotland’s business tourism unit Neil Brownlee said: “This award puts us in an excellent position leading into 2014 and beyond. “It provides further evidence of the consistent high quality of marketing activity that we deliver, not only to professional conference and event organisers, but to Scottish industry partners. “There is a constant drive from the Business Tourism Team to provide a wide-ranging programme of events to suit the varied needs and budgets of Scottish suppliers. Feedback received shows consistent excellence in event delivery and VisitScotland’s commitment to showcase the best that Scotland has to offer to this demanding and discerning audience.”
Russell Beveridge of the Thistle Aberdeen Altens hotel launches new tourism awards at Dunnottar Castle on behalf of the Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association
New tourism awards for the Granite City THE vital role played by tourism in the local economy will be recognised through a new awards scheme, launched by Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association to recognise operators who deliver an outstanding experience to business and leisure travellers. Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards have been created by the
association as part of its drive to raise the bar even higher on the quality of the region’s tourism businesses, which contribute £340m a year to the local economy. There are 12 categories and organisers want to secure entries from a wide range of hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions,
as well as key individuals working in the hospitality sector. Nominations can be made until 30 November through the website – www.acsta.co.uk – where there is also further information about the requirements for each category. Winners will be revealed at a ceremony at the Mercure Ardoe House Hotel on March 28 2014.
Online support launched for Glasgow tourism industry A NEW online programme is being developed to support Glasgow’s tourism industry ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, to help reinforce the city’s reputation as a top tourist destination. The successful Glasgow Welcomes course, which is currently available as a one-day workshop, is moving online to enable the city’s 40,000
tourism and hospitality workers to easily access customer service training in advance of Glasgow 2014. The course costs £5 and takes about two hours to complete. Users will take a test at the end of the programme and they will receive a certificate and a Glasgow Welcomes lapel badge upon completion.
The online programme has been developed by Flow Training for the Glasgow Tourism Service Initiative, an industry-led project to help improve the customer experience through training and development for the tourism sector. The training will help staff to learn more about Glasgow’s attractions and major events taking place in
the city, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games. A key aim is to help tourism industry staff offer up-to-date advice on what there is to see and do in the city. The online training module is funded by Scottish Enterprise with additional funding from Skill Development Scotland and Glasgow City Council.
Three awards are ‘icing on the cake’
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A LUXURY accommodation provider in the Highlands has received three prestigious accreditations – just weeks after opening. In the hills between Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar in the Scottish Highlands, Eagle Brae provides selfcatering accommodation in seven Canadian-style log cabins powered entirely by renewable energy. Upon welcoming its first guests at the start of September, the development attained gold status from the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Shortly afterwards, owners Mike and Pawana Spencer-Nairn picked up another award, this time from the Scottish Council for research and innovation, followed by achieving a five
star rating from the Scottish Tourist Board. Mike said: “We came to the Highlands with the ambition of creating something unique. “There are plenty of chalet-type selfcatering lodges, but Eagle Brae is unlike anything else available in the UK tourism market. “Our commitment to environmental sustainability makes it one of the greenest holiday destinations in Europe. “These three awards are the icing on the cake for us. It has taken almost eight years of hard work, planning and development to get here. “We are very proud of the finished result.”
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DESTINATIONSOUTH EAST TRAVEL SHOW
Travel fair organisers opting for quality over quantity VISITOR registration is now open for the two Beautiful South Group Travel Fairs taking place across South East England in 2014. The first will be held at Kew Gardens in Surrey on Saturday February 15, followed by De Vere Venues Heythrop Park Hotel (with shuttles to Broughton Castle) in Oxfordshire on Saturday March 1. Entry into the travel fairs is free of charge and each will have about 50 exhibitors from across South East England showcasing their group offer, including both well-known popular attractions and those little hidden gems. Visitors to previous travel fairs have valued “the ease and the amount of information” as well as the “opportunity to talk face-to-face
with exhibitors”. They leave with a host of new and inspiring ideas for day trips and short breaks as well as useful new group travel contacts. Travel trade manager Elaine Colley said: “With so many group travel exhibitions entering the market in recent years, Tourism South East has consolidated its programme of travel fairs from three to two with the emphasis on quality over quantity.”
