VisitBrighton Partnership offers Business Benefits

VisitBrighton, the city’s official destination marketing unit, is offering a range of incentives to encourage more businesses to join its already strong partnership scheme which currently has 450 business members. 

Partnership benefits include PR and marketing support from the VisitBrighton team, and a dedicated page on the VisitBrighton website which last year drew in over two million unique users looking for information about events, attractions, and where to eat and stay in the city.

The new partner year runs from 1 April 2014 but new businesses that sign up before 31 January will get two month’s free membership and secure a listing on the VisitBrighton app, and city map - which is widely distributed around the city, to shops, restaurants and hotels, all 10 Visitor Information Points and Brighton station, plus Sussex-wide tourism centres and Victoria Station. 

Partner businesses are invited to a range of networking events and launches throughout the year and can also promote their special offers, run competitions and post guest blogs on the VisitBrighton site. 

Razak Helalat, owner of city centre restaurant, The Coal Shed, says: “I’ve been a VisitBrighton member since 2011 and have found the scheme immensely useful particularly the support I’ve been given on the marketing side.  We’ve been involved in numerous press trips and that basically means that journalists are sent my way and write good things about us. We’ve had some great publicity and have featured in articles in consumer magazines, overseas press and national newspapers including the Telegraph and Guardian online.

“We also get a lot of trade from tourists who have discovered us through the VisitBrighton website.

“The partnership scheme is very good value for money and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any business in the city, whether new or established. In fact I‘d go as far as to say, if you’ve not checked out what’s on offer you’re missing a trick.”

Annual Membership fees start from as little as £100 for a shop or restaurant and members of North Laine Traders Association, Brighton Marina, Churchill Square, Hove Business Association, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), & Portas Pilot London Road, receive a 20% discount on their fees. New small businesses, less than 12 months old, will also receive a 50% discount on their partnership fee.

Geoffrey Bowden, chair of BHCC’s Economic Development & Culture Committee, says: “Tourism is an extremely important part of our local economy and the VisitBrighton partnership scheme is all about collaborative working for the benefit of the whole city.

“In 2013, the VisitBrighton team hosted over 40 press trips which resulted in positive media coverage with an equivalent advertising value (EVA) of £7,679,287. The journalists who visited the city were all impressed with the variety of attractions as well as the quality of arts and culture on offer and this puts us in a strong position.

“All partnership fees go towards marketing the city to visitors, so the more businesses we have on board, the more we’re able to put into promoting Brighton & Hove as an attractive destination, both nationally and internationally.”

For more information about VisitBrighton Partnership, and to ensure your listing is on the city map and app, please contact partnership@visitbrighton.com before 31 January.

About VisitBrighton

VisitBrighton is the official destination marketing body for Brighton & Hove and it is part of the city council. VisitBrighton.com was established to provide tourists with details of where to stay, what to see and where to visit during their stay. The website also provides exclusive offers and discounted rates on attractions, entertainment and accommodation.

About VisitBrighton Partnership Scheme

The VisitBrighton Partnership scheme was set up in 2004 for tourism businesses in Brighton & Hove. Any business can join so long as they are public facing and part of the tourism offer in the city or local region.

The scheme offers marketing support through www.visitbrighton.com, social media platform LoveBrighton and through PR activity. Other member benefits include: promotion of special offers, inclusion in media campaigns, and invitations to networking events and launches. 

Membership currently stands at 450 businesses ranging across all sectors of tourism including retail, restaurants, accommodation providers, and attractions. Membership fees vary depending on the size and sector of the business. 

For more information on the partnership scheme go to www.visitbrighton.com/partners