VisitBrighton, the city’s official tourism arm is on track to top 500 Partners this year. The scheme, which has been in operation since 2005, offers a range of benefits to members who pay a yearly subscription fee dependent on the size and type of business. Benefits include PR and marketing support, a dedicated page on the VisitBrighton website - which last year drew in over 2 million unique users - a listing on the VisitBrighton mobile app and official printed city map, and invitations to networking events and launches throughout the year.
The latest networking event for Partners and businesses looking to sign up to the scheme was held on Monday 20 April 2015 at one of Brighton’s newest dining hotspots, the Salt Room. Attendees were welcomed to the event by BHCC’s Head of Tourism and Venues, Howard Barden, who said the record number of partner businesses signing up was testament to the success of the scheme and a prime example of how collaborative working benefitted not only business owners but the city’s tourism economy as a whole.
Raz Helalat, owner of the Coal Shed and Salt Room restaurants, who has been a partner since 2011 said: “Being a VisitBrighton Partner has worked very well for me, and my businesses have benefited as a result of working with the marketing and conference teams.
“The Coal Shed is in a tucked away position and I know people have found us as a result of being on the VisitBrighton website and through reading reviews by journalists that the VisitBrighton team has sent my way. For me it’s money well spent and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the scheme to other businesses in the city.”
VisitBrighton works to promote the whole city and surrounding area as a visitor destination, both nationally and internationally, and so far this year has 485 businesses signed up to its Partnership Scheme, which costs from as little as £120 per year.
All Partnership money is re-invested back into marketing Brighton & Hove to visitors. Last year, VisitBrighton organised over 100 press trips which resulted in in almost £5 million worth of media coverage. Titles such as Conde Nast, the Huffington Post, Sunday Times, Irish Independent, Telegraph, Guardian Online, Daily Express, and Times of India have featured a raft of Partner businesses including Terre a Terre, Brighton Pier, Drakes Hotel, the Sea Life Centre, the Coal Shed, Bills and Komedia.
For more information about the VisitBrighton Partnership scheme, see: www.visitbrighton.com/partners
Notes for editors
Photo L-R: Rachel Hutchinson, sales & marketing manager, Grand Hotel; Ruth Allsop, PR & marketing executive, VisitBrighton, Dominic Sauls, general manager, Ibis Brighton City Hotel, Michael Cloke, director of sales, Grand Hotel.
Latest statistics from Tourism South East’s Economic Impact of Tourism Study showed that the city’s tourism industry had continued to prosper despite bad weather and a sluggish national economy. Trips where visitors stayed overnight hit 1.4m, up five per cent and the total number of visitor nights spent in the city rose by 7.5 per cent to 4.8m.
Figures released in May 2014 by the Office for National Statistics put Brighton as the 8th most visited town for city breaks; 50,000 more overnight visitors stayed overnight in 2013. ONS statistics also showed the city as the country’s most popular seaside destination for overseas visitors and in September (2014) readers of Conde Naste Traveller magazine voted Brighton and Hove the ‘Best UK city for restaurants and bars’ – ahead of London.
About VisitBrighton
VisitBrighton is the official destination marketing body for Brighton & Hove and is part of Brighton and Hove 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 offers comprehensive information on visiting the city and also provides exclusive offers and discounted rates on attractions, entertainment and accommodation.