After the fairs. visitors are welcome to look around the host venues and take advantage of the guided tours and/or talks available to book on the day. Visitors to Kew Gardens, pictured, can explore the world famous glasshouses, landscapes and 250 years of history at London’s only 300 acre UNESCO World Heritage Site and much more. De Vere Venues Heythrop Park is a historic 18th century mansion
house set in 440 acres of Oxfordshire countryside. Visitors can enjoy a traditional English cream tea served in the Wedgewood Room overlooking the Italian Garden for just £5pp (usually £8.95pp). Complimentary transfer coaches are also running to Broughton Castle for an exclusive taster tour of this medieval manor house steeped in history dating back to 1300, but pre-booking is advisable as places are limited.
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DESTINATIONNEWS
Off-road firm teams up with top hotels AN off-road adventure company has teamed up with some of Cumbria's top hotels to provide transfers with a difference. Ordinary transfers are set for a radical change thanks to Kankku, a Lake District-based firm specialising in 4x4 experiences. People who book a Kankku transfer will be met by their guide where they will receive a full briefing and be provided with their transfer vehicle – a sturdy ex-Army Land Rover complete with maps, preprogrammed satellite GPS and a road book direction system derived from the World Rally Championship. Guests staying at venues including the Langdale Hotel and Spa, Brimstone Hotel, Lakeside Hotel, the Drunken Duck, the Masons Arms and the Punchbowl can then experience the off-road adventure en-route to their accommodation. The year-round service is available seven days a week and vehicles can carry up to six passengers.
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Lost call ‘danger’ for travel agents By Christina Eccles TRAVEL agents and tour operators are at serious risk of losing business by leaving customers hanging on the telephone for almost 30 seconds at a time, new research has revealed. A survey of 3,630 UK companies by audio branding specialist PH Media Group discovered they leave customers on hold for an average of 27.34 seconds per call. PH Media group sales and marketing director Mark Williamson said: “These results represent a significant challenge for travel agents and could pose a threat to profitability. “Callers are simply unwilling to wait on the end of the line while subjected to silence, poor quality music or beeps so firms are putting themselves at serious risk of losing business. “Good call handling is often overlooked as a key sales and marketing tool but the telephone still acts as an important touchpoint and first impressions count. If each caller enjoys a positive experience,
Mark Williamson customer service standards will go through the roof.” Of all callers placed on hold, 34 per cent were subjected to silence. A further 26 per cent were made to listen to music, while 26 per cent heard beeps. But hold time isn’t the only consideration for businesses wanting to make a good first impression on callers. As part of the study, PH Media Group also audited each company, giving them a score out of 100 based on overall call handling practice. Travel agents and tour operators averaged just 31,
compared to an average of 33. Elements including the time taken to answer a call, the number of tiers a caller experiences before reaching the necessary department, use of consistent voice and music, professional and personalised voicemail and out-of-hours messaging were weighted to reflect their importance. Mark added: “Good customer service is paramount for any business so it is important to evaluate all aspects of call handling to ensure calls are dealt with appropriately. “Inevitably, not every call will be answered within a matter of seconds, so when callers do need to be placed on hold for any length of time, informative and entertaining audio messages can help to maintain their attention and decrease perceived waiting time. “Brand congruent voice and music are also vital in order to present customers with a consistent image of the company, reinforcing brand values and establishing a reassuring, coherent presence.”
