Sponsors

Saffery Champness

Saffery Champness is a national chartered accountancy practice which has been established in Bournemouth for 30 years. We support and work with a significant portfolio of clients in leisure, hospitality and tourism. Our experience has given us an invaluable understanding of the issues and challenges faced by businesses in the sector, which has enabled us to develop a range of successful strategies and solutions.

Our team, based in Bournemouth, provide advice to hotels, restaurants, marinas, holiday parks, clubs, associations and attractions. Having the specialist resource in house allows us to fully support clients on such matters as tax efficient structures and profit extraction, employee remuneration packages, VAT planning, business planning & strategy, funding arrangements and corporate finance transactions. We also provide a comprehensive range of compliance services to ensure that our clients meet their statutory obligations.

Clockwork Marketing

Specialists in the tourism industry, Clockwork Marketing works with independent hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses. They have an impressive portfolio of national and international clients; each is unique, but they all have one thing in common: they want to grow. With 25 years’ experience, the team understand the industry intricately, and apply a common sense approach to marketing, strategy and technology.

Clockwork help hospitality businesses save costs and achieve growth by ensuring that their marketing is effective and their strategy is geared for success. Many of the businesses they work with get in touch because they’ve found themselves:

Playing ‘Marketing Roulette’: Taking chances, unsure what works and to what extent; Suffering ‘Marketing Paralysis’: Not doing any meaningful marketing because they don’t know where to start; or Lacking something: They want to be market leaders and need a strategy to stand out. Over the years, Clockwork Marketing has grown considerably; today, they are a talented team of 22 marketers, strategists, designers and developers. Their services include responsive website design, SEO, social media management, email marketing, marketing management, branding, design services, OTA strategy, direct mail, copywriting, content management, online gift voucher software and business transformation consultancy – all under one roof!

Porter Dodson

Porter Dodson is a Top 200 UK law firm with locations across Somerset and Dorset. We are all about delivering great advice when and where it is most convenient to our clients, whether they are an individual or a company with an international dimension.

The firm has a strategy designed to deliver steady, sustainable but ambitious growth. It focuses on building on two fundamental strengths – our clients and our people.

Our clients say we are getting this right as 96% of clients would recommend us because of our overall service. As a Firm, we were recently awarded the Gold standard by Investors in People – putting us in the top 3% of employers assessed.

At Porter Dodson we work with our clients to understand their needs, support them effectively and deliver the best possible legal outcome. Our strapline is “All about you”, reflecting our focus on clients, employees and professional contacts alike.

A Head for PR

A Head for PR is a multi-disciplined agency based on the Somerset/Dorset border and has years of experience in the travel and tourism sector working for Destinations, tourism partnerships and clients in the accommodation, attractions and services sectors. In 2015 we have received two national industry accolades – the BestforPR Gold Award for Tourism PR and also the BestforPR Gold Award for PR in the South West. We offer a professional service, competitively priced and delivering creative PR campaigns resulting in targeted media coverage where it really counts.

But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what two leading travel writers say: "In my experience, budget cutbacks and staff reductions are making it harder for journalists to write about travel in the UK- unless local PR operations step into the breach. On two recent visits, I found A Head for PR to be a vital conduit with hotels and major attractions,” Jeremy Gates, Press Association. And from Susan Hill, "I have worked with Jane on a number of travel pieces that have featured in the Daily Star Sunday and as a PR she is always willing to go the extra mile and her background in journalism means she understands exactly what's required."

And from a client: “In the last 6 months we have reached over 10 million people nationwide with PR coverage …. within weeks of developing this campaign we had coverage in national magazines, newspapers and most importantly, local and national TV coverage with the BBC, ITV and the Good Food Channel!” Sue Wiles, Visit South Devon.

Dorset Food & Drink

Dorset Food & Drink is a member-based organisation with a special trademarked brand overseen by the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team. It represents Dorset's food and drink business community bringing a strong and vibrant sector together under one banner. As well as promoting what Dorset has to offer, it provides excellent networking opportunities for its members and specialist advice on a number of topics, including environmental issues and support to improve your businesses environmental sustainability.

Visit Dorset

Visit Dorset is the Destination Management Partnership for Dorset, helping to support and grow Dorset’s visitor economy. Our partnership is funded by the six councils of West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland, Purbeck, North Dorset, East Dorset and Christchurch and is supported by over 500 paying business members. Our key aims are to promote Dorset as a world class destination to attract visitors year round and support the local economy and tourism industry through marketing, PR and strategic partnerships. The team manage the visit-dorset.com website which is recognised as Dorset’s official visitor website and receives 2 million visits a year. Visit Dorset has a very active social media presence across all platforms and works closely with VisitEngland as well as national and international press and media to ensure that Dorset competes as a leading UK tourism destination.

