Chester Racecourse recently hosted the Travel, Leisure and Tourism North 2012 conference, 24th May.
The full-day event, in association with Marketing Cheshire, explored
key issues, trends and opportunities for the visitor economy of the North of England. The conference was aimed at senior industry
professionals, owners and operators of hotels, restaurants, venues,
attractions and destinations and public sector bodies across the region.
During the morning session speakers delivered economic research and data based around the value and size of the visitor economy in the North as well as looking at private sector investment and areas of growth. In the afternoon, the focus was on the marketing and development of attractions, venues and destinations, including how changing
technology affects outputs and sales.
The headline partner for
the conference was Taste Cheshire and Ali Gayward, UK Commercial Manager of easyJet, chaired the conference.
Speakers included: Iain
Hawkins, Head of Blackpool Cluster for Merlin Entertainments Group; Chris Melia, Director of Colliers International; Lorraine Jones,
Planning Director at PHD North; Nicky Homes, Commercial Director at Nova International; Dr Philip Long, Tourism Academic Staff Lead at Leeds Metropolitan University; and Tony Wood, Digital Director at Eden Luxury Group. Speakers from Manchester Airports Group, the GB Taekwondo team and Global Radio also represented.
