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Major Boost for Hamble Valley as new Member’s Association launched
January 15th, 2010
Small businesses in the Hamble Valley are set to receive a major boost with the formation of a new member’s association aimed at developing the already thriving tourist industry. The Hamble Valley Member’s Association will provide skills training, marketing and promotional support to companies in the tourist sector locally, a sector that contributes over £155 million to the local economy and supports thousands of jobs!
With over 1.5 million day visits and 233,000 overnight trips tourism in the Hamble Valley region is already buoyant, but the creation of the new association is a major development, as the area aims to promote itself as a high quality visitor, lifestyle and business destination.
Managed by Southampton based destination marketing company Walking Distance, the Hamble Valley covers market towns of Eastleigh, Fareham, Botley, Bishops Waltham, Wickham and the historic villages of Hamble and Bursledon. Following a marketing event held in August, Walking Distance identified a need to support small businesses which range from attractions, bed and breakfasts, service providers, towns and village partnerships and river based businesses to work together on joint marketing activities to promote the area whilst providing access to business advice and support ensuring a vibrant and sustainable destination.
Working with Tourism South East, the regional tourist board and the Economic Development Unit at Eastleigh Borough Council, Walking Distance are able to provide further benefits to members such as training and start up workshops, advertising discounts and free membership to Tourism South East allowing businesses to benefit from both local and sub-regional tourism activities and initiatives from green tourism to quality assurance.
Jo Cooper, Marketing Director at Walking Distance says ‘ The new Hamble Valley Members Association will provide excellent benefits to small businesses in the area, from cost saving ideas and discounts on services and advertising to improving skills and networking opportunities with like-minded businesses. The aim of the association is to represent and promote interests of businesses and raise the profile of the area for tourism and business.’
To find out more about the Hamble Valley Membership Association and a copy of the Membership Pack, contact Jo Cooper on 02380 237654 or jo.cooper@walkingdistance.co.uk
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Walking Distance involved un UK's first Twitter Trail
May 17th, 2010
As a destination marketing company, Walking Distance manages and co-ordinates the marketing activities for Hampshire’s Top Attractions, a marketing consortium composed of the county’s leading visitor attractions. With the aim to promote the region to visitors outside Hampshire, Walking Distance project manages the group’s activities from strategy, membership campaigns and budget management to distribution campaigns and implementing a wide range of marketing activities including social media campaigns.
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Fresh face for a growing small business!
April 22nd, 2010
Lucy-Jane Attrill has joined the dynamic team to support Walking Distance’s Marketing department on projects including the What’s On guide for Southampton – page one which is soon to launch a new service for events and the Hamble Valley; a visitor destination managed and promoted by Walking Distance providing business and marketing support to small businesses in the Hamble Valley area. Lucy will also be handling PR and implementing her marketing expertise across marketing communications and activities.
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Southampton has pocketfuls of ideas for days out
March 19th, 2010
Southampton is world-famous as a centre of maritime history but did you know it has won numerous awards for its wonderful parks and green spaces? And how about an attractive, vibrant city bursting with culture, with an entertainment scene to suit a wide array of interests from exciting live music to reflective visual art? Capture the essence of the city in the free and official guide to Southampton.
