Recap: Visit California United Kingdom and Ireland Trade and Media Mission
SMTT participated in Visit California’s United Kingdom and Ireland mission, with representatives on both the trade and media tracks. Long a top market for Santa Monica, United Kingdom/Ireland is also California’s second-largest overseas market. Visitors from the region made more than 865,111 in-person trips to the state, spending more than $1.21 billion in 2018.
On the trade track, Brian Wright, our Director of Business Development, met with over 300 travel agents, product managers and trade delegates at events in Dublin, Glasgow and London. Highlights included a CEO panel discussion in Glasgow with Andy Freeth, CEO of If Only…. and Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barhead Travel; Virgin Atlantic/Holidays HQ meeting and training at “The Base”, Virgin Atlantic’s crew training facility; and one-on-one meetings with product managers from UK heavy hitters like Fight Centre, American Holidays, STA Travel, Travel Counsellors and Kuoni.
On the media track, Public Relations Manager Lauren Salisbury met with more than 100 media and social media influencers at a series of bespoke press events in Dublin, Edinburgh and London. Media highlights included BBC, Harper’s Bazaar UK, National Geographic Traveller UK and The Daily Telegraph. While in Dublin, Lauren also conducted a Radio interview on Sunshine 106.8FM, the number one music station for Dubliners with a weekly reach of 152,000. In London, the media track also paid a visit to the US Embassy to discuss culinary diplomacy in the United Kingdom.
The week culminated at a combined Public Relations & Trade event, the California-inspired VIP Garden Party. Hosted at the illustrious Westminster Abbey Gardens, set in the shadow of the House of Parliament, we welcomed over 160 industry guests and delegates to celebrate the Golden State.
How to Work with SMTT
Want to improve your tourism business? Santa Monica Travel & Tourism can assist to increase your tourism revenues through a number of marketing, advertising (Official Visitor Guide & Map) public relations and sales opportunities.
For more information, please find contacts for each department below or visit Santa Monica Travel & Tourism’s Business Opportunities page.
Marketing & Interactive: marketing@santamonica.com
Public & Community Relations: media@santamonica.com
Partnership Opportunities: Visit santamonica.com/partnership-opportunities for more information
