Visit Cambridge CEO pledges support for tourism businesses across the county

From Ely to Eye, businesses are invited to take advantage of VCB’s new membership scheme, which aims to raise the profile of accommodation providers, attractions, conference venues, retailers and other tourism-related businesses from across the county.
 
“The historical aspects of central Cambridge are well-known to an international visitor base, but we want to encourage visitors to stay longer, explore further and contribute more to the regional economy,” explains Emma Thornton, Chief Executive of Visit Cambridge and Beyond.
 
“Our strategy involves working with like-minded organisations to raise the profile of the whole region – not just Cambridge.  We are keen to partner with tourism businesses of all shapes and sizes, so that our destination marketing activity can create maximum impact.”
 
More than 300 businesses from across the area have already signed up to enjoy the benefits of VCB membership, which starts from only £300 per annum.  All registered businesses are profiled on the VCB website - which attracts 2.2 million views each year – as well as via social media platforms, on press trips and in media coverage.  Members are licensed to use the VCB logo to identify themselves officially with ‘Brand Cambridge.’  Business support is available from a team of tourism experts, who provide a valuable range of networking and training opportunities in addition to regular news updates and details of special offers.
 
Visit Cambridge and Beyond is a relatively new entity - evolving out of the tourism service previously led by Cambridge City Council -  and was established as a not-for-profit, membership-led Destination Management Organisation only six months ago.
 
“An increasing number of visitor information organisations across the UK have embraced this new business-led structure, when previously they may have been run by their local Council,” explains Emma.
 
“The business-led approach enables us to work in partnership with a broad range of organisations while also being responsive to the needs of the individual businesses we represent.   It offers a strong platform from which we can work together to make the most of the anticipated rise in staycations, following the Brexit vote, while continuing to attract and welcome visitors  from around the globe.”
 
The visitor economy is currently worth £2 billion in Cambridge and Beyond.  It supports around 40,000 local jobs and accounts for 10% of all employment across the region.
 
For more information about becoming a member of Visit Cambridge and Beyond go to http://www.visitcambridge.org/information/membership or email [email protected] .
 
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For more information, please contact:
[email protected]
01799 529791