Beales Gourmet

Beales Gourmet are Dorset’s favourite event caterers. Founded by Tony and Molly Beales in 2005, the company now caters for over 350 events annually, both at their own venue, The Italian Villa at Compton Acres, and at other high profile venues and marquees across the South – proudly flying the flag for local produce. The multi award-winning caterers also cater for corporates in their offices as well as for private events in your own home. Be it a wedding, a gourmet dinner for 10 or a canape reception for 1500, Tony and his team have the experience and exuberance to make your event spectacular!

Taurus Energy

You are wasting money on power; most businesses waste 20p in every pound spent. Energy prices keep rising and are a big part of any business' annual spend. In 2018 alone we have saved over 100 businesses 10-15% off their energy bills by installing our proprietary equipment at no charge to the owner. We guarantee we will save you money and if you don’t we will remove our equipment at no cost; although no one has asked us to do this yet.

Natwest Business Banking

NatWest banks the largest number of businesses, proactively helping them to grow, manage risks and continually improving our customers experience. Alongside a wide range of banking services, we have a  wealth of expertise in the corporate, commercial and business marketplace, working with businesses with scale up opportunities and complex needs.

We know that the Leisure industry is a key sector for the Dorset economy and we are proud to be supporting a year-round programme that recognises Dorset's businesses within this sector.

Dorset LEP

The Dorset LEP’s overarching aim is to create more jobs and drive economic growth in Dorset. There are some really exciting projects that the LEP has, or is, currently helping bring to life, through public, private and cross sector partnership and investment.

For more information visit the Dorset LEP website www.dorsetlep.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @dorsetlep

Bournemouth Water Business Services

The South West has a proud record of being at the forefront of tourism’s need to have a positive impact on the beautiful environment we promote and enjoy. Part of the challenge in ensuring that our region stays special is to manage our precious resources sensitively and effectively.

Bournemouth Water Business Services is the dedicated service to business customers in the Dorset region.

From retailers to hoteliers to holiday park owners, we're here for all Dorset businesses. Our aim is to help you save water and money and to operate more efficiently without any fuss or disruption; after all, you've got your own business to run.

Our Key Account Managers are here to build relationships with you – if you’d like support or help please contact Bryan Adams, our Tourism specialist, at Bryan.Adams@bournemouthwater.co.uk

Goadsby

Established in 1958, and having celebrated 60 successful years in the industry in 2018, Goadsby has grown to become an influential property practice covering both residential and commercial disciplines. 

The group comprises a branch network of 24 offices across the South of England with specialist commercial centres in Bournemouth, Southampton and Winchester.  Expert teams cover all aspects of residential and commercial business including sales, lettings, new homes, land, mortgage services, hotels and leisure, business space, retail, investment consultancy, survey & valuation, building consultancy, town planning, property management, CAD services, corporate consultancy and public sector appointments.

The Hotels and Leisure division of Goadsby is one of the longest established nationally. A wide spread of clients range from the dedicated B&B owner to corporate hotel groups. Restaurants, public houses, holiday flat blocks, camping and touring parks, catteries and kennels also fall within the remit of Ian Palmer and Mark Nurse, between them able to call upon a combined 57 years of practise.

Currently ranked in the top 25 of all composite property service providers in the UK, the commercial arm is acknowledged as a major practice in the Central South having won multiple awards throughout the last ten years based on the volume of business transacted.

Tourism is the lifeblood of the South Coast and Goadsby is committed to maintaining an active support role within an industry justifiably recognised as a principal contributor to the local economy.

The Italian Villa

The award-winning Italian Villa, the only venue of its kind in the UK, is set upon 10 acres of manicured gardens at the renowned Compton Acres, and operated by multi award-winning caterers, Beales Gourmet. Under the direction of Managing Director Tony Beales, the company has become synonymous with premier quality events from weddings to corporate dinner banquets, Gourmet BBQs to the ultimate home dinner parties. Their events bring in hundreds of visitors to Dorset each year – something they are hugely passionate about. They are immensely proud to sponsor the Dorset Tourism Award for Small Attraction of the Year.

Beales Gourmet - The Italian Villa at Compton Acres, 164 Canford Cliffs Road, Poole Dorset BH13 7ES

Tel: 01202 700992 | www.bealesgourmet.com

Ford Farm

We are one of the few remaining traditional farmhouse cheddar makers, producing three quarters of the UK volume. Traditional West Country Farmhouse Cheddar is made to methods and recipes that date back many hundreds of years. We use the highest quality milk, sourced from local, free-range dairy herds that graze the lush pastures of the surrounding countryside and the process is performed almost exclusively by hand.

Our cheddars take on a surface mould which is entirely natural in the ageing process and is integral to the development of the cheddar. The Cheddars are graded regularly to check their progress. Only when they have achieved optimum flavour, as judged by our in-house graders, will we release them for packing. The surface mould is brushed off, and the bandages are removed. They are then cut into various shapes and sizes.

Melbury Vale Winery

Melbury Vale Vineyard is located just off the A350, on Foots Hill, about a 1.5 miles south of Shaftesbury at Cann Bridge. We are a small, family owned, rural business, situated on 28 acres of south facing, rolling hillside in the beautiful Stirkel Valley, renowned for its milling history. Our sustainable winery built in 2013, is adjacent to the Melbury Vale vineyard, where wine, liqueur, brandy and cider production now takes place from our on site and associated sister vineyards in Dorset and Hampshire.