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War Horse goes from strength to strength AS we approach 2014, the centenary of the start of World War I, the National Theatre’s multiaward winning production of War Horse, based on the award-winning novel, continues to go from strength to strength. This stunning production, with a cast of over 38, a stirring orchestral score by Adrian Sutton and folk music arranged by John Tams, has been described by the Sunday Times as ‘the theatre event of the decade’. It is renowned for its ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company which brings breathing, galloping, charging life-size horses to life on stage set against a magnificent set designed by Rae Smith. It has now been seen by over 4m
people worldwide and is currently celebrating its sixth successful year in London’s West End. Whilst continuing its run at the New London Theatre, the show is simultaneously on tour in the UK and Ireland – playing to packed houses in Birmingham, Salford, Edinburgh, Southampton, Dublin, Sunderland, Bradford and Cardiff. War Horse tells the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the British in World War I. Soon caught up in enemy fire, Joey serves on both sides before finding himself alone in No Man’s Land. But Albert cannot forget him and, still not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous
mission to find Joey and bring him home. War Horse won six Tony Awards during its recent Broadway run, and is currently on a major tour of North America which continues throughout 2013/14 and a new German language production
Royal guest meets her show favourite THE National Theatre’s hit production War Horse received a very special visitor recently. To celebrate the National Theatre’s 50th anniversary, Her Majesty The Queen unveiled a plaque at the theatre and met her favourite from the show, Horse Joey. The play, which has recently released over a quarter of a million more tickets, is now booking until October 2014. It continues to be a key seller for Superbreak and is proving hugely popular with a wide range of customer types. War Horse tells the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the English in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving on both sides during the war before landing in no man’s land, while Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission
to find his horse and bring him home. War Horse is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship. War Horse has been seen by over 4m people worldwide since its premiere at the National Theatre in 2007 and continues its hugely successful run at the New London Theatre in the West End (now in its sixth year in London). Guests on a Superbreak War Horse London theatre break will witness the breathtaking production of the play with its life-sized puppets which are brought to life on stage by the amazing Hangspring Puppet Company. War Horse has now begun a tour of the UK and Ireland – ensuring that agents all around the UK have the chance to promote this popular show to venues within their catchment. Superbreak are delighted to offer theatre breaks featuring the War
I CAN’T SING! – The X Factor Musical will open at The London Palladium on March 26 2014, with previews from February 27 2014. The musical comedy, written by Harry Hill and Steve Brown, will star Olivier Award-winner Nigel Harman as Simon Cowell with The Color Purple’s Cynthia Erivo and Alan Morrissey as lovestruck hopefuls Chenice and Max. Superbreak already has packages available, which include show tickets 12 and accommodation.
Horse tour in the following key destination cities: Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh and Sunderland. National sales manager at Superbreak Graham Balmforth said: “War Horse is hugely captivating and it appeals to all age ranges, including families. Agents should work hard to promote this show and of course, look at the regional venues and see if any of them are within a two-hour catchment of their location. We know that short break customers tend to travel up to two hours from home and this could be a great way to see the show without having to venture to London.” Overall prices for a War Horse London short break lead in at £117pp including one night’s three star b/b accommodation and a top priced ticket to the show. For more information and bookings call Superbreak 0871 221 4444 or visit www.superbreak.com/agents
entitled Gefährten has just opened in Berlin. To book call 0871 221 4444 or visit www.superbreak.com If you do not already have an agency agreement or want to discuss development ideas call 01904 436 000.
New Year theatre price cuts THEATRES across London will welcome in the New Year by offering cut-price deals as part of Get Into London Theatre, the annual ticket scheme that allows the public to see top shows for a fraction of the normal cost. From January 1 to February 13 2014, participating productions including Billy Elliot the Musical, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Disney’s The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, The Phantom of the Opera, The Wind In The Willows, Wicked and many more will offer discount tickets ranging from £10-£40.
