News

Our CEO meets with North Somerset MP John Penrose gaining support for Coastal Town strategy

 
The Visit Somerset CEO, John Turner, has had a positive meeting with John Penrose MP last week; conversations were had around the House of Lords Select Committee's vision supporting Coastal Towns and the Visit Somerset Coastal Summit meeting in Weston-super-Mare on 12th September. As well as this, discussions took place about plans for coastal destinations - Minehead, Burnham on Sea, and Weston super Mare  - against the backdrop of The Which Report, economic slowdown and changing perceptions. The fight back starts here.

Thanks to The Double Tree by Hilton Cadbury House for supporting the meeting, the service was outstanding as always. We are very proud to have Cadbury House as a Somerset hotel!

 

Visit Britain Japan take further interest in the county as Somerset marketing collateral is requested

Visit Britain’s Japanese team are to be participating in workshops in Tokyo and Osaka on the 18^th and 20^th August, organised by the JTB Group, the theme of the workshops will be around Education and Incentives in Britain and have personally requested content around Somerset.
The Visit Somerset team have to ensure that an 18-page document is now put together for the team to take out. Earlier this year, there was a really successful Fam trip when 15 Japanese tour operators came to Somerset after our CEO’s visit to China last year at the Destination Britain China Conference. 

More International News!   

The Department for International Trade (DIT) support Visit Somerset with international funding to support Visit Somerset digital ambitions in the USA  with key tour operator Indulgent Vacations. More on this story in the next newsletter ..... 
 

 

Visit Somerset Food & Drink PR Schedule for 2019

Dear Member
Campaign name: Somerset Exmoor Food & Drink Revolution
 
Our PR Company AM +A need your help here are the details below, if you are interested in taking part please contact the Visit Somerset office at info@Visitsomerset.co.uk :

Outline of campaign
AM+A will run a summer-long, food and drink ‘media/influencer challenge campaign’ with the aim of generating content from a selection of travel influencers (Rough Guides, Lonely Planet), newspapers, magazines, YouTube and blogger platforms.
We will send UK food and drink influencers on a trail of Somerset and Exmoor’s foodie hotspots, where they will complete a series of workshops along the way. Their challenge will be to create the ultimate Somerset and Exmoor cider cocktail, paired with local produce gathered en route. The campaign will be supported by a series of food and drink itineraries for national media visits (food and drink producers, restaurants and food/drink producer workshops).

Further support will come from media food and drink travel round-ups and pitching focused on campaign themes.
London Event
The food and drink workshops and pairings developed in the media visit and pitching programme will form the basis of a Somerset and Exmoor in London event, to bring these cocktails and food/drink experiences to life.
Tactics and timeline

1. July - August 2019
Influencer, blogger and YouTube campaign
The Somerset Cocktail, Somerset & Exmoor recipes and food pairing challenges/workshops.
Example:
Somerset recipes
https://www.hungryhealthyhappy.com/recipes/
https://www.lavenderandlovage.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfyehHM_eo4g5JUyWmms2LA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIes8pQWSFQ

2. July – September 2019
Media visit food and drink programme
Individual media experience itineraries targeting national newspapers and magazines. Stories focused on unique stories like the ‘real cheddar & cider campaign.’

3. July - September 2019
Food and drink experience publicity – media round-ups and experiences pitched out.

4. September or October 2019
Somerset & Exmoor in Event in London
Creation of event to showcase videos produced by influencers, cocktail and food recipes created from media visits programme and Somerset food pairing experience.

5. July - September 2019
Content creation support – content developed to support Visit Exmoor and Visit Somerset social media channels.


Core tactics
- Publicity generation
- Content creation and social media support
- Picture and video stories
- Press trip campaign
- London late summer/early autumn event
- Third party sponsorship and support
 - graphic document to be produced
 - GWR, transport, food and drink producers and restaurants

Thank you and please do call us on 01749835416 if you have any further questions !

The Visit Somerset Team