In an Experience Oxfordshire led initiative to position Oxfordshire amongst the top destinations to visit for business and leisure, the official Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) and destination management organisation (DMO) is this week launching The Oxfordshire Welcome.
The new initiative comes on the back of the revival of the county’s visitor economy following the severe and lasting impacts of the global pandemic. It has been designed in acknowledgement of the operational challenges faced by the sector and potential visitors’ need for reassurance when booking experiences.
Businesses joining the initiative align themselves with 14 pledge-points, confirming their commitment to delivering customer service levels embracing inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability, which together form The Oxfordshire Welcome. A logo has been developed to signify the pledge and will feature on participating business’ websites and publicity.
Commenting on the rationale behind the initiative Hayley Beer-Gamage, Experience Oxfordshire’s CEO, said: “Research from VisitBritain over the last year, both in this country and from overseas, shows common themes influencing visitors’ choice of destination. Customer service and the quality of the welcome they can expect is hugely important as are specific elements such as flexibility to alter plans, regard for sustainability and access for all. These issues when viewed holistically are all part of good customer service.
The Oxfordshire Welcome pledge offers businesses the opportunity to show their commitment to providing great customer service and for visitors to feel confident in the reception they’ll receive and in the quality of experience they will enjoy in our county.”
Experience Oxfordshire Board Member and CEO of Blenheim Palace, an early adopter of the pledge, Dominic Hare said: “Ensuring our visitors feel welcome and at home is our highest priority here at Blenheim. Our guests arrive from all over the world with their own expectations and needs, so it’s important that the Blenheim team recognise each of those 800,000 visitors we greet each year as individuals. We fully endorse The Oxfordshire Welcome.”
Experience Oxfordshire’s work in creating and developing The Oxfordshire Welcome is part of a series of strategic activity commissioned by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) under their Visitor Economy Renaissance Programme (VERP), which supports the sector’s ongoing re-emergence from Covid-19. Funding for the programme was secured via Oxfordshire County Council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund.
Helen Ryan-Wallis, Programme Manager-Strategy from OxLEP said: “In the aftermath of Covid, business across the county stepped up to ensure visitors felt safe and welcome. The Oxfordshire Welcome builds on that legacy, taking into account the concerns of current and future visitors. We would urge all businesses in Oxfordshire associated with the visitor economy to show their support for the sector and commit to this initiative.”
The Oxfordshire Welcome is open to all businesses operating within the visitor economy in Oxfordshire. There is no charge to join the initiative and more information can be found here or contact welcome@experienceoxfordshire.org
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NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Image: The Oxfordshire Welcome
More details on the pledge-points and sign up to The Oxfordshire Welcome can be found at experienceoxfordshire.flywheelstaging.com/the-oxfordshire-welcome/
Experience Oxfordshire is the official Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Oxfordshire. It is the trading arm of the parent charity, Experience Oxfordshire Charitable Trust, and is a not-for-profit partnership organisation that is committed to the promotion, management, and development of Oxfordshire as a great destination to live, work, visit and do business whilst improving growth and productivity across the visitor economy. The DMO provides essential business advice and support to visitor economy businesses across Oxfordshire.
In March 2023 Experience Oxfordshire was announced as one of the first English destinations to gain Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) status. Developed and administered by VisitEngland, the national portfolio of strategic and high-performing LVEPs support collaborative working locally and nationally on shared priorities and targets to grow the local visitor economy. The creation of LVEPs was part of the UK Government’s response to the recommendations of ‘The de Bois Review: an independent review of DMOs in England,’ to reshape destination management across England, reducing fragmentation and bringing coherence to its DMO landscape.
Read more on Experience Oxfordshire’s activity in our Highlights 2022-23 here
For more information on Experience Oxfordshire go to experienceoxfordshire.flywheelstaging.com/partner or contact partnership@experienceoxfordshire.org
Media contact: Lesley Wright / press@experienceoxfordshire.org / 01865 686433
You can keep up to date with Experience Oxfordshire’s activity by following:
Facebook – Experience Oxfordshire
Instagram – @experienceoxfordshire
X – @ExperienceOx and @ExperienceOxBiz
LinkedIn – Experience Oxfordshire
The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) champions Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic and growing economy. Its vision for Oxfordshire being ‘a vibrant, sustainable, inclusive, world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise and research excellence’.
Find out more via www.oxfordshirelep.com. Click here for more information about the Visitor Economy Renaissance Programme (VERP).