Today's Marketing Insights is all about the 'groups' market. For many years, the domestic group travel or coach tour industry has been an important part of the UK’s tourism industry. Groups have historically been guaranteed business for many tourism organisations, with up to 50 people on a coach coming often during week day and shoulder periods.  However,  because of the pandemic, hundreds of coach companies, many of them well established, went out of business.  It's been devastating for them.  So, the question I have as a marketer in the visitor economy is, should it be a market that we are still looking at trying to attract?  If so, how have things changed and how do we market to these customers in 2024?  I am joined on the show by group travel specialist Steve Reed from Steve Reed Tourism to talk to me about it.  For the podcast summary and links head to https://visitorelves.co.uk/insights/Enjoy the episode Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Today’s episode is all about email marketing and the simple things you can do to make it work more effectively to drive bookings.  Joining me on the show is Sarah Orchard of Get Fully Booked.  Sarah runs a marketing programme that helps small independent accommodation businesses improve their marketing and increase their direct bookings.  Sarah was also my very first guest on the podcast back in 2022. In that episode, she spoke about her luxury treehouse, Hudnalls Hideout, in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. In this episode, Sarah shares some excellent tips based on her years of experience successfully managing email campaigns for her own businesses and for her clients. For a full summary of her thoughts and tips, head to visitorelves.co.uk/insights, where I will summarise Sarah’s helpful tips in episode 39.  Listen to Episode 1 where I chat with Sarah about Hudnalls Hideout, her luxury treehouse business,  where she also shares marketing tips from her sell-out business.  Find Sarah here: https://get-fully-booked.com/https://www.instagram.com/getfullybooked/Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