Piddle Brewery

Crafted beside the River Piddle in deepest Dorset, for people who take beer seriously (but not life).

With a name like Piddle, you’d think that we don’t take anything seriously.

But, we do – brewing. Our passion is blending the finest hops, barley and malts to create a wide range of regular & seasonal beers that bring serious pleasure, from delicate thirst-quenchers to thick, velvety stouts. All crafted beside the River Piddle in deepest Dorset.

Under new ownership from late 2014, the new owners retired many of the inherited beers to build a range which now boasts over 16 popular beers available in cask, keg & bottles - including Dorset’s very own Gluten Free beer - & all matched with food!

In 2017, to meet growing demand, Piddle increased capacity by investing in new conditioning tanks & the installation of a new bottling plant.

Twitter    @PiddleBrewery

The Real Cure

We use locally sourced produce to create lovingly handmade & totally delicious british charcuterie. 

We exist to craft, cure and smoke our way onto your table. Our mission is to do as our prehistoric ancestors did all those years ago, eating natural and wild. Keeping It Real.

Welcome to Excellence

Welcome to Excellence is the the leading provider of customer service skills training in the UK.

Why do you need customer service training? In today’s competitive markets, customer service determines the winners and losers.

As the leading deliverer of customer service training in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors, Welcome to Excellence is also now seen as the way forward by retail businesses, transport providers, local authorities, universities and many other organisations for which quality customer service is critical.  Options include the highly rated 'Welcome Host Gold', 'Welcome All' and 'Exceeding Visitor Expectations' courses, available in-house or through open courses, plus a range of more sector-specific courses.

If entering the Awards, always refer to these and other courses booked by your staff.

Quality in Tourism

Quality in Tourism has been relaunched as an independent accreditation service, offering grading, mystery shopping and specialist tourism and hospitality expertise.

Our experienced team have worked in various tourism and hospitality roles, giving them a true empathy and understanding of the issues within the industry. From mystery customer visits and website reviews to RevPar and marketing analysis, we work with our members to offer practical help and assistance, with the aim of driving additional sales and increasing profit.

Our assessor team can star rate your property without the prescriptive standards of other schemes, recognising your quality and its appeal to customers, without insisting on outdated physical measures irrelevant to your customers. Our entry level scheme gives assurances to your customers, ir is appropriately named Safe Clean & Legal TM. We offer special accolades to help you promote your properties to customers looking for your particular offerings.

Our experience, expertise and insight into the industry allows us to respond to current trends and assist members to deliver what the customer actually wants.

NFU Mutual

Our network of specialist local Agents work extensively with the hospitality and retail industries - everything from local coffee shops to a chain of restaurants or food stores and urban chic hotels.

We understand that your business could be impacted by a number of issues - cyber attacks, damage to your property, the loss of a major supplier or customer, the loss of a key person through illness, or an outbreak of food poisoning. But you’re not alone. Your NFU Mutual Agent can help you plan for the unexpected and get you back on your feet should things go wrong.

The right insurance starts with the right conversation. Contact our local Agent today by visiting nfumutual/branches

Soundview

Soundview creates marketing videos and Virtual Reality experiences for South West destination and tourism businesses using the latest cutting edge video, immersive, VR/360 and drone technology. We deliver award-winning promotional films that reach millions of global viewers. Whether for websites, television advertising campaigns, social media, events or immersive tours, we connect you with your customers.

By working closely with our clients, we ensure each film tells a unique story that reflects the quality of what`s on offer. We combine excellent storytelling, the latest innovations and the highest production values, to turn viewers into visitors.

"It was your video that made Tree Top Escapes a success in the first year...100% occupancy." Tree Top Escape, Millbrook Estate, North Devon.

"Thank you for a great job that has without a doubt has seen our bookings increase this year and been a very worthwhile investment." Petruth Paddocks,Campsite, Cheddar, Somerset.

To find out more contact Gareth on 01752 516038 07831548604 gareth@soundviewmedia.co.uk

Purple Cloud

Purple Cloud Consultancy has considerable experience of delivering high quality training and offers a range of fun, innovative and inspirational training workshops.

• As the South West delivery partner for the highly successful Welcome to Excellence programme we offer a range of flexible customer service workshops that can be tailored to any business, destination or sector
• Providing the biggest opportunity for personal development in the South West through the ‘Art of Being Brilliant’ seminars, we offer the opportunity to boost happiness, performance and business by creating a positive environment
• Working with some of the South West’s top trainers we are able to offer a range of bespoke courses covering topics such as Leadership & Management, Team Building, Communication, Performance Management and Business and Personal Skills Development
• Offering a range of customer research packages to provide valuable insight into how to manage customer expectations, through the use of mystery shopping, staff surveys and customer feedback