MEMBERS' NEWS
BATH GETS A NEW IMAGE WITH VisitBath.co.uk RE-LAUNCH
08/01/2010
Bath Tourism Plus has re-launched the official tourism website for Bath and the surrounding area , www.visitbath.co.uk , following a complete design makeov...
BATH GETS A NEW IMAGE WITH VisitBath.co.uk RE-LAUNCH
08/01/2010
Bath Tourism Plus has re-launched the official tourism website for Bath and the surrounding area , www.visitbath.co.uk , following a complete design makeover, with sophisticated new features and even more visitor information.
The new website provides a complete guide for holiday-makers and useful information for local residents. Users can find out about things to see and do, where to eat out, shops that can’t be missed, as well as a number of other information services including a what’s on guide featuring events, festivals and exhibitions.
A number of new developments have been added which not only enhance the look of the website but also its functionality. Navigation across the site has improved with easy-to-use menus, a number of new search options, and a straight forward accommodation booking system allowing users to tailor their search and refine results to their precise requirements. Striking images of Bath and the surrounding countryside and other visual aids have been introduced with a new interactive map providing information on what to see nearby highlighting key attractions such as Stonehenge, Wells, Glastonbury and the Cotswolds.
Samantha Edson from Bath Tourism Plus has been busy putting together the new website and comments, “We wanted to develop a more visually striking and engaging website that would deliver more business to our members and at the same time provide an even better information service for users of visitbath.co.uk”.
Robin Bischert chief executive of Bath Tourism Plus says, “Last year the visitbath.co.uk website received over 1.2 million unique users. As more people than ever are using the internet to arrange their holidays and leisure time, we felt that a new website with a modern design was imperative to provide visitors and residents with the very best service possible. The new website contains lots of stunning photography which really helps to bring it to life and will hopefully encourage visitors to the city and surrounding area.”
JUMP ONBOARD FOR A ROMANTIC CELEBRATION ON VALENTINE'S DAY
08/01/2010
Couples planning a special day on the 14th February 2010 should jump onboard the Restaurant Ship Hispaniola for a romantic celebration .
The ship, which is permanently moored on Victoria Emba...
JUMP ONBOARD FOR A ROMANTIC CELEBRATION ON VALENTINE'S DAY
08/01/2010
Couples planning a special day on the 14th February 2010 should jump onboard the Restaurant Ship Hispaniola for a romantic celebration .
The ship, which is permanently moored on Victoria Embankment in London, is the ideal venue for enjoying some excellent cuisine in a unique setting, on St Valentine's Day.
Boasting fabulous views of the Thames, from St. Paul's to the Houses of Parliament, the Hispaniola offers a romantic haven amongst the city bustle.
This year the Hispaniola is offering both a special Valentine's three course lunch and dinner . Both options are ideal for couples who are planning a day of celebration, as the lunch could be enjoyed before and the dinner after; a trip to the theatre, cinema or a romantic stroll along the River Thames.
Diners will also be entertained by the resident pianist, Norman Treiger, who will be playing an appropriate selection of tunes.
There is also an elegant cocktail bar on the main deck, where couples can enjoy either an aperitif before their meal or digestif afterwards.
The Valentine's Day lunch costs £29.95 per person. The dinner costs £48 per person and this price includes a rose for the ladies.
Further information and bookings can be made by phoning +44 (0)20 7839 3011 or visiting the website at www.hispanola.co.uk
EXPLORE LONDON AS SHERLOCK HOLMES COMES TO LIFE IN THE CAPITAL
15/12/2009
The highly anticipated new Sherlock Holmes film is set for UK release on Boxing Day and top London attractions and venues and are celebrating with some ‘elementary‘ deals.
The perfect S...
EXPLORE LONDON AS SHERLOCK HOLMES COMES TO LIFE IN THE CAPITAL
15/12/2009
The highly anticipated new Sherlock Holmes film is set for UK release on Boxing Day and top London attractions and venues and are celebrating with some ‘elementary‘ deals.
The perfect Sherlock Holmes itinerary would not be complete without a visit to the detective’s ‘official home’, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, located at the world-famous address, 221b Baker Street. Used as a lodging house in 1936, today the museum is dedicated to the life and times of the famed detective, with the interior faithfully maintained as described in the published stories.