If large open-air events or air shows are your thing, you'll love this episode. In today’s podcast, I chat with Simon Hough, Head of Commercial Activities and Hospitality at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the largest military airshow in the world.   We chat about the event and everything that goes into its creation across the year, including the logistical challenge of dealing with 253 aircraft coming into a single location for a week and the event's importance to the RAF and the wider aerospace industry. We also talk about Simon's role and how he went from managing events and concerts in England for Forestry England to RIAT in 2023.  RIAT, which takes place in the Cotswolds every July, is the largest public engagement event for the RAF.  With so many aircraft on display from 25 different countries, 43 nations represented and over 150,000 people visiting over four days, this is a very important international event in the West of England, where aerospace is a key industry.   This event has a massive £4m impact on the local economy each year and gives away £2m annually to support outreach in STEM subject learning across the country. Enjoy the episodeFind out more about the Royal International Air Tattoo. Connect with Simon on LinkedInHuge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Today's episode is the first of my Marketing Insights series.  In it, I’m talking to the lovely Claire Robinson, founder and Creative Director of WeekendCandy.com, about the world of influencer marketing and how to work with Influencers in 2024.  Claire shares several tips on how to find the right people to work with and get the most out of the relationship, including:How to identify the right influencers for your target audience based on demographics and content tone/quality. Be strategic rather than focus on vanity metrics like follower count.The importance of a professional approach to working with influencers, being upfront about budgets, and valuing their time and skills. The aim for long-term, multidimensional collaborations that offer benefits like SEO and reusable, evergreen content for both parties Claire is an accredited travel writer and content creator, running the travel website Weekend Candy, which provides inspirational content and listings on where to stay and what to do in the UK.  She has been doing this for many years and has an excellent reputation as a creator and inspirational influencer of her audience, with a reach of thousands across her channels.  Enjoy the episode, and let me know your thoughts on Instagram.  Find Claire here https://weekendcandy.com/Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Digital marketing is constantly evolving, and it can be a challenge to keep up. I recently had a conversation with Jarrod Lopiccolo (CEO) and Kate Sikora (Managing Partner) from Noble Performs, a digital agency that specialises in travel and tourism marketing. With over 20 years of experience in the US, they established a UK agency in Bristol in 2019. Their clients include destinations like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Cotswold Tourism, and St George's music venue in Bristol.In the visitor economy marketing industry, the US is often ahead of the UK. Therefore, talking to Noble was helpful in understanding what is coming down the line and what we need to plan for. During our conversation, we discussed the following topics:The differences in tourism marketing approaches between the US and the UK.Insights into the future of digital marketing, including Search Generative Experience, AI, and the first-party cookie approach to overcome the abolition of third-party cookies in 2024.Changing behaviours regarding search on social media platforms, such as TikTok, versus review websites.The growth of interest in second and third-tier destinations, luxury markets, and wellness and sustainable travel.Jarrod expressed his love for the Cotswolds (as a US citizen), and Kate shared her appreciation for the whole of the South West of England.We also talked about our favourite places to eat, including Roots and Snobbies, Pho, Riverstation (all in Bristol), and the Porthminster Beach Cafe in St Ives, Cornwall.Read the transcript and find links Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Welcome to episode 35 of the Visitor Elves podcast.  Today, I’m joined by Fiona Matthews, Creative Director of Super Culture, an organisation that creates cultural experiences in Weston-super-Mare. Super Culture creates large-scale events such as the annual light festival GLOW and Whirligig and works on initiatives involving the entire community. Super Culture is providing a key component of the regeneration plans for Weston.  This episode will be useful for anyone interested in the arts, placemaking and destination marketing. It will also be useful to those at the top of the organisation responsible for setting the culture.   Our conversation got me thinking about culture's key role in marketing a place.  We all know that the distinctive local culture sets places apart. It’s often not about the big attractions, it’s about the people, the attitudes, and the vibe that makes a place distinct.  Fiona relayed a quote from the international artist Morag Myrescough, working on a project in Weston; she said, ‘Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come’.   Join me as I talk to Fiona about their work to put creativity and culture at the heart of Weston’s community and why culture is so important in uniting people and creating distinctiveness. Enjoy the episode.Super WestonHuge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Welcome back to the first Visitor Elves episode of 2024.  I hope you had a good Christmas season and your plans for 2024 are shaping up.   In today's conversation, I'm going behind the scenes of Ashton Gate Stadium, home of Bristol City Football Club, Bristol Bears, and Bristol Flyers, with the wonderful, Dublin-born CEO Mark Kelly of Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter. We chat about:The exciting plans to develop a new Bristol Sporting Quarter with a 5,000-capacity conference centre,  two hotels, multi storey car park office, housing and retail space. How concerts such as Take That (June 2024) are the biggest drivers of staying tourists at Ashton Gate.How they had to turn down £10m of potential conference business last year as the facilities were just not big enough. Mark's career journey from a hotel management qualification to his amazing job today, which includes leading a new game reserve in Botswana for the Lansdown family. Some of his favourite places to eat include Aqua, Sow & Cow, and Cafe Burra (owned by some of the Bristol Bears players).  Enjoy the episode!Read the transcription here. Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

In this festive episode just before Christmas, we have a returning guest, the lovely Kathryn Davis, Managing Director of VisitWest, shedding light on the key aspects of the recently launched Destination Management Plan (DMP). The VisitWest regional area, including Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset, brings in a staggering £2 billion to the local economy each year from tourism. Proving once again the importance of our industry.   In our conversation Kathryn shares:  How business has been in 2023 up until September for the region.Headlines of the Destination Management Plan, unveiling key growth markets, distinctive themes, and the necessary elements for infrastructure, product development, and skills.How towns, villages, and businesses in the wider areas can leverage visitors by aligning with VisitWest's plans outlined in the DMP, launched in November 2023.The significance of VisitWest being one of the first Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEP) and how can lead to future opportunities for lobbying and collaboration.  Her insights into why a tourism tax is not a straight-forward solution to solving the funding gap for destination management. A look into what's on the horizon for the region, including upcoming projects and initiatives that will significantly shape the visitor landscape.I recorded the podcast on 2nd November 2023 a few weeks before the podcast was released so there are future references to openings such as the Bristol Beacon which have come and gone - nothing stands still in this industry!Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous 2024!Further links https://www.visitwest.co.uk/ https://www.visitwest.co.uk/about-us/destination-management-planHuge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Today's podcast episode features the delightful George Combe, talking about the growth and popularity of the Mendip Activity Centre in North Somerset.Spread across 250 acres, Mendip Activity Centre is the largest independent activity centre in the West. With a dry ski slope, toboggan run, watersports on the river, rock climbing, and much more.During the pandemic, the team made the decision to open their campsite to the public, where previously it had only been accessible to schools and children's groups. The result has been over 100,000 visitors and a rapidly growing reputation for being one of the South West's best campsites.In 2022, they won silver in the South West Tourism Awards for the best campsite, and they are eagerly awaiting the results of the 2023 awards, which will no doubt be fruitful.There's a lot happening at the centre, from instructor training to a dedicated accessibility programme. Sustainability is high on their agenda as they explore more of the site with a resident ecologist.If you're interested in what it takes to run a successful outdoor active experience and campsite, then you'll love this episode.Find out more about Mendip Activity Centre. Full transcript and summaryInterested in the Virtual Marketing Director Service - find out more.  Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

