ContentsStrategic Aims and Objectives 2

Chairman’s Foreword 5

Chief Executive’s Review 6

Tourism Review 7

Highlights 2007-2008 8-11

Tourism Awards 2008 13

Facts and Figures 15-16

Organisational Structures 18-19and Further information

Marketing Manchester is the agency

charged with promoting Manchester

on a national and international stage.

Visit Manchester is the tourist board

for Greater Manchester and is a division

of Marketing Manchester. Marketing

Manchester is funded by 300 commercial

members and the organisations above.

1

Strategic Aimsand Objectives

Top line aimTo develop Greater Manchester into aleading leisure, learning and businessdestination for domestic andinternational visitors; enhance thenational and international reputation of the city-region* and promotesustainable economic development and growth.

ImageTo develop the Manchester brandthrough promotion of the city to focuson the contemporary and traditionalstrengths of the city-region’s culture.

EventsTo increase the interest in, and visitors to, the city, through the creation of a world-class events programme that builds on and strengthens theManchester brand.

International destinationTo position Manchester as a vibrantinternational destination, which alsoacts as a gateway to the Northwest and represents an alternative gatewayto Britain.

Business destinationTo ensure that Manchester is furtherestablished as one of Europe’s leading business destinations.

InfrastructureTo support the enhancement of thetourism product in Greater Manchesterthrough the development of tourisminfrastructure.

*The city-region is a wider definition of GreaterManchester which takes in additional ‘drive to work’areas such as Macclesfield or Glossop.

2

‘Forward’Nick Johnson, chairman

During the year Marketing Manchesterhas eased its way into a two tierstructure with remarkable ease. It is now able to concentrate throughVisit Manchester on the ‘heads down’delivery of important initiatives topromote the visitor economy, leavingMarketing Manchester to consider‘heads-up’ initiatives that will have an impact in these turbulent times.

There's a lot to be optimistic about inthis ambitious region. Whilst thewheels of the economy continue toslow, major and profound changes areafoot in education, healthcare, policing,environment and all other areas thatwill change this city in dramatic andprogressive ways.

This strategic vision for the city and the city-region is one of the mostcritical issues to consider andcommunicate at a time when a lot of businesses have had to adjust theirhorizons to the short term.

Marketing Manchester, together withother key agencies, will be consideringjust what this vision might mean andhow this is communicated to conveyconfidence and optimism about thefuture. Intelligence, pragmatism andambition are critical to engineer acompetitive future for the city that will lay the foundation for its continued success.

The organisation will look increasinglyat ways in which content can be drivenand improved, as we all know thatmarketing, to a large extent, takes care of itself if the content is right.

The year ahead faces its fare share of challenges, but also opportunities,and Manchester has a unique chance to seize the moment. MarketingManchester will ensure that theopportunity is not missed to makeprogress in this original, modern city.

It’s always difficult reflecting on a ‘financial’ year that endedmonths ago when things are changing so quickly and sodramatically. The effects of the economic downturn were justbeginning to bite in early 2008, placing considerable challengeson organisations from all sectors; public and private, voluntaryand corporate. The effects of that, we now realise, are profound.

5

This strategic vision for the city and the city-region is one of the most critical issuesto consider and communicate at a time whena lot of businesses have had to adjust theirhorizons to the short term. Nick Johnson

Chief Executive’s Review Andrew Stokes

Built in the days when ‘mad’ KingGeorge III was on the throne, thebuilding is a shining example ofManchester’s heritage reinvigorated for the modern day. The way it has‘rolled with the punches’ and found anew lease of life for itself encapsulatesthe spirit of the city and its people. As the agency charged with promotingthe ‘original, modern’ brand vision forManchester, there could be no morefitting a building from which to conductour business.

Looking back, highlights from the yearincluded the Labour Party choosingManchester for the leadership contestwhich saw Gordon Brown succeed TonyBlair as prime minister, training theeyes of the world’s media once againon a city at the heart of the action.

The first Manchester InternationalFestival, held in July 2007, attracted an audience of more than 200,000people. Its success and the growinganticipation for the 2009 event is a fantastic example of Manchesterproducing a cultural event of globalsignificance - both original and modern.

In March 2008, Marketing Manchesteronce again co-ordinated the presenceof Manchester at MIPIM - the world’sleading and most influential real estateevent; and the UCI Track Cycling WorldChampionships took place at TheVelodrome - the first of six worldchampionship sports events that wouldtake place in the city during 2008.

Looking forward, there is a realopportunity to ensure that ourorganisation, working closely withpartners, helps drive forward thedevelopment of a coherent marketingstrategy for Manchester, set within the context of the changing economicclimate. With the city’s marketing co-ordination unit, now a key part of the Marketing Manchester team,focused on the delivery andcommunication of the brand vision for Manchester, initiatives have alreadybegun to take shape. Their impact willbe of key importance in ensuring thatthe city-region continues to build on its reputation for success.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of ouremployees, members and stakeholdersfor their hard work, commitment andsupport during the past year and fortheir ongoing belief in the importanceof promoting Manchester on a nationaland international stage.

