Pictured above: Theresa Garrod (centre right), Projects
Officer (Tourism) at Bolsover District Council, takes a stroll at
Chatsworth with travel trade delegates from Canada
Travel trade representatives and journalists from North America
and Asia basked in early spring sunshine and saw the Peak District
& Derbyshire at its radiant best during whistle-stop tours
taking in some of the area's key sights.
Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, the area's official
tourist board, welcomed parties from Canada and India and
introduced them to the area's superb and varied scenery and several
of its leading attractions.
They also found out more about the tourist board's role as a
pathfinder 'Destination of Distinction' with VisitEngland, to
promote the area as widely as possible both at home and abroad, and
its new partnerships with Cheshire, Sheffield and
Staffordshire.
Both accompanied by overseas agents for VisitBritain, the
visitors enjoyed varied itineraries designed to give them an
accurate snapshot of the wide range of experiences and
opportunities that tourists can enjoy.
The Indian delegation was greeted by David Thornton, Head of
Marketing and Deputy Chief Executive at Visit Peak District &
Derbyshire, and stayed at the four-star Losehill House Hotel and
Spa at Hope.
During their three-day visit, they took part in a guided walk of
Lose Hill and Mam Tor, and two coach tours - one taking in
Castleton, Bakewell, Tideswell, Ashford in the Water and Eyam and
another focusing on the Staffordshire Moorlands and Ashbourne.
They enjoyed lunch with Sir Richard FitzHerbert and David James,
the tourist board's Chief Executive, at Tissington Hall, and had a
short introduction to the area's unique tradition of Well Dressing
before returning to Birmingham Airport for their flight home.
The Canadian party spent a day-and-a-half in the area as part of
a VisitBritain Heart of England familiarisation trip, beginning
with a visit to the Wedgwood Visitor Centre in Staffordshire.
They then travelled up to Derby for a Cocktail School and dinner
at the city's boutique Cathedral Quarter Hotel, plus a two-night
stay at Jurys Inn Derby.
During their day in the Peak District & Derbyshire, they
visited Chatsworth, where they met David Thornton; the Heights of
Abraham at Matlock Bath for a cave tour and cable car trip; the
Derwent Valley World Heritage Site and Crich Tramway Village.
"Maximising the potential of the group travel market, both at
home and abroad, is an important element of our marketing strategy,
and we were delighted to welcome these two delegations from North
America and Asia to show them exactly what the Peak District &
Derbyshire can offer," said David Thornton.
"Both groups were clearly impressed by the sheer variety of
things to see, do and visit in the area, and we are hoping that
their initial interest will pay dividends in the form of firm
holiday bookings in the future."