With one in five households having someone with an impairment or disability, it is crucial for businesses in the visitor economy to prioritise accessibility. Your consideration and awareness of this market can make or break a visitor's decision to choose your business. Supporting people with access needs has always been essential, but in recent years, more information has become available, and businesses in the visitor economy are responding more proactively than ever before. In this episode, I talk to Larry Bush, Director of Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in North Somerset, one of the attractions that have been recognised for doing it particularly well, winning gold in the Visit England Award for Excellence for Accessibility and Inclusion. Noah's Ark Zoo Farm welcomes over 200,000 visitors per year, including 20,000 school children. This former family-owned dairy farm has now been turned into a charity, as the Bush family appreciates that this is more than just a family business. It is now a place for the future of wildlife education, conservation, and people. In this episode, we talk about Larry's journey to joining the family business in 2019, which included bringing Doritos to the UK! The recently achieved charitable status of Noah's Ark, why this was important to the family, and the ambitions of the charity. What the zoo has introduced to make it more accessible and inclusive and why this will always be an ongoing process of feedback and improvement as people's needs are vast. Lastly, we examine how they manage work experience at the Zoo farm and Larry's suggestions for anyone wanting to get a job at a place like theirs.Links to Noahs Ark Farm, the businesses mentioned and the transcript. Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

It's been a while but I'm excited to be back with my 30th episode featuring the team behind the Bristol restaurant absolutely smashing it on TikTok - Urban Tandoor.   Urban Tandoor are now apparently the most followed Indian restaurant account on TikTok, with many of their posts reaching views into the millions.  In today’s episode, I chatted with Sujith D’almeida Owner of Urban Tandoor, Bristol and TikTok queen Natalie Brereton from the agency Nonsensical.  We chatted about:How Sujith went from working on cruise ships through to owning three of his own successful Indian restaurants How important social media, in particular TikTok, has been on Urban TandoorHow Sujith manages to get his team so heavily involved in the creation of hilarious parodies and regular topical content   The growth of TikTok - and it’s not just with those below age 25  How brands such as Ryan Air and Lotus taking big risks on TikTok in order to push the boundaries of their brand and how they are achieving massive success  The advice Nat has for any business wanting to make it on TikTokUrban Tandoor is fast becoming a must-go destination restaurant in Bristol as a result of its success on social media. There is just so much to take away from this episode if you’re interested in what TikTok can do for your business. Enjoy the episode!  For links to the guests, contacts and mentions go to www.visitorelves.co.ukHuge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

