EP 41 How working with the overseas travel trade could really help your business, with Jon Chamberlain and Mike Newman

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In this podcast episode, we focus on increasing bookings from inbound travellers or overseas tourists through the travel trade.
My guests are Jon Chamberlain, Head of Marketing for VisitWest, and Mike Newman of B2Me Tourism Marketing.

Jon has been working for 11 years to promote Bristol, Bath, and the surrounding areas as a European leisure destination. Mike helps destinations and businesses prepare their offers for the travel trade and represents them at shows worldwide.

Many of us in the UK use travel agents like TUI or Jet2 for our holidays, and the rest of the world does the same. We discuss some of the questions that operators focused mainly on the domestic market may have.

We cover topics including:

• £370 million value of overseas tourism to the VisitWest region.
• Tourism industry insights and marketing strategies for Bristol and Bath.
• The importance of relationship building with this sector.
• How to prepare for attending a travel trade event
• Ways to increase visitor spend and dwell time in destinations by promoting lesser-known products and experiences.
• Making tourism businesses travel trade-ready through digital systems and partnerships.
• Visit West's partnership with the OTA Get Your Guide to increase interest in the region. How the travel trade can bring business during shoulder times and dates.

Moreover, we discuss the importance of viewing commission as profit, not cost, attending large European trade shows like ITB Berlin, and the success of the VisitWest's campaign, 'The England you know but better.'

Lastly, our guests share their favourite places and things to do in the West.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn

https://b2me.net/

Connect with Jon on LinkedIn

Visit West latest travel trade opportunities

This episode is sponsored by Hello Starling.

Hello Starling, is an award-winning Media Planning and Buying agency that specialises in delivering advertising campaigns with great results for visitor attractions and destinations.
They've worked with brands such as Bristol Zoo Project, Visit Shropshire, Visit Conwy, Visit Herefordshire and the National Tourism Office for Poland. If you want to be the centre of attention, visit hellostarling.com today.
Find out more about the marketing strategy and mentoring services with the Visitor Elves.

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