Tourism Seminar to help businesses shape their success as part of growing industry

Experts in sales, strategy and marketing have been lined up for a major event later this month, to help businesses in the burgeoning tourism and hospitality industry across Mid and East Antrim tap into the multi-million pound potential offered by the area’s natural beauty and winning welcome.

Shaped by Success - hosted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council - will bring together Tourism NI Board Member and former Head of Marketing and Communications with the Irish FA Geoff Wilson; Portstewart based marketing consultant and trainer Debbie Rymer; and sales strategist Brendan Murphy, to guide fledgling and established businesses in achieving their goals.

Tony Haren from Admor Business Solutions will also speak about Improving Profit and Cash at the first event of its type in the borough.

Across Northern Ireland, the tourism and hospitality industry is experiencing growth year on year, and as a key location along the world famous Causeway Coastal Route, Mid and East Antrim is reaping the benefits of increased visitor numbers from home and abroad in recent years.

In 2018, nearly one million people visited the area to sample the borough’s tourism gems, with Carrickfergus Castle proving the most popular local attraction.

The visitor spend during that period smashed the £50Million threshold and Mid and East Antrim LGD (Local Government District) had the joint highest annual hotel occupancy alongside Belfast City, according to figures from Tourism Northern Ireland.

Jason Powell, Council’s Tourism Marketing Manager, encouraged businesses of every level to book their free place at the Shaped for Success seminar taking place at the Ecos Innovation Centre in Ballymena on January 29.

“Supporting local businesses is a key objective for Council and we are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to do this”, he continued.

“Over the past 18 to 24 months we have developed a strong tourism product which is local, authentic and unique and is proving popular with visitors from overseas and at home.

“To support this we have developed a new tourism brand, Shaped by Sea & Stone, which features on our website, Visitor Guides, maps and itineraries. To allow us to move to the next level we need to support our local businesses to develop their potential.

“With this in mind we have put together the Shaped For Success seminar which will include presentations from leaders in their fields about how businesses can improve their Sales, Strategy, Marketing and Finance. In addition, we will be looking at ways in which we can support local businesses on an ongoing basis to ensure that everyone can take advantage of the opportunities within the industry.”

To book your place at the Shaped for Success Tourism Seminar visit www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/shapedforsuccess