Visit West launches Christmas to media in Bath and Bristol

Visit West, the Local Visitor Economy Partnership for the region, recently hosted two successful media events to launch Christmas consumer campaigns for our lead destinations. In total, around 100 Visit West members met with around 100 media and influencers. Many more members are also benefitting from coverage created by visiting media and influencers.

Bath At Christmas

Image: Emma Frayling presenting at the Bath At Christmas Media Showcase 2024, credit Janine Alexander 

On Tuesday 12 November, our Bath at Christmas event was held at The Assembly Rooms. The event saw Emma Frayling, PR & Communications Manager, present to members and media in the room about our new Visit Bath campaign creative, as well as events, attractions, where to stay and where to eat and drink this Christmas. Alana Wright, Experience and Visitor Programming Manager at The Assembly Rooms, also took attendees through restoration plans for the venue ahead of its reopening in 2026. The members and media were then serenaded by a festive performance from the Bath Abbey choir. 

Image: The Bath Abbey Choir performing at the Bath At Christmas Media Showcase 2024, credit Beth Whelan

Refreshments were served by the Bau Drinks team, with additional beverages provided by Thatchers Cider and Electric Bear Brewing. Food was provided by the team at Pieminister Bath, who served a selection of their festive pies. 

Media attending were issued with a media pass for them to experience the best that the city and surrounding area has to offer this festive period. Goody bags were handed out with lots of festive gifts donated by members. The media have been tasked to create content and social media posts linking to the Visit Bath Christmas pages and using the tag #BathAtChristmas.

In 2023, this campaign generated coverage with an audience of 756,000 estimated views.

Merry Bristmas

On Thursday 14 November, over 100 people attended the Merry Bristmas launch event at The Friary Building in Cabot Circus in Bristol.

Jon Chamberlain, Head of Marketing, presented the 'Everyone's Welcome to Our Place this Christmas' creative and a selection of experiences for the media and influencers to enjoy and create content around. Kate Statham from Bakehouse and Suzanne van Maurik from Cabot Circus also introduced attendees to the The Friary Building's upcoming Wallace & Gromit: Cracking Christmas Experience, including Wallace's Workshop and the Cracking Christmas Cafe. Attendees were also treated to a festive performance from Filton Concert Brass, and the chance to take their photograph with Wallace & Gromit in a green screen photo booth. 

Image: Kate Statham presenting at the MerryBristmas 2024 Media Showcase, credit Janine Alexander

Media attending were issued with a media pass for them to experience the best that the city and surrounding area has to offer this festive period. Welcome drinks and canapes were provided by The Bristol Loaf, who are operating the Cracking Christmas Cafe pop-up, with mulled wine provided by the Bristol Christmas Market. The Bristol Cheesemonger also provided samples of their Wensleydale cheese to attendees, and ran a "guess the weight" competition, with one lucky winner taking home a wheel of the cheese in question. 

Image: The Bristol Cheesemonger at the MerryBristmas 2024 Media Showcase, credit Janine Alexander 

The media have been tasked to create content and social media posts linking to the Visit Bristol Christmas pages and using #MerryBristmas.

In 2023, this campaign generated coverage with an audience of 1.37 million estimated views.