West Country Tourism Conference

BOOK NOW FOR TOURISM CONFERENCE

February 4 and 5 2025 sees a welcome return of the West Country Tourism Conference which is now live for booking, with a great range of national and regional speakers covering topics to help guide your business through a fast-changing world.

Capacity is limited and we fully expect places to go very fast.

Confirmed speakers and topics to date include the following, with several more yet to be confirmed (in alphabetic order of business):

TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY - TOURISM PRIORITIES, EXCELLENCE, ACCESSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

• Viki Carpenter, Access Cornwall “Becoming autism and neurodivergent friendly”
• Hannah Bushby & Mark Durber, Clockwork Marketing – “How to Thrive: Why guest experience starts with the first click”
• Brett Sinclair, DCW / Suez – “Understanding & Embracing the new food waste reforms”
• Lex Thornely, Owens – “Achieving Competitive Advantage Through Savvy Sourcing”
• Alistair Handyside, Chair, Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC) - "Regulatory Changes looming’
• Ellie Hibberd and Steve Panton, Stephens Scown - "What the new Employment Rights Bill means for employers in Tourism” and “Are you prepared for Martyn’s Law?”
• Richard Toomer, Director, The Tourism Alliance - "2025, The Changes We Seek"
• Kevin Millington, T-Stats Solutions – “Tourism in Numbers: West Country Insights”
• Sally Wigg & Charlotte Wade, TTW Recruitment – “Top tips for recruitment and retention in the hospitality & tourism sector”
• Mike Easton, Vickery Holman – “Hospitality Property update”
• Robin Tjolle, VisitEngland – “VisitEngland / VisitBritain update”

WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY - MARKETING, SOCIAL AND AI

• Tony Wilson, Anytime Booking - "Creating Connections & Building Communities"         
• Dom Hine & Mark Durber, Clockwork Marketing – “How to Thrive: Revenue you didn’t know you lost”
• Lesley Anderson, Hedgerow Marketing – “Converting Clicks to Check-Ins – LinkedIn Leverage for Hospitality”
• Paul Zimmerman, INV Group – “AI Innovations for tourism”
• Neil Warren, Living Options Devon - “Don’t tell me what I want, tell me what you have” – What to Say to Attract the Purple Pound
• Mark Worden, Director, MiHi Digital - "Encouraging repeat bookers, creating advocates and building your brand for 2024"
• Beth Mayman, St Austell Printing Co – “Sustainable Print & Packaging”
• Thomas Chartres-Moore, Stephens Scown - "HospitAIity: integrating AI into your business will become a necessary evil, so do it right”
• Josh Castree, Seaton Tramway & Jurassic Discovery - "Tourism Awards and what they mean to us"

Tickets cost £40 per day to members of recognised tourism bodies, and £50 to non-members.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

The Conference will start at 09.30 each day and conclude with a pasty or pie lunch at 13.30. The full programme and biographies of all speakers will be added shortly.