In this final episode of Series 2, I am bringing you my story. I’m being interviewed by my Visitor Elf sidekick Shonette Laffy, Digital Marketing Manager of Visit West and fellow freelancer.  During my conversation with Shonette, I share how I got into the visitor economy and what life was like in marketing before the internet existed - remember that?? 25 years ago, virtually no one had a website, Friends Reunited was the closest thing we had to Facebook and faxing was still a thing. I share some of the ways we used to find and reach out to audiences before we had so much tech at our disposal.This interview is a bit of a look back, but also a reflection on the challenges I have faced as a marketer who is juggling an increasingly complex  industry. I share some of the opportunities I see for the visitor economy over the next couple of years, including AI, chatbots and podcasts (no surprises there!), as well as some top tips for those of you working in marketing in this exciting industry.I hope that this conversation resonates with those of you in marketing trying to do it all - trying to be the digital tech specialist, the planner, the videographer, the writer.  It will also resonate with those whose early careers were a little all over the place until you had your own sliding doors moments.  Enjoy the episode! Find out more:Westonbirt ArboretumSuper WestonVisit WestCulture WestonOther mentions in the show:Noble PerformsTech PixiesWeston WallzFoodworksPuxton ParkThe Grand PierKelly's favourites:Revo Kitchen, Weston-super-MareSakura, Weston-super-MarePrior Shop, BristolHuge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

In today’s podcast I had the pleasure of chatting to two independent tourism organisations based in Gloucestershire who are leading the way in not only making their businesses as sustainable as possible, they are also on a journey to changing our thinking around how we spend our leisure time – including what we choose to eat and drink. This week I was talking to Greg Pilley, Managing Director of Stroud Brewery, Sarah Brewster owner of Stonehouse Court Hotel and Visit Gloucestershire's sustainability lead Hannah McDonnell.  Greg and Sarah are both part of the Sustainability Champions network brought together by Visit Gloucestershire – one of the first Destination Management Organisations to make a commitment to Net Zero by 2050 as part of the Glasgow declaration for climate action.As travel returns to pre-COVID levels, and overtourism and greenwashing remain a concern, there’s never been a more critical time for businesses to consider their own environmental impact and what changes they can start to implement now.Hannah talks about the purpose of the Sustainability Champions and how others can get involved or be inspired to set something up in their local area. Greg talks passionately about how he has set up Stroud Brewery as a certified organic brewery - one of only 5 in the country - and now has certified BCorp status.  Sarah shares how she is transforming the 17th Century hotel with a variety of actions, from temperature controls in rooms to installing electric vehicle charging points.We also discuss some interesting ideas around how a rural destination can support and promote its sustainability credentials and how businesses can do their bit to help visitors make more sustainable choices.Connect with this week’s guests on LinkedIn:Hannah McDonnell   Greg Pilley  Sarah Brewster  Find out more:Visit GloucestershireSustainability Champions partnership Stroud BreweryStonehouse Court HotelVisit Britain research on the importance of Sustainability to inbound travellersOther mentions in the show:Westonbirt Arboretum Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Today’s chat is with Rebecca West, Marketing Manager responsible for one of the most visited pay-to-enter visitor attractions in the UK outside London - the Roman Baths. I was lucky enough to speak to Becca, just days before she started maternity leave to have her first baby. In fact by the time this podcast comes out, she might have some exciting news!Rebecca’s official title is Heritage Marketing Manager working for Bath & North East Somerset Council, where she is not only responsible for the Roman Baths, she also promotes the Fashion Museum, Victoria Art Gallery and the brand new for 2022 World Heritage Centre - a free to enter experience that tells visitors why Bath is such an important UNESCO World Heritage site. We talk about the impact of COVID on the Roman Baths, their changing visitor markets and how they are constantly adapting their offering while making sure that the visitor experience is as good as possible.The Fashion Museum is in the process of being relocated and is not expected to reopen for at least another five years, so we discuss what is happening with that amazing collection and how they are keeping the museum’s stories alive through other means. In the podcast she talks about some of their online storytelling, in particular their Roman Women’s series on YouTube.Rebecca shares how her career has led her to the Roman Baths and how mud was involved in her most memorable experience at Westonbirt Arboretum.Rebecca’s favouritesPlace to visit: Devon & Cornwall for camping and surfing Place to eat: Bravas, BristolPlace to shop: AnthropologieConnect with Rebecca on LinkedInFind out more:Roman BathsBath World HeritageVictoria Art GalleryFashion Museum BathVisit BathOther mentions in the show:Westonbirt ArboretumRoman Women series on YouTubeSkip the Queue podcastEPISODE SPONSORSWith thanks to sponsors Plate restaurant in Bath.   Plate are offering 20% off their food bill if you follow their Instagram account and DM them the Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

