Herefordshire celebrates global media endorsements as county named as one of the UK’s top destinations for 2021 staycations.
Herefordshire Landscape copyright Rebecca Preece
Following the launch of a destination marketing campaign for Herefordshire funded by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and secured through Herefordshire Council, the county has received glowing endorsements from a number of prestigious media titles naming it as one of the top places to visit for staycations this year.
Last week the county was named by the Telegraph Media Group in their top ten best tucked-away spots in Britain to escape the crowds this summer in an article which ran online.
“Set in England’s West Midlands, Herefordshire is a criminally overlooked destination. The nearby Cotswolds draws visitors like a magnet, leaving the county empty of visitors – but there’s just as much to recommend Herefordshire,” says Emma Cooke, Telegraph Travel.
Hereford Winter copyright Gina Nell
Earlier Conde Nast Traveller tipped the county as one of the ten best places to visit in 2021 in the UK describing the region as “The bucolic borderlands championing wholehearted fun”. The county is also featured in its latest March issue which is dedicated to the topic of sustainability.
Also, there has been recognition by Forbes, one of the world’s largest global business media brands with Herefordshire included in an ‘Essential Travel Forecast Report’ as one of the regions of the UK worth considering for a staycation. Writer, Angela Villa Clarke describes the county as ‘home to some of the UK’s most stunning rural landscapes, which has in turn inspired a thriving community of entrepreneurs, with home-grown brands such as Bulmers, Tyrells, Chase, Willy’s Apple Cider Vinegar and Westons Cider, to name just a few.
Councillor Ellie Chowns Cabinet member for environment, economy and skills for the council and Steering Group member said, “Despite the current lockdown it is heartening to see our county getting the recognition it truly deserves and sharing this incredible destination with so many new potential visitors for when we can start to welcome them back.”
These inclusions are in addition to countless high profile features over the last few months in titles such as the Sunday Times, Telegraph, inews and The Guardian profiling Herefordshire’s very best tourism offerings.
“It has been great to see Visit Herefordshire’s campaign get off to a flying start with the Apples for Autumn promotion supporting businesses when they really needed it last year. It is also exciting to hear about many new businesses getting ready to open when restrictions lift. I am beginning to feel there is an air of optimism in this sector as we look forward to another bumper year for staycations with international travel restrictions making holidaying at home a very attractive option,” commented Jo Hilditch, chair of the campaign’s Steering Group.
This recent phase of the campaign has seen two marketing specialist companies working together; Orphans, the Leominster based creative agency, working in tandem with Rural Media based in Hereford, developing a marketing plan and a number of promotional campaigns and Travel Tonic, a specialist travel PR consultancy running the PR and social media for the destination.
New website for Visit Herefordshire and a call out to tourism operators
The next phase of activity will see a new website for Visit Herefordshire being launched in March as well as new branding and a full advertising campaign running from the spring. Creative plans include leveraging the centenary of Herefordian, Alfred Watkins’ discovery of Ley Lines, targeting families, active and cultural explorers and millennials.
Ross Market copyright Nicky Fraser
All tourism businesses who are interested in being featured on the new website which is completely free of charge should get in touch with Rachel@orphans.co.uk as soon as possible.
Check out the county’s social channels
Instagram @visit_herefordshire and Facebook @visitherefordshire
#visitherefordshire #winterwelcomes #roastsandrambles
Photographs
Thanks to Rebecca, Gina and Nicky for their images. The featured post image of Hereford Cathedral was taken by Rebecca Preece. All photographers are regular contributors to the Wye Life Photo Corner Photography Group.
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