FY07-08 was a year of growth and significant change for Marketing Manchester, as the organisation adapted to meet the challenges that the city-region faces in its journey to become ever more significant on aninternational stage. This expanded focus was marked by the move into our new home, Carver’s Warehouse, in December 2007.

6

…there is a real opportunity to ensurethat our organisation, working closelywith partners, helps drive forward thedevelopment of a coherent marketingstrategy for Manchester. Andrew Stokes

Tourism ReviewPaul Simpson, managing director, Visit Manchester

Our work to attract more international visitors continues and the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency’s Air Service DevelopmentFund will play a large part in our work to improveconnectivity and route retention in targetmarkets. Paul Simpson

The Office for National Statistics hasalso confirmed that during the sameperiod, Manchester remained the thirdmost popular destination in the UK,with 971,000 international visitors - a growth of 6% on the previous year.

The significant investment byManchester Airport in retail, securityand new technology, improving whatwas already an award-winning airport,has played a key role in this success -creating a passenger experience thecity can be proud of.

Our work to attract more internationalvisitors continues and the NorthwestRegional Development Agency’s AirService Development Fund will play a large part in our work to improveconnectivity and route retention in target markets.

In October 2007 Manchester playedhost to the Society of American TravelWriters’ annual convention. This was ahuge coup for the city and will deliversignificant media coverage in NorthAmerica - one of our primary overseas markets.

The new Tourism Strategy for GreaterManchester (2008-2013) was publishedthis year and has identified thechallenges we face in achieving our tourism goals. It sets out ouraspirations for tourism in the city-region and will guide us, our membersand stakeholders.

As we enter a period of economicuncertainty, it is more important thanever that we continue to enhance thegreat tourism product that Manchesterhas developed. Projects like theConference Ambassador Programmehave already began to show a return on investment and new Green BadgeTour Guide training course is nurturingthe new talent that will showcase thecity to future generations.

The tourism industry continued to play a key role in the successof the city during 2007-08. The latest industry figures haverevealed that it generated £5.6bn for the Greater Manchestereconomy during 2007.

7

We movedIn December 2007, Marketing Manchesterrelocated to new premises in Carver’sWarehouse in the city’s NorthernQuarter. The building dates back to 1804 and is the only surviving stone-builtwarehouse in the city centre. Its sensitiverenovation created an office space forthe 21st century. It was fitting that thecompany which promotes Manchesterboth nationally and internationally as the original modern city should choosesuch a unique building from which toconduct its business.

Manchester at MIPIMIn March 2008, Marketing Manchesteronce again co-ordinated Manchester’spresence at MIPIM - the world’s leadingand most influential real estate event,held annually in Cannes. This year sawthe Manchester stand adopt a Haciendatheme and the partnership’s presencegrew with the launch of the ManchesterBar - an exclusive venue just off La Croisette for Manchester delegates toentertain clients and business contacts.The Gala Dinner brought the week’sactivities to a close with a performanceby Heather Small, and the events agencyEar To The Ground were on hand tostage an exclusive after show party for Manchester Partnership delegates.

New tourism strategy for the city-region‘We are each of us tourists in the originalmodern city’ is the title of the newtourism strategy for the city-region. The strategy, launched in March 2008,outlines a vision to create a destinationfit for the people that live and work inManchester, which in turn, will create a great destination for visitors. Thedocument is a follow-on to DestinationManchester, the tourism strategy for2003-2008, and is the result of a majorconsultation with stakeholders whichtook place in 2007.

manchesterconferences.comThe latest weapon in the mission toattract more conference business to the city was unveiled in October 2007 -manchesterconferences.com. Thecompletely re-developed website was the result of extensive research intothe changing demands of conferenceplanners. During 2008 and 2009 it isexpected that the website will accountfor at least 30% of the total conferenceenquiries to the organisation. Thewebsite’s main features include: aninteractive venue search facility; theopportunity for the visitor to create e-brochures of the venues that suitindividual event criteria and up to theminute news and special offers fromManchester’s business tourism providers.

Visit Manchester presentedSilver Award for ‘Best UKConvention Bureau’Visit Manchester was presented with a silver award for ‘Best UK ConventionBureau’ at the 2008 Meetings &Incentive Travel Industry Awards. The awards are voted for by conferenceorganisers and are given to the cities thatprovide the finest service to conferencebuyers and organisers. Visit Manchesterwas recognised for its work with over 360 partners across the city providingunbiased venue searches, accommodationbooking and advice and assistance withfunding applications. Visit Manchester’shelp for conference organisers in relationto the preparation of bids, site visits andvisitor information services was alsorecognised as a crucial factor in securinglarge scale events to the city.