This week I've been chatting with the fascinating Naomi Miller, Acting Director at Bristol Ideas  - organisers of inspiring talks and debates which shine a light a light on diverse issues in the city.Bristol Ideas runs events throughout the year, including Festival of the Future City in October, and the Festival of Economics in November.  Join me as I talk to Naomi about how Bristol Ideas is working with Visit West on this year's Bristol 650 celebrations, commemorating all things Bristol and telling the stories of its people, what they’ve done, where they’ve come from and where the city is going. We also discussed the evolution of Bristol Ideas over the years, the most valuable thing Naomi has learned about leadership, and some big anniversaries coming to the city in the coming months. It was interesting to find out how Naomi ended up in Bristol and how her career in museums was inspired by an experience in London’s V&A Museum. She talks about her love of Bath and how if she’s not talking about food, she's eating it, so she has quite a few favourites to recommend.  Naomi is a passionate champion of diverse voices and stories in the city, and there's plenty of food for thought on how we get thought leaders and idea makers to engage with the public, and vice versa. I hope you enjoy the episode. Naomi favourites Most memorable experience: Shrouds of the Somme at Bristol CathedralPlaces to eat: Chai WallaChez DominiqueThe Oyster Shell Find Naomi at@naomibmillerFind out more aboutBristol IdeasTwitter: @BristolIdeasInstagram: @Bristolideas Mentions in the showBristol 650If you enjoyed the episode please subscribe and review, it really helps other people to see it.   Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

This week I've been chatting with the fabulous Lewis Collins, Brand and Marketing manager of the Kaleidoscope collection - three award winning luxury boutique hotels in and around Bath and Wiltshire. The multiple award winning hotels: Homewood (just outside Bath), The Bird (in the centre of Bath) and the Bishopstrow (in Wiltshire).  Join me as I talk to Lewis about Kaleidoscope and how the character of the team has helped shape this distinct brand.  A former dancer and theatre performer himself, Lewis epitomises all that is unique about the hotel group. He’s also trained with some of the best, working in events at the five star Relais & Chateux hotel Lucknam Park, Wiltshire.  We discuss the importance of influencer marketing and how they have seen dramatic growth in their social followers as a result of their work in this area.  We also discuss the growing importance of Tik Tok as a platform for search and those wanting unique experiences recommended by their peers.  Lewis is great fun and brings a fresh perspective that’s so important if we want our places to stay relevant.  I hope you enjoy the episode.  Lewis favourites Place to visit:  City of Wells Places to eat:  Osip in Bruton Somerset Marmo in Bristol  Find Lewis at@lewismcollinsFind out more about Kaleidoscope Collection@homewoodbath@thebirdbath_@bishopstrowhotel Mentions in the show@lucknampark  @visitwest If you enjoyed the episode please subscribe and review, it really helps other people to see it.   Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Today’s podcast episode is with an aristocratic festival organiser, techno DJ and producer,  who has combined his passion for entertainment with his love of the environment in his family home on the River Severn in Gloucestershire.  Meet Anselm Guise, owner of Elmore Court the beautiful wedding venue and stately home just outside Gloucester.  Find out how  Anselm came to own Elmore Court and how over the past 10 years it has been developed from a 16th Century grand country residence into a successful wedding venue on an estate that has sustainability at its heart.   When you put a festival organiser into a venue like that, you can imagine the parties...you can also imagine what the locals had to say when Anselm put in for planning permission. Anselm is so inspiring as he shares how ten years on, he has defied all local scepticism and is going beyond the house renovations and is turning his passion for nature and sustainability into rewilding swathes of the Elmore estate.  He's now spending his time working on ways to create a really sustainable, biodiverse site through regenerative farming and rewilding of the former wetlands.   Talking of wetlands, looking out over the Severn Estuary will be his six luxury treehouses due to open in May 2023, all of which are being kitted out by some rather famous designers – who are also part of the family.  Enjoy the episode Find out more about Anselm and Elmore Court at: https://www.elmorecourt.comhttps://www.instagram.com/elmorecourt/https://www.instagram.com/rewildthings/Check out the BBC documentary featuring the development of Elmore Court as a wedding venueListen to Mothers Pride 'Floribunda' produced by Anselm from 1995.  Do you remember it?! Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

