Update from Sally Everton - Director

1st January 2019

Categories: Business News

Visit Devon’s Director, Sally Everton, has been busy driving promotion internationally and encouraging visitors to come to Devon. 

In December Sally has been working on the following:

Domestic:

• HofSW LEP Tourism Workshop - group work shop looking at the challenges facing tourism and suggestions for shaping the future of the LEP tourism strategy 
• Host Incentive England on a one day edcational for incentive venues in Devon (PART 1) 
• Admin catch up from 3 weeks of travel - data base inputting for DB China, IBTM and US
• December Board Meeting - VisitDevon
• Various meetings with members and potential members for VisitDevon
• Meeting with Exeter Airport re trade events and working in collaboration
• Follow up on database from IBTM for business tourism.  One large enquiry for Active Sports Festival - forwarded onto Exeter and Plymouth
• Various meeting with ATP's and also District Councils 
• Meeting with Golf England and VisitNorthDevon - looking at driving golfing itineraries to Devon and Cornwall
• Marketing meeting - sign off marketing budget and campaign planning for 2019
• Meeting with Julian Gray - SW Coastal Path - looking at collaborative working
• Meeting and debrief with VisitDevon members who partnered us on IBTM
• Devise and input events into a detailed Events Calendar - 2019

Press and Blogger pieces:

• The Sunday Telegraph - Spa Struck.  Featured Bovey Castle as one of the best

• The Observer - Winter Country Retreats.  Again featured Bovey Castle as in the top 10 in the UK

• We hosted a German blogger/author back in the summer for child friendly holidays in Devon and Cornwall and her guide has now been published and is on Amazon : Amazon

• Dutch newspaper Trouw sourced by Ruud at Mazzard's Farm East Devon.  Great piece on East Devon, Lympstone Manor and Exeter Trouw link

International:

• Various updates for VisitEngland and VisitBritain
• Book events - such as ExploreGB, MeetGB and sales missions to US.  Write profiles
• Begin the follow up on DB China - inputting of 78 contacts into Database and initinal e-mail/WeChat follow up 
• Meeting with Golf England and VND - re targeting the North American Golf markets.  Developing golfing groups
• Continue to follow up from DBNA and VEMEX
• Meetings and debrief with VisitDevon members who partnered us on our overseas trade events - DB China and IBTM
• Prepare and finalise details for Vakantiebeurs - brochure and stand detail 
• Book and confirm ITB for March 2019.  Write profiles - looking for further partners to work with us 
• Apply for TAP funding for ITB and other events

DEF project :

• Progression of the project working closely with our project co-ordinator and our research and insight consultant based in the US
• Develop partnerships with tour operators/DMC's and with local partners and tour guides
• Develop thematic itineraries within our product content
• Prepare content for trade interviews to take to chosen tour operators/DMC's
• Various meetings throughout the month with VisitCornwall, VisitSomerset and project co-ordinator
• Various conference calls with the US over the month with Simon Bradley,US based project consultant 
• Working on sales mission for Mid February - East Coast NY, NJ Conn and LI