This week, Marketing Liverpool attended City Fair 2020, an important date in the travel trade events calendar.
James Wood, our Marketing Campaigns Manager, represented Marketing Liverpool at the event and has written this blog on his experience.
City Fair is operated by the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and has always been a live event in London, attended by delegates from all across the world.
This is where the buyers (tour operators, online travel agencies and destination management companies) meet and do business with the suppliers (destinations, attractions, hotels etc).
This year, due to coronavirus, it was delivered in a virtual format for the first time and I had nearly thirty pre scheduled, 10 minute meetings across the day.
Although the majority of the companies that I spoke to had no clients or groups currently active, they are now busy researching and planning their itineraries for 2021 and beyond. They are rethinking their tourism strategies and developing new product ideas.
Inbound markets I met with included Asia, North and South America and Europe. This is potential regular, volume business for our partners in the city region.
It was great to be able to share product ideas and inspiration on behalf of our tourism partners including our attractions, accommodation providers, tours and incentives.
Initiatives such as Liverpool Without Walls were also very well received and helped to show how the city was creating safe spaces for locals and visitors alike.
I am now busy preparing my follow ups for each meeting and I’m feeling positive we will secure new business for the city.
If you are interested in finding out more about this project or would like information on our international opportunities please contact jwood@lccdigitalserver.co.uk.