Meet Bristol & Bath were proud to be selected to attend MeetEngland Virtual at the beginning of February.
This great trade event organised and hosted by the VisitBritain and MeetEngland teams came soon after the official launch of the Meet Bristol & Bath Convention Bureau. It gave us a valuable opportunity to connect with potential clients in North America, China, Europe and the UK and showcase what the cities and their surrounding areas have to offer event planners on a global scale.
Here are a few things we picked up that you may find interesting.
Positive perceptions of the UK
News of the UK’s vaccine roll out has been covered by international media, including the Washington Post and New York Times. In general, the UK is being perceived as a safe destination to visit when restrictions are lifted and international travel is permitted.
Bridgerton, Bridgerton, Bridgerton!
Netflix series Bridgerton was a hot topic of conversation, particularly with those we met from North America. Released worldwide on Christmas day 2020, it’s the network's biggest show to date, reaching 82 million households in its first 28 days.
The series has been a great tool in providing inspiration for incentive trips and extended stays. Filmed in both Bath and Bristol, there are many opportunities to explore the filming locations and stay and experience all that surrounds them.
Image - Bridgerton filming at the Holburne Museum, credit Netflix
Trends
Cities and venues that allow visitors to space out will be in demand. Exclusive use of hotels and utilising outdoor space where possible will be desirable.
For conferences, some key deciding factors discussed were value for money, access, internet capabilities and good hygiene procedures. Venues with an interesting story to tell, in terms of history and culture, are also in demand.
Representing two cities with easy access to Bristol Airport and Heathrow is an advantage, with the rural areas surrounding these cities being a top choice as a base to explore the region.
.jpg)
Image - Gardens at Goldney Hall, University of Bristol
It’s important to stay connected – we’re all in this together
Making new contacts and catching up with existing ones is crucial at a time like this. It was wonderful to engage with so many people, who despite having varying challenges brought on by the global pandemic were still positive and keen to progress with business when restrictions allow.
We really are all in this together and there is now a light at the end of the tunnel. We learnt about many different challenges, but we all had one common thought: there is nothing like meeting face to face to build relationships, learn about new cultures and create memorable experiences.
If you would like to connect with us and discuss what Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas can offer, we’d love to hear from you. You can contact our team on conference@meetbristol.co.uk and find us on LinkedIn and Twitter too.
You might also like:
Related
Comments
Nobody has commented on this post yet, why not send us your thoughts and be the first?