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14 & 15 you're invited
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14 & 15 you're invited
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DESTINATIONCENTRESTAGE
NT marks its half-century THE National Theatre opened its doors in 1963 at the Old Vic under Laurence Olivier. 800 productions later, the venue is marking its half-century with a short season celebrating the remarkable people and plays that made the NT one of the most cherished and creative of great British institutions: on screen, on stage and online. Highlights will include National Theatre Live encore screenings of some of the National’s most acclaimed recent productions at venues throughout the country, as well as exhibitions such as Chris Arthur: Scenes from National life, which includes unseen portraits of the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Maggie Smith and Laurence Olivier. Curated by theatre specialists using the riches of the NT Archive, exhibits will be made available online through the Google Cultural Institute. The first exhibition will explore Greek theatre at the NT, with a further five exhibits planned over the next two years. A National Theatre pop-up shop will also appear on the South Bank this autumn for unique items created for the anniversary, also available to buy online. Iconic designers Michael Craig-Martin, Jamie Reid, Paula Scher, David Carson and Graphic Thought Facility have created signed, limited edition prints, while Daniel Rosenthal’s book The National Theatre Story is also scheduled for publication later this year.
Fifty years: The National Theatre
Picture by Philip Vile
News from around the theatres ... By David Thomas
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A new comedy is opening at the Vaudeville Theatre on December 10, running until March 29 2014. The Duck House is an outrageous new comedy set in a world of dodgy receipts, dodgier deceit and pure Parliamentary panic. Ben Miller leads an all star cast including X Factor semi-finalist Diana Vickers, Olivier Award winning Nancy Carroll and James Musgrave.
WELCOME to the third edition of the Destination UK West End Chronicle. Hotfoot from The Hackney Empire, the home of London pantomime, to the Press Gallery Bar of the Houses of Parliament (no relation) to join the cast and writers of ‘The Duck House’ the hilarious new play that has its roots in the infamous MPs’ expenses’ scandal (where one Member of Parliament famously claimed £1,650 for a floating house for his ducks). I had last met Ben Miller at a church in Islington, where he was rehearsing the role of a ruthless Eastern European assassin with a morbid fear of little old ladies for The Ladykillers (a fantastic performance in a terrific comedy). I congratulated Ben on his meteoric rise from Hit-Man to MP (transferable skills no doubt) and then watched through tears of laughter as Ben and the cast gave us a taste of what's in store at The Duck House. Since last I wrote, both Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments and Tim Rice’s From Here To Eternity have both opened in London’s West End and Andrew Lloyd Webber has launched his forthcoming new musical, Stephen Ward, a story of the infamous sixties’ scandal that
David Thomas brought down the Government. The phenomenal Alexander Hanson takes the title role as the fashionable physiotherapist at the centre of The Profumo Affair (anyone who has seen the arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar is not likely to forget Alexander Hanson’s icily dispassionate Pilate).
Performing alongside Alexander will be one of the West End’s leading divas, the two-time Olivier Award winner Joanna Riding with the role of Christine Keeler being played by Charlotte Spencer. By huge contrast Richard Eyre, the director of Stephen Ward, also directed Charlotte in her first role in the West End, playing the eldest of Banks children, Jane, in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre. Richard Eyre had been the director of the National Theatre from 1988 to 1997, and last Thursday evening I joined a celebrity audience including Amanda Holden, Bernard Cribbins, Jill Halfpenny and Nigel Harman (soon to play Simon Cowell in “I Can’t Sing, The X-Factor Musical”) to see The National Theatre's One Man Two Guvnors as it became the longest running production in the 200 year history of the Theatre Royal Haymarket And what a great way to celebrate the 50th Birthday of The National Theatre, in the week that its biggest ever hit, War Horse, opened in Birmingham and Berlin and Rufus Norris was confirmed as the very worthy successor to the inspirational Nick Hytner. A huge Happy Birthday to the National Theatre – here’s to another half century of masterpieces, magic and mayhem.