Highlights 2007-08

8Carver’s Warehouse

MIPIM

HRH The Princess Royal attends SATW

Carver’s Warehouse

manchesterconferences.com

Bill Bryson - SATW

Manchester World Sport 08

A year of world sport beginsThe UCI Track Cycling WorldChampionships in March 2008 kick-started Manchester World Sport 08- a campaign co-ordinated by ManchesterCity Council in partnership with VisitManchester, the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA), UK Sportand MEN Media to celebrate the six worldchampionship sports events taking placein the city during 2008. Visit Manchesterwill use the sports events throughout2008 to highlight the city’s credentials asa sports destination and attract as manyinternational visitors as possible.

Manchester in the mediaThe work to increase Manchester’spresence in the international mediacontinued during 2007-08. In total,Marketing Manchester played host to 163 journalists from around the world,generating editorial worth over £975,000that reached an audience of more than 15 million.

The driving force ofvisitmanchester.comThe technology behindvisitmanchester.com, known as theDestination Management System (DMS)was replaced in a significant projectduring 2007 and early 2008. One of the main features of the new, improvedDMS is Product Management - whereinformation about tourism relatedproducts in Greater Manchester isrecorded and maintained. The newdatabase feeds into;

• visitmanchester.com

• visitbolton.com

• visitbritain.com

• enjoyengland.com

and allows members to updateinformation about their product or service electronically at any time of the year.

MCR January 2008 saw the launch of MCR, the new destination magazine forManchester. The 120-page glossymagazine was printed in English andGerman and was distributed at key tradeand leisure events around the world. It was also circulated by VisitBritain’soverseas offices and used as a destinationguide and key piece of print to supportthe organisation’s overseas marketingcampaigns. In addition to articles by AlexPoots, Flic Everett and Nick Johnson,MCR featured interviews with Sven GoranEriksson, MEN Arena general manager,John Knight and Eyck Zimmer.

Society of American TravelWriters ConventionFive years ago, Marketing Manchester,England’s North Country, the NWDA and VisitBritain presented a bid to the Society of American Travel Writers(SATW) to host their annual convention in Manchester. The bid was successful and in October 2007, travel writers intheir hundreds descended on Manchesterto begin their 52nd annual convention.Attended by more than 500 of NorthAmerica’s most influential travel writers,photographers and authors, the five-dayconvention was a priceless opportunity to promote Manchester en masse to a key target market. The SATW conventionis the single most important event of itskind in the world and to have it take placein Manchester was a major coup for the city.

Society of Editors choose ManchesterHot-on-the-heels of the SATWconvention, the UK Society of Editorsarrived in Manchester for their ninthannual conference. The society, led by the Manchester Evening News editor, Paul Horrocks, has more than 400members in national, regional and localnewspapers, magazines, broadcasting,new media, journalism education andmedia law. Marketing Manchester workedwith the society to promote the city tothese influential journalists.

Highlights 2007-08

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12

Manchester Tourism Awards 2008The winners of the Manchester Tourism Awards 2008 were announced at a glittering awards ceremony at Manchester Central.

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year: Manchester Art GallerySponsored by Chill Factore

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year: Smithills Hall Sponsored by The Trafford Centre

Large Hotel of the Year: Marriott Worsley Park Hotel and Country ClubSponsored by NCP Manchester Limited

Small Hotel/Bed & Breakfast of the Year: Moss Lodge

Self Catering/ServicedAccommodation Award: Staying Cool

Tourism Restaurant of the Year:Nutters Restaurant

Taste of Manchester Award: Isinglass RestaurantSponsored by Business Bolton

Tourism Bar of the Year: Cloud 23, Hilton Manchester DeansgateSponsored by Cityco Ltd

Tourism Retailer of the Year: The Trafford CentreSponsored by Premier Inn

Business Tourism Awards: Manchester UnitedSponsored by MIDAS

Sustainable Tourism Award: The Palace HotelSponsored by Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)

I Love Manchester: The Frog and BucketSponsored by Manchester Evening News and Channel M

Tourism Website of the Year: MOSI (The Museum of Science & Industry)Sponsored by Manchester Airport

Tourism Experience of the Year: Manchester InternationalFestival (MIF)Sponsored by Manchester Hoteliers Association

Outstanding Customer Service Award: Madge Butler from Crowne Plaza Manchester AirportSponsored by Storecheckers

The awards recognise the high level of investment and quality of tourism productacross the region. They were presented by actress Sally Lindsay to an audience of 400 of the region’s most influential tourism representatives.

The Manchester Tourism Awards are organised by Visit Manchester and aresupported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and corporatesponsors of the event.

