Brochure Displays Vital To Tourism Marketing

Last weekend, Diana nipped over to the National Boat, Caravan & Outdoor Show (19th – 24th February) at Birmingham’s NEC. Spanning six halls, there were an enormous number of outdoor products on display - from small tents to plush motorhomes – and this year’s exhibition hosted the biggest boat and marine display in its 47 year history. In addition to all this, there were plenty of free activities laid on such as archery lessons and tent pitching competitions. The event was well attended by both industry and non-industry folk, giving Di the perfect opportunity to make some very useful contacts. She also thoroughly enjoyed herself and intends to go again in 2009.

As you will all be aware, Liverpool's Capital of Culture year was officially launched during January and a unique programme of events across the Northwest to celebrate '08 is set to bring in an additional £50 million in visitor spend to the Northwest economy. What's more, £50 million is expected to go directly to Merseyside over the coming year from 1.7 million extra visitors. It is estimated that this year alone European Capital of Culture will be worth £100 million to the Northwest economy in visitor spend. Good news for all of us!

Some of you may be interested in reading a report entitled Comparison of the Effectiveness of Brochure Distribution from the international Association of Professional Brochure Distributors. Their findings show that brochure displays continue to play an essential role in marketing tourist attractions, events etc. You can learn more and download a pdf version of the report right here:

http://www.apbd.org/about/research.php

With Easter fast approaching, we are eating, sleeping and dreaming leaflets. However, we hope to have news of yet more exciting additions to our exclusive Network sites in the very near future. Keep watching this space!

Liverpool’s Year as Capital of Culture

The City of Liverpool will officially open its year as European Capital of Culture with a three-day weekend of public events and concerts. The celebrations begin on Friday 11th January 2008 with a free open-air show on St George’s Plateau featuring ex-Beatle, Ringo Starr.

On 12th January, Ringo pops up again with Eurythmic Dave Stewart, to open the new Liverpool Echo Arena with Liverpool The Musical. Other performers include the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, No Fakin DJ’s, Echo and the Bunnymen, Pete Wylie, Ian Broudie, Shack and The Christians, plus a cast of poets, singers, aerialists, comedians, construction workers, gardeners and sailors.

Along with specially commissioned film and rare archive footage, Liverpool The Musical will feature music composed by Elgar, John Newton, The Real Thing, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Beatles, The La’s, The Wombats, The Farm, The Zutons, Stravinsky and Space, rearranged for the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with No Fakin DJ’s and conducted by Vasily Petrenko.

Sir Paul McCartney and his band will also perform in his home city in a Liverpool Sound concert in front of a crowd of 30,000 at Anfield Football Stadium on 1st June 2008.

We are looking forward to working with the Mersey Partnership and various Liverpool attractions to make 2008 a very special year indeed.

Lovely, Lively Liverpool

For the past 4 weeks ITV has been running a series asking people to vote for their favourite view of Britain - all 16 views were selected by celebrities. The winner was Wastwater in Cumbria, selected by Sally Whittaker, but I noticed several entries from the North West including The Three Graces Building in Liverpool.

The official website quotes Jamie Redknapp as saying: "I look at Liverpool not as city but a country in itself, the people are different there, they are very proud and passionate. If they like you they love you, and you are one of them for ever ... I do get that feeling even now when I go back."

We work for a number of the city's attractions, including the National Museums of Liverpool and the Albert Dock, and it's extremely exciting to be involved with a World Heritage Site and future European Capital of Culture. Nearly two million extra visitors are expected to attend the numerous world-class festivals and events that will take place in the run-up to and including 2008. We're just delighted to be playing a part in it all.