In a 2023 Cotswolds Tourism survey to businesses, 79% of respondents said they were unsure of what a travel trade friendly experience was. The survey also highlighted a need for training on how to reach new audiences and engaging with digital solutions. Using this evidence and tourism trends data showing visitors eager to engage with local people and local experiences, Cotswolds Tourism successfully bid for funding from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver ‘Help to Thrive’. 

An introductory virtual session, open to all visitor economy businesses, to help give an understanding of the project aims: to help local visitor economy businesses develop new experiences, reach new audiences and start their journey to become bookable online, was held in mid-September. You can watch the recording of the session here.

The first element is to identify businesses, whether a traditional 'tourism' business or not, that could create engaging new experiences and to help develop those ideas - for instance a cheese shop offering a tasting experience pairing local cheeses with local wines or even running your own bookshop for a week!

A range of specialist training workshops are planned to follow after the September launch event. 

There will also be a bespoke 1 to1 mentoring programme available for a few businesses from each of the supporting local authority areas (Cotswold District, West Oxfordshire & Tewkesbury Borough councils) and people considering starting a visitor economy business for the first time will also be very welcome to join the programme.

Specialist workshops

Specialist workshops coming up include:

• Virtual workshops tailored for serviced accommodation providers, with the first one being held for those new to working with the travel trade on 17 October.
• Experience Maker workshops in three locations during October being run by Chris Brant of Unmissable England an expert in experiential tourism. Book now for 9 October at Cirencester Growth Hub or 15 October at Cotswold Hotel Chipping Norton or 24 October at Hatherley Manor Hotel.
• A range of virtual workshops being led by travel trade expert Mike Newman from B2me tourism marketing to help explain how the travel trade works and the opportunities for businesses to thrive.
• Virtual workshops for serviced accommodation providers running over the next few months starting on 17 October for those new to working with the travel trade.
• Coming up on 19 November will be sustainability focussed workshops on how to attract visitors by foot & bike. A separate workshop on creating new business opportunities to become more sustainable will be held on 15 January 2025.
• Marketing advice and solutions such as how to host an experience and be a story writer on 28 November and virtual marketing events on 12 November, 21st November & 5th December. 
• For those accommodation providers already with some experience a separate workshop to help you progress working with the trade will be held on 20 November virtually. 

Keep a regular eye out for more in person workshops and virtual training dates coming up in 2025.