People, Products, Places
Through a diverse range of programmes in training, research, development and regeneration,
Tourism South East worked extensively with partners to improve the visitor experience. Despite the
challenging conditions, good progress was made on improving business skills and quality as well
as raising awareness of broader issues such as sustainable practices and greater accessibility.
Underpinning this was the provision of effective market intelligence and research services and the
continuing drive to revitalise coastal resorts and rural communities.
Welcome to Excellence national contract
E-marketing courses
Tourism South East continued to perform the national coordinating
helping businesses to fully exploit the potential of the web and the
role for the Welcome to Excellence programme on behalf of region
public sector investment in ‘destination Management Systems’
tourism bodies. negotiation with city and Guilds and Sector Skills
remained a priority. courses and workshops were organised to
councils to ensure relevant accreditations was part of this, leading to
stimulate use of the web as a marketing tool achieving participation
Welcome host’s inclusion on the ‘Qualification credit Framework’.
over the year by 208 businesses. Social media and search engine
optimization courses proved particularly popular. 50 one-to-one
Through 2008/09 discussion continued with the Sector Skills council
advisory sessions for businesses on optimising their own website were
for the hospitality Sector, People 1st and the new hospitality Skills
also delivered.
academy, with a view to reaching agreement on a joint approach to
customer care training.
Winning in recession Workshops
a series of workshops focused on surviving and making the most of
The Tourism Skills network
opportunities in the recession was developed and rolled out in March
The combination of the central training team at Tourism South East
2009. Five workshops were held in Surrey, Sussex, Kent, hampshire
and local Tourism Skills coordinators continued to be highly effective
and the Isle of Wight.
in delivering skills and training programmes across the region. Overall
880 tourism businesses benefitted and over 3,400 individuals took
driving Up Quality
part. Of these, 3,200 took advantage of the Welcome to Excellence
Tourism South East is committed to the national quality assessment
Programme, the family of customer care courses.
scheme for accommodation and in a drive to encourage participation
ran 11 quality workshops with 16 follow-up one-to-one advisory visits.
new Skills Projects
during the year two new SEEda-funded projects were launched, Fresh
Interreg IVa
Skills for chefs and hosting the World. Encouraging existing chefs to
‘Interreg’ is potentially an important source of European funding
acquire the skills and confidence to serve local produce is the objective
for tourism support programmes. With its French partner, Tourism
of the former and over the course of 2008/09, 22 ‘master classes’ were
South East submitted a major bid in June 2008 for funding to support
run and nine chefs’ tours. development of the ‘hosting the World’
an extensive programme of cultural events and festivals across the
customer care programme was also piloted in the Eton dorney and
South East. after initial rejection it was resubmitted and a decision is
Thames Valley corridor and will roll out across the region in 2009/10.
anticipated later in 2009.
Welcome to Excellence training
Wavelength conference
Herbs and Salads Masterclass, Fresh Skills for Chefs project
opportunities
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