By the Visitor Manager, Julia White.

The Visitor Manager gave Members the highlights since the last meeting.

With regard to Press & PR it was noted that the Visitor Management Team had been very busy with the Queens 90^th birthday activities on the 20 and 21 April 2016.  Members were informed that the BBC 1 viewing figures had reached 5.9million with a 36% audience share (didn’t include I-player).  The Visitor Manager went onto explain that there had also been the Beacon Lighting on the 21 April 2016, the HMQ90 event and Royal Windsor Horse Show in May and Shakespeare 400 events throughout July and August which celebrated the anniversary of his death.

The Visitor Manager showed the Forum a copy of an article in a South Africa paper which had covered the Queens 90^th birthday - just one of many articles resulting from a global press trip hosted by the council.

Members were informed that web users were up 5% year on year and that their consumer database had reached 40,000.  The Visitor Manager explained that the current following on Facebook was 10,237, Twitter was 4,128 and Instagram had reached 1,348.  The Forum was informed that the power of social referrals had been proven with a 100% increase in traffic to the Visitor website and online shop. 

Members were informed that a joint box office had been run by the Visitor Information Centre team for the HMQ90 & Royal Windsor Horse Show events.  It was noted that 70,000 applications had been submitted for 5,000 ballot tickets for the Celebration on The Long Walk.  The Visitor Manager went on to explain that the box office was now promoting new events which included the DogFes, the British Food Festival (which was taking place this weekend) and the Concours of Elegance 2016 at Windsor Castle in September.  Members were informed that the Concierge Service was doing a lot of work to increase ticket sales which was on the increase year on year. 

The Visitor Manager went onto explain that with regard to business tourism there was a new marketing package including an official venues directory 2017/18, a new conferencing section on the website, targeted social media activity and PR..  Members were informed that there was a venue finding service offered by the Information Centre seven days a week.  The Visitor Manager informed everyone present that she was looking for a minimum of thirty venues to sign up to this service. 

The Visitor Manager finished by informing the Forum about the following that were now available / being progressed:

·         New attractions leaflet.

·         Queens Walkway Guide.

·         Coach Park tidy up.

·         ‘Evan Evans’ – new full day tour to Windsor

·         Working with John Lewis Partnership to help promote the hidden gems / products in Windsor. 

·         Group Travel Organiser events.

·         International Travel Trade Familiarisation visits.

It was noted that the town Wi-Fi contract had been awarded which would provide a destination app to replace the destination’s current app.  Members were informed that the new app would have more functionality and coverage across the borough and could include real-time travel information.  The Visitor Manager explained that the timescales were currently unknown.