Following your visit, take a tipple in The Sherlock Holmes pub, which contains a replica of Holmes’ and Watson’s sitting room and study, before tucking into a dish of Dr Watson’s favourite, Cumberland sausages, in the pub’s restaurant.
St Paul’s Cathedral and Somerset House are just a couple of the iconic London locations featured in the novels and showcased in new film. Make sure you seek out the favourite London haunts of the famous sleuth with a themed tour around the capital.
London Walks’ famous trail, ‘In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes’ takes intrepid visitors to follow the adventures of Holmes and Watson through Charing Cross, the Strand’s gas-lit alleys and Covent Garden. Take a chauffeur-driven journey of discovery with Celebrity Planet, which begins at The Sherlock Holmes pub, taking in various locations made famous by the detective novels including Sherlock Holmes favourite restaurant and the former residence and medical practice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Early in 2010, Brit Movie Tours is set to launch a new London Movie Tour which will feature locations from the film such as the Houses of Parliament and the Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden.
After a day of following in his footsteps, have your picture taken with the man himself at Madame Tussauds, where a new figure of Robert Downey Jr. as the legendary character is on display. Visit The Movieum on London’s Southbank to see original props and costumes from the film, on display until the 7th of January.
A number of top London hotels are marking the film’s release with a range of themed packages. Find yourself the perfect London base as you sleuth your way around the capital.
Cinema tickets? They’re complimentary, my dear Watson! Radisson Edwardian Hotels are offering a fantastic package in celebration of the film’s release, which will include a stay in one of the groups’ hotels, full English breakfast, two complimentary cinema tickets and 2 for 1 dining. Quiz the concierge on the area’s hidden hang-outs, then investigate with your complimentary guide book! The package is available from 26 December to 28 February from just £140 per room per night.
Charing Cross Hotel on The Strand, featured in the climax to The Bruce-Partington Plans, is perfectly positioned for an exploration of the London of Sherlock Holmes. A new iphone application, ‘The Sherlock Holmes Guide to London’ has been launched, which traces locations connected to the stories – with the Charing Cross Hotel at the centre of the action. With an imposing Victorian façade and an elaborate interior to match, the building forms the perfect backdrop to explore the world of the crafty sleuth.
Lucky enough to share the name of the detective or his assistant? Visit the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes London, located on Baker Street, and enjoy a free drink for every one purchased at Sherlock’s Bar! For an offer open to all guests, book a stay in the boutique hotel to take advantage of a specially-themed package which includes a two course dinner and breakfast at Sherlock’s grill, two Sherlock Holmes or Dr Watson speciality cocktails and tickets to the film – priced from £154 for two people.
Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel, has also created a package which includes two nights bed and breakfast, a visit to the detective’s museum and Sherlock Holmes guided tour. (Prices start from £315)
For a complete Sherlock Holmes London itinerary and more on Britain’s most famous detective, visit www.visitlondon.com/sherlockholmes.
Notes to Editors
See below for links to further information on the above offers & promotions:
Sherlock Holmes Museum
www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk .
The Sherlock Holmes Pub
www.visitlondon.com/attractions/detail/48927
London Walks
[url=http://www.walks.com/Homepage/Fridays_Walks/default.aspx#12877] www.walks.com/Homepage/Fridays_Walks [/url]
Celebrity Planet
www.thecelebrityplanet.com/sherlock-holmes-tour-london.html
Brit Movie Tours
http://britmovietours.com
Madame Tussauds
blog.visitlondon.com/2009/12/sherlock-holmes-comes-to-madame-tussauds
The Movieum
www.themovieum.com
Radisson Edwardian Hotels
www.radissonedwardian.com/sherlockholmes
Charing Cross Hotel
www.guoman.com/en/hotels/united_kingdom/london/charing_cross/hotel_offers/index.html
Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes
www.parkplazasherlockholmes.com
Grosvenor House Hotel
www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/hotel-deals/longh-grosvenor-house-a-jw-marriott-hotel/?offerInfo=459595
VISIT LONDON BLASTS PREVIOUS BUSINESS RECORDS AT EIBTM 2009
10/12/2009
Visit London and its 30 stand partners at EIBTM expect to receive record enquiries following an extremely successful show in Barcelona . The record number of stand partners and over 150 appoint...
