Leeds Met University Students stage Tourism Society Yorkshire Spring Lunch and Seminar with Yorkshire Grit and Gumption Theme.
When: Thursday 1st May 2014 – Where: Leeds Industrial Museum
Tourism operators heard from four speakers with a Yorkshire theme about different activities both local and regional at a lunch held at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mill Leeds on Thursday 1st May.
The event was planned, organised and executed by six students of event management at Leeds Metropolitan University for the Yorkshire branch of the Tourism Society. Presentations included:
- Sally Tierney, The Yorkshire Garden Designer, explained how a well-designed garden can be a key part of the First Impression, so important for tourism businesses and how this can contribute significantly to the bottom line. Sally provided visual examples and inexpensive tips that can make a real difference.
- Keith Madeley, company director and chairman of The Yorkshire Society and popular business personality known as ‘Mr Yorkshire’ explained how his charity work, education advocacy and Yorkshire Society activities contribute to the education and economy in the region. Keith also explained the Yorkshire Suit, a symbol of the woollen industry in the region.
- Alex Blackman, business development executive at Welcome to Yorkshire enthusiastically explained how Yorkshire is planning and executing the Tour de France Grand Depart in July with ideas and advice about how businesses can and are taking advantage of the largest free to view sporting event in the calendar.
- Laura Knowles of the Yorkshire Blue Badge Guides Association provided details about the first official Yorkshire Tour Guide programme to be staged in 20 years. The course is the most senior level training for tour guides available and is recognised throughout the Tourism industry as the benchmark for Tourism Guiding.
“Tourism is one of the most important drivers in the economy and our events are designed to inform and engage operators; destination management organisations, consultants and other interested business people with the latest trends and activities in the industry on a national, regional and local level. Our annual Spring Lunch provided some interesting and useful insights into Yorkshire and each provided a perspective for guests to consider, challenge and contribute to.” comments Tourism Society Yorkshire chairman John Gallery.
The students arranged a special tour of the Leeds Industrial Museum during the event when delegates heard the history of the woollen industry and viewed the extensive range of industrial machinery and other artefacts demonstrating this important industry in the Yorkshire region.
“Working with these six enthusiastic students has been an excellent experience and hopefully by providing them with the opportunity to stage a live event as part of their course projects, we have contributed to their progress into this important sector of tourism. We shall be doing this with the University more often in future”, added John Gallery.