By the Visitor Manager (Julia White) RBWM.

The Visitor Manager, Julia White, gave Members the highlights since the last meeting on the following:

• Social media.
• Visitor Information Centre refurbishment.
• Looking ahead.

Everyone present was offered a copy of the Official Visitor Guide 2016 which had been completely revamped.  Members were informed that the new guides were being distributed by Brochure Connect.  The Visitor Manager explained that the new map was currently being produced and would be available soon.

Social media – It was noted that the Christmas campaign on Facebook that had been very popular had just closed.  It was noted that the campaign had been targeted at couples.  Members were informed that the Christmas campaign had received 3343 competition entries and 2500 customer email opt-ins with it having reached 108,730 people.  The Visitor Manager explained that they had increased the customer database by over 10,000 this year.  Members were informed that an increase in sales on the website via Facebook had been noted and that on the back of the campaign London Kayak Tours had managed to increase its business by approximately 50%. 

It was noted that discussions were being about the possibility of the Visitor Information Centre being refurbished.  Members were informed that designers. the Ice Gallery, were in the process of confirming costs for the three options suggested at the last meeting.  The Visitor Manager hoped to have further details next week.  It was noted that interest had been expressed by Legoland and that there was scope for more out of town attractions to be involved in the refurbishment. 

Members were informed that the Tourism Development Day had taken place on the 10 November 2015 which had been attended by just under one hundred businesses.  The Visitor Manager explained that she had received some really useful feedback which would help her make the event even better next year.  Members were informed that the feedback received had suggested that it might be beneficial next year to reduce the number / length of presentations and increase the number of key meetings held in both the morning and the afternoon.  The Visitor Manager stated that she would be really pleased to hold the event at Ascot Racecourse again if that was an option open to her.

The Visitor Manager explained that looking ahead she hoped the Visitor Information Centre refurbishment would be agreed.  It was noted that a town wifi project was underway to offer free wifi in Windsor and Maidenhead Town Centre.   The Visitor Manager went onto explain that she was very conscious that the Royal Borough had a very good destination app already that could be fully adapted to be more pro-active by giving welcome messages to visitors and by listing available attractions.  Members were informed that discussions on this topic would be starting next week.  The Visitor Manager went onto explain that the Windsor.gov.uk website would be updated next year and that web developments were being looked into (e.g. top level refresh of index pages).  Members were informed that the Visitor Survey Report which was mentioned at the last meeting could now be found on the website and contained positive findings. 

In the ensuing discussion the following point was noted:

That whilst Peter Langthorne (Windsor Town Horse Drawn Carriages) liked the new Official Visitor Guide 2016 he felt it included a section about “Windsor Carriages” which mentioned trips he did not offer.  Peter Langthorne went onto explain that he attended a Forum meeting just over a year ago and gave a presentation on what he planned to do and after that meeting he had found there to be an operator with the same name.  Peter Langthorne stated that he felt he should have been consulted.   Rebecca Seear (Windsor Carriages) responded by informing everyone present that her family had used the “Windsor Carriages” name for years and  she and her family fully supported more carriages in the town and welcomed Peter Langthorne to develop his business as long as the carriages used were safe.