VISIT LONDON BLASTS PREVIOUS BUSINESS RECORDS AT EIBTM 2009
10/12/2009
Visit London and its 30 stand partners at EIBTM expect to receive record enquiries following an extremely successful show in Barcelona . The record number of stand partners and over 150 appointments meant that the Visit London business team saw record numbers of event enquiries coming in for London. The Visit London team and partners also surpassed previous records by meeting over 900 people over the three-day show.
This year was also the first business trade show to be attended by a member of the Mayor of London’s Office. Director of Marketing and Head of London’s new Business Tourism Group Daniel Ritterband attended the show for the first time.
Ritterband said of the show: “It was a great pleasure to attend EIBTM and extremely useful in giving me further insight into the needs of global event planners. By meeting so many visitors to the show I was able to understand exactly what they require from a city when they plan to bring in business meetings and events. The Visit London stand was extremely successful and received record visitor figures to both our London destination presentations and to our 30 partner areas. By visiting the show I was able to really understand what the key goals should be for London’s new Business Tourism Group moving forward in 2010.”
Barbara Jamison, Sales Manager, Europe at Visit London added: “EIBTM is a key industry event for Visit London and it has proved year on year to be a key driver for events in the UK capital. Our target in 2009 was to beat last year’s figures of £52 Million business enquiries, and following a very busy few days of appointments and stand activity, we expect to at least double that amount in confirmed business this year. We saw over 150 pre-appointment meetings and there were some very clear countries which were very interested in London – the top ones included the US, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and France.”
Visit London’s stand featured over 30 London partners, a rise of 12 more partners compared with last year’s stand. These ranged from some of London’s biggest venues such as ExCeL London, Barbican, the QEII Conference Centre, through to unique events spaces such as the London Eye, Brocket Hall and One Great George Street, through to outstanding hotels like Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, Lancaster London and Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
Sue Etherington, acting commercial director, the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre said: “In these difficult times, it was encouraging to be involved in such a busy stand at EIBTM with lots of potential clients and actual events to be placed! Good organisation and support from Visit London ensured a very useful three days – well worth the time out of the office with approximately one million pounds worth of enquiries received.”
Lisa Fisher, Sales & Marketing Manager from One Great George Street said: This was the first year that One Great George Street exhibited at EIBTM or internationally, so this was seen as opportunity to introduce the venue to overseas buyers. The show was very busy and I am glad to have been involved. The number of hosted buyers joining us on the VL stand was impressive and having walked around the show appeared one of the most popular!”
The über cool Miramar Barcelona restaurant which is set within Barcelona’s mountain area was the location for a stylish networking evening hosted by Visit London on Wednesday 02 December. The evening showcased a slice of London’s modern and vibrant style and culture with beat boxing and break dancing competition.
HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW AND PALACE COMBINATION PACKAGES GO ON SALE
27/11/2009
Following their successful introduction last year, packages for groups combining the world’s largest annual flower show and arguably the finest palace in Britain are now available exclusively from t...
HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW AND PALACE COMBINATION PACKAGES GO ON SALE
27/11/2009
Following their successful introduction last year, packages for groups combining the world’s largest annual flower show and arguably the finest palace in Britain are now available exclusively from ticketing experts Applause.
Set in the beautiful gardens of the royal palace, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show runs from July 6th to 11th (July 6th and 7th reserved for RHS members) while the royal palace and its gardens are one of the finest in the world. The combined package includes entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace on any day until 28th February, 2011 as well as entry tickets to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Offering additional reductions on already discounted group rates, prices for the combination tickets start from just £34.30.
Applause, with its sister company Keith Prowse Ticketing, is the official ticketing partner of RHS Flower Shows and offers exclusive group rates for the society’s world renowned shows including Tatton and Cardiff as well as tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show. The company is also currently offering a traditional Tudor Christmas at Hampton Court Palace this winter, with ‘Henry VIII’ presiding over a host of seasonal activities fit for his Royal Court from 27th December to 3rd January. Music, dance and the clowning of fools will entertain visitors, while in the Tudor kitchen a traditional yuletide feast is prepared.
The group rates for adults is £12.60 (senior rate £10.35, child £6.30).
LONDON NOMINATED FOR BEST UK YOUTH DESTINATION AT THE BRITISH YOUTH TRAVEL AWARDS 2009
17/11/2009
London has been shortlisted as Best UK Youth Destination at the British Youth Travel Awards 2009. The nomination has been received alongside a number of Visit London partners, who are also reco...
