The UK’s national tourist board, VisitBritain, is hosting its flagship annual event ExploreGB in Brighton next week. The tourism event will take place at the Brighton Centre from 2-3 March 2017 and is estimated to be worth an additional £1m to the local economy.
Teams from the city 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.
ExploreGB offers tourism destinations and businesses the opportunity to meet and do business with key inbound tourism markets from across the globe. More than 400 international buyers from 40 countries will do business with 430 travel industry suppliers from across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Buyers from Britain’s largest and most valuable inbound visitor markets including the USA, Germany, France, Canada and Australia are attending. Important growth markets including China, the world’s most valuable outbound market, India, Italy and the Gulf countries are also represented.
The two-day programme includes one-to-one appointments, seminars and workshops hosted by industry experts in the Brighton Centre, and a gala dinner at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel. Delegates will also take part in 3-5 day familiarisation trips at a range of UK destinations, including Brighton where groups will visit a number of VisitBrighton partner restaurants and attractions including Terre a Terre, Riddle and Finns, Silo, The Royal Pavilion and the British Airways i360.
Commenting on VisitBrighton’s successful bid to bring the event to the city, chair of BHCC’s economic, development and culture committee, Alan Robins, said: “ExploreGB is a prominent event in the tourism business calendar, offering an opportunity for UK businesses to meet and boost trade with a significant number of key markets all under one roof.
“This is a great example of what goes on behind the scenes at the council day in day out to support and promote business in the city. In this case, the VisitBrighton teams have worked hard to secure this event, knowing what great benefit it will bring both economically and as an opportunity to showcase our city offer on an international stage.”
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.”
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