Best of British showcased in Brighton & Hove
Last week the city played host to the UK’s national tourist board, VisitBritain’s, flagship annual event ExploreGB. ExploreGB offers tourism destinations and businesses an opportunity to meet and do business with key inbound tourism markets from across the globe and the high profile event is estimated to be worth an additional £1m to the local economy.
Teams from the council’s marketing and conference arm VisitBrighton worked together to secure the event for the city, beating off stiff competition from other UK destinations who were also keen to host the valuable event.
More than 400 international buyers from 40 countries, including the USA, Germany, India, Italy and China, met with hundreds of travel industry suppliers from across the UK.
One-to-one appointments, and seminars and workshops hosted by industry experts, took place in the Brighton Centre, while a Harry Potter themed dinner for 1,000 guests was held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel. Delegates stayed at a range of local hotels including the Grand, seafront Jury’s Inn, Mercure and Metropole and visited a number of the city’s most popular restaurants and attractions including Terre a Terre, Riddle and Finns, The Salt Room, The Royal Pavilion and the British Airways i360.
Commenting on the event, chair of the council's economic, development and culture committee, Alan Robins, said: “We’re immensely proud to have been a part of this important tourism event and to have had the opportunity to show such a large group of influential visitors a snaphot of what Brighton & Hove has to offer. The event brought a considerable boost to the local economy at a time that is traditionally a quieter month and I know everyone involved, especially the VisitBrighton and Brighton Centre teams, worked extremely hard to ensure delegates left with a positive lasting impression of the city.”
VisitBritain Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: “With its vibrant arts and music scene, heritage buildings, boutique shopping and the draw of its lively seaside and famous pier, Brighton is a fantastic destination to showcase the diversity of our tourism offer.
“The hundreds of International buyers and journalists attending ExploreGB will return home in no doubt as to the outstanding facilities and tourism products on offer across Brighton and beyond.”
More information
VisitBrighton is the official destination marketing body for Brighton & Hove and is part of the City Council. VisitBrighton runs a partnership scheme supporting over 500 local businesses. The marketing and conference teams work to promote Brighton & Hove to a national and international audience to attract leisure and conference visitors and support the local tourism economy.
VisitBritain is the national tourism agency – a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). VisitBritain/VisitEngland plays a unique role in building England’s tourism product, raising Britain’s profile worldwide, increasing the volume and value of tourism exports and developing England and Britain’s visitor economy.