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DESTINATIONNEWS
Almost 40,000 rooms ‘closed in past decade’ ALMOST 40,000 UK hotel rooms have closed over the past decade, research conducted by Melvin Gold Consulting has revealed. According to figures, the majority are small, unbranded, independent properties in coastal areas such as Cornwall, Blackpool and Torbay, as well as those in key London boroughs such as Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea. Hotel industry consultant Melvin Gold said: “The hotel industry in the British Isles is rapidly changing and it is very exciting to be part of such a dynamic sector that is adapting to
its future. “The transition of the UK hotel industry that is in progress is further evidenced by our research. “We have found hotels changing use to residential accommodation, care homes, and student accommodation or being demolished to facilitate new development. It is important to note that it does not herald the end of the independent hotel, provided they are well-invested and market focused. “I still expect them to comprise up to 40 per cent of the future UK
hotel market, but the majority of UK hotels will be branded within the next decade. “This process of change reflects the requirements of the 21st century consumer and also creates increased employment opportunities as the supply-base moves towards larger, branded hotels. “From 2003 to the end of 2013, 103,612 new hotel rooms have opened in the UK. Even taking account of closures I expect continued growth and the UK hotel industry to have more than 850,000 rooms by 2030.”
Theme park employee Neville Logan who has retired after 17 years at Gulliver’s Warrington site.
A MUCH-loved theme park employee is steaming into retirement after years of transporting children to meet Santa. Neville Logan has worked at children's theme park Gulliver’s Warrington site for 17 years. Working as the driver of the main
COME to Lord’s and take a tour behind the scenes at The Home of Cricket. Guided by an expert guide the tours take in the Pavilion, the legendary Long Room, and the dressing rooms. Housing the famous ‘honours boards’, you will have the chance to sit on the seats usually occupied by the England team. In the MCC Museum, home to the Ashes Urn and over 400 years of cricket history, we explore the treasure house of Lord’s. Following on from 2013, the MCC Museum will launch a new exhibition in 2014 in partnership with J P Morgan, entitled Cricket’s Crown Jewels. Part Two will highlight the literary gems within the collection. Around the ground, we take in the magical atmosphere of Lord’s and the award winning architecture of the J.P. Morgan media centre. Here you will see where Sky Sports, Test Match Special and the written press report on the game.
Sites team up
Neville steams into retirement By Christina Eccles
Catch some cricket history ...
park train, Neville has spent the last 10 years chauffeuring little ones to meet Santa during the park's Winter Wonderland-themed festive breaks. Now, to wish Neville well as he embarks on his new journey, staff have decided to commemorate his reign over the railway by naming the train after him. Managing director Julie Dalton
said: “Many children will recognise Nev as he's driven the train delivering thousands of kids to meet Santa for the past decade. “He's been a wonderful employee over the years and we wish him all the best for the future. Naming the train ‘Neville' after him is our way of thanking him for years of fantastic service with a smile.”
THREE historic and unique heritage attractions in Warwickshire have launched a combined tour for groups at a special discounted rate. The tour includes a visit to Chedham’s Yard, the BBC restoration winning site in Wellesbourne and The Lord Leycester Hospital and Hill Close Gardens in Warwick. Heritage project officer at Chedham’s Yard Deborah Hext said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for groups to enjoy all three attractions on the same day. Not only does the tour represent excellent value for money, but it also enables the organiser to book this with just one simple phone call.”
‘A must see event in the travel trade calendar’ REGISTER now and book a free coach place to visit the South West Group Travel Show, which will be held on Saturday February 8 2014 (10am-2pm) at the popular Winter Gardens on Weston-Super-Mare’s seafront. Now in its third year, this leading regional exhibition has quickly become established as a must see event in the travel trade calendar. The number of free coach transfer services for visitors to the show has been increased and now includes pick-ups from Cheltenham, Gloucester, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, Torquay, Newton Abbot, Exeter, Cullompton, Taunton and Bristol. Coach operators are also being encouraged to bring key clients, who will receive fast track entry and enjoy a VIP welcome. A five day, four night familiarisation trip spanning East and South Devon and Cornwall is also being organised alongside the show. Starting from
Tuesday February 4 with the final day spent at the exhibition. The packed itinerary costs £110pp and includes coach transfers to nine attractions; pre-arranged lunches and accommodation on a dinner
B&B basis at the Devonshire Hotel in Torquay for the duration of the trip plus evening entertainment. A full itinerary can be found on the website. Organised by Tourism South East and Group Travel
Organiser magazine, the free entry show will provide new inspiration for places to visit and a chance to meet exhibitors face-to-face, while exploring fresh ideas for days out and short breaks.