LONDON NOMINATED FOR BEST UK YOUTH DESTINATION AT THE BRITISH YOUTH TRAVEL AWARDS 2009
17/11/2009
London has been shortlisted as Best UK Youth Destination at the British Youth Travel Awards 2009. The nomination has been received alongside a number of Visit London partners, who are also recognised for their excellence across a range of categories and industry sectors.
The annual awards, organised by the British Education Travel Association (BETA), invite members of the travel industry to vote for outstanding organisations engaged in youth, student and educational travel, celebrating both company achievements and individual successes.
Sally Chatterjee, Interim CEO Visit London, commented on the nomination:
‘London’s nomination for Best UK Youth Destination recognises the capital’s world-class visitor offer. Our superb visitor facilities, world-class attractions, fantastic diversity and value for money combine to make the capital an attractive destination for young travellers, and illustrate why London remains the most visited international city in the World.’
A number of Visit London partners are represented in the shortlist, including Generator Hostels, nominated for Best Product, and SANDEMANs NEW London Tours, acknowledged for their sustainable practices, picking up a nomination for the Green Tourism Award.
Two partners - London Bridge Experience & London Tombs and umi Hotels - have been pitted against each other to take home the award for Most Innovative Marketing, while representatives from Generator Hotels and umi Hotels have been acknowledged in the Most Promising Young Marketer category, which recognises the efforts of individuals within an organisation.
Members of the travel trade are invited to vote online for their favourite nominees in each category by visiting the BETA website: www.betauk.com/index.php?id=4254
Voting closes on Friday 20th November, with the winners to be announced at the BETA end of year event on Thursday 3rd December 2009.
Contact
For further information please contact
Rebecca Smith
020 7234 5861
rsmith@visitlondon.com
MAYOR ANNOUNCES GLITTERING FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT THE LONDON EYE TO HERALD THE NEW YEAR
12/11/2009
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has confirmed that London will welcome in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display at the London Eye, which will be marking its own 10-year anniversar...
MAYOR ANNOUNCES GLITTERING FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT THE LONDON EYE TO HERALD THE NEW YEAR
12/11/2009
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has confirmed that London will welcome in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display at the London Eye, which will be marking its own 10-year anniversary.
With live coverage on BBC One, the newly created pyrotechnic display will be seen around the world, as well lighting up the sky across the capital. Music in the build up to midnight will be mixed live by Radio One's award winning Nihal.
The Mayor Boris Johnson said: 'London will bring in 2010 with a bang, a glittering explosion across the midnight sky. We want to show to the world that we are looking forward to the future with the optimism and energy that characterises our capital and makes it the most exciting city on earth. The fireworks are part of a dazzling range of attractions all across the capital over the festive season. For visitors and Londoners alike, there is something for everyone, from Christmas trees and sparkling lights, to carol concerts and ice-skating at iconic locations.'
New Year's Eve revellers are advised to plan ahead. Many venues, such as pubs, bars and clubs, are likely to be ticketed with advance booking. Space in viewing areas along the Thames to watch the fireworks will be limited, but the display will of course be broadcast live on television.
Public transport will be the best way to get about, with all night and free travel on offer. Tube, DLR, tram and bus services will run all night, including free travel from 11:45pm to 4:30am. In central London Tube travellers should look out for station closures and exit only arrangements.
Many roads in the centre will be closed to cars.
Night and 24 hour bus routes will run as normal, but due to road closures there will be a reduction in bus services leaving central London from around 7pm on New Year's Eve to around 3am. However, bus services on the night will be enhanced with 55 routes running throughout the night, which normally only run during the day. Mainly in the suburbs, these bus services will be able to pick up passengers at the end of Tube lines and at National Rail stations.
Selected National Rail services in Greater London will also run through the night. Free travel will operate on Southern train services from Victoria to East Croydon via Selhurst (every 20 minutes).
More information can be found at www.london.gov.uk. Information about events and attractions throughout Christmas and into New Year can be found at www.visitlondon.com. Information to help you plan your journey over the same period will be available at www.tfl.gov.uk.
MACDONLAD MARINE HOTEL & SPA RETAINS TITLE OG LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR IN TOP SCOTTISH GOLF AWARDS
10/11/2009
The luxury four star Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa has been crowned 'Outstanding Large Hotel of the Year' for the second year running in the Golf Tourism Scotland Gold Standard Awards on ...
