Notes from Attractions and Welcome Working Group Initial Short Meeting 8/3/12

Present: Julie Tew – Interim Chair (Notes), Elizabeth Dixon – Accessible Stratford, John Ford – Falstaff Experience, Joyce Taylor – Stratford District Council & Stratford Town Council, Tony Merrygold – Shakespeare Country, Nick Birch – Avon Boating, Elisabeth Uggerløse – Bidford on Avon Parish Council, Emma Butt – Butterfly Farm, Peter Emberson – Wootton Wawen Parish Council, Peter Ward-Brown – Visitor Information Centre, Debbie Beardall – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

The Interim Chair thanked those present for their willingness to serve on the Working Group.

Approval of the Draft Terms of Reference (ToR):

The Draft was previously circulated via email by the Interim Chair. With amendments to broaden the Scope, lengthen the term for the Chair/Deputy Chair and to hold more regular initial meetings, the ToR was approved and a copy is attached to these notes.

Agree Key Objectives:

The following are first thoughts on key objectives for the A&W Working Group:

1. A single truly representative name and branding are urgently required. SDC has Discover Stratford but if you Google search ‘Discover / Stratford’ you get Stratford in East London. Meeting felt strongly that the name of the town/district is Stratford-upon-Avon and must be distinctly and consistently labelled and marketed as such. This point should be worked on in conjunction with Communications Working Group.

2. Attracting more people to the town and surrounding area is a key priority; however, there isn’t a single web gateway/portal where Attractions can place their event calendars for prospective visitors to view. Shakespeare Country will list events if details are sent to Tony Merrygold. Please note – during the closed meeting held after lunch, SDC pointed out that it has an event listing at http://www.discover-stratford.com/whats-on.cfm.

3. First impressions of the area are formed by visitors when they arrive therefore it is important to upgrade, and ensure consistency of signposting at all visitor arrival points.

Group Structure:

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The Working Group structure was agreed as per attendees above who represent Attractions throughout the district. The sub-group structure will be agreed in future as key actions and timescales are confirmed.

Meeting voted Julie Tew to continue as Chair. She then asked if anyone present was willing to volunteer as Deputy Chair to advise her asap.

AOB:

Thanks to Elizabeth Dixon who has kindly offered to take meeting notes in future and to provide an Accessibility Statement to anyone if required.

Next Meeting:

The Chair will circulate initial notes with a couple of proposed dates for the next meeting, preferably before Easter. A venue is required and it was thought to be important that future meetings are held at as many venues as possible around the district.

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