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DESTINATIONNEWS
Tourist board welcomes closer links with China By Christina Eccles
Marketing takes award back to Belfast VISIT Belfast’s efforts to promote the city as a leading destination for conferences and business events have been recognised with a top award. The organisation scooped the trophy for Marketing Team of the Year at The Meeting Industry Marketing Awards. Organised by Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine, the presentation took place at London’s Novotel West Hotel. Chief executive at Visit Belfast Gerry Lennon said: “I’m thoroughly thrilled that our efforts, commitment and hard work to promote Belfast as a modern, thriving and experienced destination of choice has been recognised by such a distinguished judging panel at this crucially important event.”
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TOURIST board Visit Peak District and Derbyshire has welcomed news that the Government is to relax visa rules for Chinese nationals coming to Britain in a bid to boost both business and tourism. Chief executive David James said he is delighted that the Government is acting on a suggestion Visit Peak District and Derbyshire first made to the then Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt during his whistle-stop visit to the area to discuss tourism policy in March 2011. He explained: “We suggested to
Mr. Hunt at the time that visa rules for people representing one of the world’s largest economies should be relaxed to encourage more Chinese visitors and inward investment – and we are very pleased it is now happening. “News that the visa application process is to be streamlined and simplified is excellent, and should help to stimulate both tourism and trade. “It’s also encouraging to hear that the Beijing Construction Engineering Group is joining forces with UK companies to develop the £800m ‘Airport City’ near Manchester Airport, which is
expected to create around 16,000 jobs. “Manchester Airport brings in millions of visitors and business people each year, and this can only reinforce its reputation as the northern UK’s key international gateway. “We’re confident that the Peak District will benefit from both the visa improvements and the planned business hub in Manchester, and we’ll be playing our part by welcoming more Chinese visitors and business people to discover our unique and easily accessible destination whenever the opportunity arises.”
New head chef is appointed GRAHAM Campbell has been appointed the new head chef at Macdonald Pittodrie House.
Graham said: “Macdonald Pittodrie House is a fantastic venue.
The renowned chef joins with responsibility for leading the hotel's dining experience across the award-winning Mither Tap Restaurant and The Orangery – the hotel’s elegant private dining venue.
“I am delighted to get back to what I love best – hotel dining – and bringing my expertise to the table. “The values held across the group are very much in line with my own personal ethos of
working with fresh, quality ingredients, sourced both responsibly and with provenance in mind – all integral factors to produce delicious food. “The commitment of the team already here is evident and I look forward to leading them forward as we strive to achieve a minimum of 2 AA Rosettes.”