MACDONLAD MARINE HOTEL & SPA RETAINS TITLE OG LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR IN TOP SCOTTISH GOLF AWARDS
10/11/2009
The luxury four star Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa has been crowned 'Outstanding Large Hotel of the Year' for the second year running in the Golf Tourism Scotland Gold Standard Awards on 5 November 2009.
The hotel's win makes it four in a row for the Macdonald Hotels & Resorts group, following the Macdonald Marine's success in 2008 and the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel's win in 2007. On the night, the Macdonald Marine held off strong competition from properties in St Andrews, Aberlady and Prestwick.
General Manager of the Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa, Seamus Coen commented; "Winning the title for a second time in a row is a credit to the team's hard work throughout the year. Golfers make up a large part of our visitors and while our location gives a choice of some of the country's top courses to play, we're always proud to be chosen as a place to stay."
Located in the beautiful coastal town of North Berwick in East Lothian, the Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa is surrounded by some of Scotland's premier golf courses including Muirfield, host of the 2013 British Open, and qualifier courses Dunbar, North Berwick West Links and Gullane.
Seamus Coen continued; "Being nominated and voted for by our industry colleagues makes winning this award even more special as it shows that we are not only meeting our customers' needs but have also earned the respect of our peers."
The GTS Gold Standard Awards recognise the key players in Scotland's golf industry; golf courses, tour operators, hotels, secretariats and caddiemasters.
For more information on Macdonald Hotels, visit the website at www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk.
INVESTING IN ACCESSIBILITY
10/11/2009
As London prepares to host not only the 2012 Olympic games but also the Paralympics, we are committed to continuing our investment in easily accessible buses and in our website. Over a third of...
INVESTING IN ACCESSIBILITY
10/11/2009
As London prepares to host not only the 2012 Olympic games but also the Paralympics, we are committed to continuing our investment in easily accessible buses and in our website. Over a third of our sightseeing fleet became wheelchair accessible.
In addition to looking good, the vehicle will be fitted with an environmentally friendly, low emissions engine, our superb new commentary system and will feature full wheelchair accessibility.
LEISURE VISITORS PROVIDE BOOST TO LONDON'S TOURISM
09/11/2009
Despite this year ’s difficult financial climate, Visit London reveals that leisure visitors to the capital are determined not to cut back on their holiday spend.
London’s museum...
LEISURE VISITORS PROVIDE BOOST TO LONDON'S TOURISM
09/11/2009
Despite this year ’s difficult financial climate, Visit London reveals that leisure visitors to the capital are determined not to cut back on their holiday spend.
London’s museums, galleries and attractions felt the benefits from the buoyant leisure sector and witnessed an increase in visitor numbers of over 6% in September 2009 compared with the same period in 2008*. The main boost in September attendances came from paid-for attractions, where visits increased by 10.7%.
The Provisional International Passenger Survey (IPS) figures for Q2 also indicate that expenditure by all visitors was up by £2.1 billion, an increase of 3.1% on the previous year. It means that average visitor spend increased from £540 to £574. Travel expenditure among leisure visitors increased 44% in Q2 compared to the same period a year ago indicating that sterling’s depreciation has established London as a top-value destination.
The number of holiday visitors actually increased 6% in the quarter, continuing an upwards trend established in Q1. This means that holiday visitors now comprise 52% of the market (Q2 2008 47%).
Elsewhere, data from Visit London’s Hotel Development Monitor suggests that the accommodation sector is proving more resilient than initially thought.
The weaker pound allied to London’s world class status have combined to attract a greater proportion of leisure traffic to the Capital. As a result, demand for accommodation has effectively replaced the reduction in business-related room demand.
The report suggests that some of the gloomy forecasts have proved ill-founded. While some industry analysts were anticipating RevPar reductions as high as 40% for 2009, the resilience in the market has led to a considerably more modest reduction in the order of 9%.
Sally Chatterjee, Visit London Interim CEO commented
“This has been a challenging year but it is really encouraging to see that while times are tough, visitors do not want to hold back when it comes to their leisure time. London is a great value destination and visitors can enjoy all the free attractions on offer as well as paying to enjoy the capital’s incredible range of paid for attractions, hotels and restaurants.”
Notes to Editors
*According to the Visit London Attraction Monitor for September
