As part of our developing relationship with UK Inbound and the travel trade, Visit East of England hosted a Discovery tour for 13 international buyers, working with partners including the Broads Authority and Greater Anglia.
The group had a packed three days beginning on Sunday, March 26 with lunch at The Granary, Ranworth Staithe and an afternoon of sailing in the Broads National Park courtesy of Eastwood Whelpton. Later they had a tour of Norwich with Paul Dickson, supper at The Britons Arms, Elm Hill, a drinks tasting with Cheryl Cade and stayed at The Maid’s Head and The Assembly House.
The next morning the buyers had a tour of Holkham Hall and estate in north Norfolk, a lunch and tour at The English Whisky Distillery in Breckland, a walking tour of Bury St Edmunds with refreshments at The Angel Hotel and group dinner and accommodation at Bedford Lodge Hotel, Newmarket.
On Tuesday morning they had an early morning tour of the training gallops and a visit to the National Stud before a B2B networking event and workshop with local businesses interested in attracting groups including Paul Dickson Walking Tours, Cheryl Cade, Maid’s Head Hotel, Eastwood Whelpton, Discover Newmarket, Bedford Lodge Hotel, English Whisky Company, Hipperson’s of Beccles, High Lodge Leisure, Milsom Hotels, Bury Tour Guides, Cromer Pier and St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
The aim of the event was to facilitate new business relationships between buyers and suppliers with a view to creating more tourism ‘product’ that visitors can book to increase numbers and grow the value of the region’s visitor economy.
Pete Waters, Executive Director of Visit East of England said: “We were so pleased to have had the opportunity to showcase what this spectacular and unique corner of the country has to offer to tour operators who are responsible for bringing in thousands of international visitors every year to the UK from around the world. The positive response from local tourism businesses has been great and the delegates were impressed with the scope and the quality of what our cities, national park and the surrounding areas have to offer in addition to our world famous Newmarket Gallops.”
Joss Croft OBE, CEO of UKinbound commented, “We organise for our tour operator members to attend these kinds of workshops and tours all over the UK but this is our first ever Discover workshop in the East of England. I know that our members have had a fantastic time discovering this beautiful area of the country and developing new commercial opportunities which going forward will help to drive visitation and bring in much needed revenue for local businesses.”
If you’re a business that’s interested in engaging with tour operators and being part of VEE’s future activity with the travel trade, please email Business Development Executive Laura Munnings laura@visiteastofengland.com