The winners were:

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Facts and Figures

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Visi

tors

(tho

usan

ds)

500

700

900

1100

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

£ (b

illio

ns)

3

4

5

6

0

20

40

60

80

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Uni

que

visi

tors

(tho

usan

ds)

International visitors to Manchester and the city-region

Unique visitors to visitmanchester.com

Economic impact of visitors to the Manchester city-region

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2006

Empl

oyee

s (t

hous

ands

)

60

65

70

75

80

Employment supported by tourismin the Manchester city-region

Manchester

Manchester city-region*figures only available from 2005

2007-2008

2006-2007

2005-2006

Bids produced by NorthwestConference Bidding Unit

65 New members in 2007-08 (total membership now 370)

5 Young Star Chef events

143 Delegates trained in ‘Welcome to Excellence’

5 Delegates trained in ‘Smarter Marketing’

10 Delegates trained in Waiter Training

8 Delegates trained in Chef Training

29 Delegates trained in European Languages Training

20 Delegates trained in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

18 Delegates trained as Industry Ambassadors

4 Businesses in National Accessible Scheme

7 Attractions in Visitor AttractionQuality Assurance Service

10 Businesses supported through the Green TourismBusiness Scheme

43 bids in 2005-06: 9 won

77 bids in 2006-07: 16 won

23 bids in 2007-08: 15 won

15

Facts and FiguresOverseas marketing activity 2007-08

Financial Information

Primary markets - North America, Ireland, Spain, Germany and Nordic countries.

Secondary markets - Netherlands, Italy, Middle East and China.

Future markets - India and Japan

Project 37%

Commercial 41%

Public 22%

Income£6 million

Expenditure£6 million

Staff costs 10%

Office (including IT) 7%

Legal 2%

Research unit 3%

Conference 6%

TIC 5%

New Media 4%

Leisure marketing 19%

Commercial 2%

Tourism development 12%

Press and PR 2%

Events 28%

16

Organisational StructuresMarketing Manchester

Marketing ManchesterCarver’s Warehouse, 77 Dale Street,Manchester M1 2HG

T. 0161 237 1010 F. 0161 228 2960

Human resources:vacancies@marketingmanchester.comPress enquiries:press@marketingmanchester.com

www.marketingmanchester.comwww.visitmanchester.com/corporatewww.visitmanchester.com

A range of literature is available to keepmembers, stakeholders, the press andpublic updated on the company’s activitythroughout the year.

Membership PackThe membership pack is a comprehensivesummary of the benefits of membershipof Visit Manchester, and is available to all members. It summarises how thedifferent teams at Visit Manchester work on behalf of its members, as well as the marketing opportunities available.

To obtain a copy please email:rachel.heaton@visitmanchester.com

Identity ManchesterIdentity Manchester is the quarterlynewsletter, keeping members andstakeholders up to date with the activity of both Marketing Manchesterand Visit Manchester.

To be added to the mailing list pleaseemail: press@marketingmanchester.com

18

Chief ExecutiveAndrew Stokes

PA toChief Executive

Events CommercialMarketing

Co-ordination UnitDesign

Director of Strategic Marketing

Rachel Combie

Press & PRNew Media

Visit Manchester

Managing DirectorVisit ManchesterPaul Simpson

Director of Business

DevelopmentElizabeth Faulkner

Head of CommercialRelationshipsClair Hewitson

Head of CommunicationsLouise Latham

Head of Marketing

Victoria Braddock

Chief ExecutiveAndrew Stokes

Head ofBusiness TourismCatherine Walker

Head of Finance& AdministrationWendy Wild

Head of Leisure Tourism

Desmeana Johnson

Head of TourismDevelopmentOlenka Brain

Finance HR

Head of InitiativesSteven Small

TourismDevelopment

PA/Office Manager

Head of Visitor ServicesMaria Hannah

Visit Manchester

Members e-newsletterThe members e-newsletter is the monthlyemail update, designed to provide regularinformation about the activity of VisitManchester and how members canengage within this activity.

To receive this monthly update please email:rachel.heaton@visitmanchester.com

Greater Manchester Tourism StrategyManchester has recently reviewed its five year tourism strategy ‘DestinationManchester’ 2003-2008 and has nowpublished a new strategy for 2008-2013.The document sets out the futuredirection for Manchester as a burgeoningvisitor destination.

To obtain a copy please email:info@visitmanchester.com

Destination Management Plan The Destination Management Plan (DMP) sets out the future tourismpriorities for the Manchester city-region.Building on the aims and objectives in the Greater Manchester Tourism Strategy,the document represents the action plan for the coming twelve months.Manchester updates its DestinationManagement Plan on an annual basis.

To obtain a copy please email:info@visitmanchester.com

19

Managing DirectorPaul Simpson

Conference Research UnitLeisure Tourism Manchester Tourist

Information Centre

20 Printed with vegetable inks on 100% recycled uncoated paper