It's been a whole year since I first launched the Elves of the Visitor Economy podcast! Whoop whoop!  Happy birthday to meAs a big fan of camping, with a dream of one day owning a camper van, this feels like an appropriate time to be talking motorhome travels with Annah Todman.    Today's conversation is all about her business Uncover Britain road trips,  an online library of tour routes, places to park and things to do across the UK.   If you have an interest in accessing the camper van and motorhome market or you want to link into Annah and her recommendations as part of a tour, you might want to have a listen. A huge thank you to all my guests and an even bigger thank you to you and everyone else who has listened to the podcast this year.  I hope you enjoy the episode.  To get in touch with Anna you can email her: hello@uncoverbritain.com More information on Uncover Britain Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

If you are interested in growing an engaged digital following,  you work for, or with a destination marketing organisation, then I’m sure you’ll find this week’s episode interesting. I’m talking digital marketing with travel blogger turned in-house digital destination marketer for Marketing Cheltenham, Lisa Kowalkowski.  Lisa took her story telling and digital expertise to Marketing Cheltenham in 2019 and has been instrumental in growing a significant digital audience for VisitCheltenham ever since.    Cheltenham is a beautiful Georgian spa town in Gloucestershire with a population of around 117,000. It is home to one of the most famous racecourses in the world, has a food scene that is booming and an event programme that is the envy of many destinations, Today Lisa and the team at Marketing Cheltenham work with hundreds of businesses across the town, operating as a marketing agency for Cheltenham BID, as well as many others in the area.  Lisa has a unique perspective, understanding the important role of influencer and content marketing for reaching residents, day visitors as well as staying visitors.  We chatted about: ·      The benefits of being a travel blogger to promoting a destination·      The content plan for VisitCheltenham that drives visitors year-round·      Using Instagram stories and Facebook groups to great effect ·      The importance of SEO ·      Why it pays for a business to be proactive with the local DMOBack in 2017 I set up Marketing Cheltenham which is managed by the forward-thinking Cheltenham Borough Council.  If you want to find out more about how Cheltenham transformed its working practices and created an engaged audience and stakeholder group, take a look at the case study here. Enjoy the episode!Kelly xConnect with Lisa on LinkedIn Marketing Cheltenham VisitCheltenham channelsvisitcheltenham.com InstagramFacebookHuge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏

Imagine setting up a restaurant with five of your friends that is so successful that within six years you have got nine restaurants!! Welcome back to 2023, where my first episode of the year is with Rodrigo Rashinthe, Operations Director and one of five founders of The Coconut Tree chain of Sri Lankan restaurants.   In 2016, Rodrigo and his friends began their restaurant journey, after buying a flat over a pub, in an out-of-town suburb of Cheltenham.   Six years on and they are  the proud owners of nine restaurants and have awards and accolades coming out of their ears.  Join us as we talk about the journey to nine restaurants, the pandemic and their beautiful, and oh so engaging marketing.  SIREN ALERT!Apologies now if you’re listening to this whilst driving,  or on your bike, we recorded this at the Clifton restaurant in the centre of Bristol city centre and there were several ambulances with sirens on flying past.  Website Instagram Tik Tok Facebook Twitter Connect with Rodrigo Rashinthe on LinkedIn Huge thanks to podcast sponsor Noble Performs. Noble provide Unstoppable digital marketing to maximise your performance. From SEO to Paid Social and more, we have the tools you need.Find out more about host Kelly Ballard and the Visitor Elves here.Subscribe to the Visitor Elves newsletter, to receive the latest podcast releases and inspirational tips to help you with your visitor economy business. To comment and ask questions about the episode, head over to: InstagramLinkedIn If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please take a moment to give me a few stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify, it helps to encourage more people to listen and learn from our stories. 🙏