November 30, 2011
Eastbourne, the UK’s sunniest place, will be promoted to up to 200 national travel and lifestyle journalists at high profile networking events organised by Visit England and Tourism South East over the next few months.
2012 promises a bumper year for the tourism industry with all eyes on Britain for the 2012 Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and tourism bosses in Eastbourne want to maximise the benefits for the town.
The Meet the Media events will offer the chance to showcase destination Eastbourne to important travel journalists and local businesses are working with Eastbourne Borough Council to create money can’t buy prizes to raise the profile of the town.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “We are very excited to have the opportunity to promote Eastbourne at these media networking events, which will be attended by key contacts within the travel sector. We will be inviting the journalists that we meet to come to Eastbourne to experience our award-winning destination for themselves and hope that this will lead to coverage in well known titles in the future.
“We are always keen to maximise editorial opportunities for Eastbourne and press visits are a key part of our marketing strategy each year. I’d like to thank local businesses and accommodation partners who work with us to host travel journalists and I’m sure we’ll come back with some exciting news about future press visits after these events.”
A range of local businesses have sponsored prizes, which will be given away at the events, to entice the media to Eastbourne so that they can discover the town for themselves. Prizes range from a 5-star stay at The Grand Hotel to a self-catering break with the chance to explore Eastbourne’s culture and heritage assets with behind the scenes tours, and a murder mystery weekend.
With 2012 bringing thousands of international journalists into Britain too, Eastbourne is hoping to raise its profile to European media and break into a new market.
For more information or to find out about opportunities available to be involved in future press visits call 01323 415556 or email promotions@eastbourne.gov.uk.