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DESTINATIONTOURISM SOCIETY
Moving forward with the timeless lessons learned By Neil McCollum MTS MTMI, President, Tourism Management Institute NOSTALGIA is a funny thing when it comes to destination management. As much as we like to anticipate the next challenge coming over the horizon, we can’t help glancing over our shoulders and remembering, with a certain degree of fondness, where we have been and the events that have led us to this point. I had one of these sentimental rewind moments just recently, after taking over as the president of the Tourism Management Institute. Key career moments often give rise to periods of self-reflection and this month was no exception as I looked back to the early 1990s. As part of a group of fresh-faced graduates I was fortunate to be part of a large local authority-run tourism team (more than 25 people) tasked with changing the fortunes of a collection of coastal resorts in east Kent. While we had a sizeable budget, a committed team and strong political support, essential ingredients you would think for a successful outcome, this was sadly not the case. We seemed to stumble from one crisis to the next and even struggled to spend the budget each year. As I look back on what should have been a Golden Age, it is clear to me now that the concept of Destination Management had not really hit home to us at that point. We knew we wanted more visitors and where they might come from, but the idea of making a destination work effectively from a visitor perspective and developing the
Neil McCollum partnerships that supported that aim were some years off for us. We would all have done things differently if we knew then what we know now – that’s just the process of learning. But of course, nothing stays the same, so we must be adept at transferring our experience to new landscapes of tourism, different political and economic climates, and developments we never imagined. In 2013 we find ourselves in a very different situation. The budgets are much smaller, and so are the teams, the political support for tourism is less obvious and the problems we face are probably even greater. The challenge of spending the budget has been replaced with the challenge of finding the budget. But still we have never had it so good. I can almost hear the coffee cups being slammed down on desks around the country, so let me explain. Yes, we have had a continuous squeeze on public sector funding, yes we have had the appearance, and then disappearance, of the regional
development agencies and yes we now have the patchwork quilt of acronyms and redefined bodies – DMOs, DMPs, Tourist Boards, Local Enterprise Partnerships, BIDs, TBIDs, TCPs and goodness knows what else. But within that patchwork quilt are a group of professionals who are quietly going about their business, delivering high quality action plans, and marketing campaigns, generating partnership engagement activity and facilitating business development opportunities. Looking back over the last 20 years the degree of professionalism within Destination Management has increased 10-fold. Evidence of this can be found in destinations the length and breadth of the country. Destination managers have become experts at wringing every last ounce of benefit from their limited budgets, identifying the strategic opportunities and drawing in a range of commercial partners to help deliver them. It is these same people that make up the bulk of the membership with the Tourism Management Institute and indeed the Tourism Society. Like
Destination Management we have also evolved but at our core remains the principle of providing help and guidance to our members through delivering professional development. When I started out it was the support and encouragement that I received from TMI members that really made the difference. We met up at regional meetings, or national events and more often than not it was that little nugget of advice picked up during the coffee break that stuck with me and I carried back to squeeze into a project or action plan. So, as the cliché goes, nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, it’s important to hold on to what was valuable from the past while adapting to a future that is both exciting and uncertain. Enthusiasm, professionalism, commitment and mutual support are timeless qualities. And as for the fortunes of those once fading coastal resorts, many of them are doing very nicely thank you. TMI is the Destination Management section of the Tourism Society.
President's Debate 2013 London, Tuesday December 3rd from 6.00pm What are the pros and cons of the predicted continued rise in international visitors? "In the first eight months of the year, international tourist arrivals grew by 5% to reach a record 747 million worldwide, some 38 million more than in the same period of 2012." - eTN Global Travel Industry News, 17th October 2013
Last year the UNWTO celebrated one billion international arrivals. In 2013 this number is predicted to increase by 4%, and domestic tourism around the world is on the rise as well. This sounds like only good news for tourism businesses, but is there a downside as well? What is the case for active management of numbers versus the free market? Chaired by Tourism Society President Lord Thurso MP FTS, the expert panel will consider four key areas – heritage, environment, infrastructure and the economy – before taking questions and comments from the audience. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the relative merits of an ever-growing world of tourists. On the panel: Chair: Lord Thurso MP FTS, President of The Tourism Society Heritage - Loyd Grossman OBE, Chairman of The Heritage Alliance Economy - Graham Pickett, Global Leader of Aviation & Travel, Deloitte UK Environment - Jim Dixon, Chief Executive of Peak District National Park Infrastructure - Giles Price, Director of Development, Heathrow Airport To book your tickets visit bit.ly/178sUA2 or call 0207 269 9693
The Kent coast at Broadstairs.
Credit: Visit Kent
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