Name: Amy Crees
Company: VisitBritain
Title: 2012 Games Project Manager
Website: www.Tourism2012Games.org
Amy Crees
Tell us about your company:
We are Britain’s national tourism agency, responsible for marketing Britain worldwide & developing Britain’s visitor economy. Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, we work in partnership with thousands of organisations in the UK & overseas – the Government, the industry and other tourism bodies – to ensure that Britain is marketed in an inspirational & effective way around the world.
How did you get into your line of work?
I studied French and German at university and got my first job working in a tourist office on Regent Street using my languages skills. After a year I was seconded to the VisitBritain office in Paris and after that returned to the marketing team in London, with a 6 months stint in the VB Sydney office.
What do you do day-to-day?
I work across VisitBritain to ensure the organisation and the tourism industry in the UK gains the maximum benefit from hosting the Games in around the country in 2012. I work closely with London 2012 to publish the www.Tourism2012Games.org website and help businesses to prepare for the opportunities and challenges the Games will bring.
What’s the most exciting part of your role?
Travelling internationally and in the UK to talk help businesses understand the opportunities and manage the impacts of the Games.
Give us an overview of what you’ll be discussing at ABiC:
I will be giving an overview of all of VisitBritain’s activity to leverage the tourism benefits of the Games, covering our major Great Britain You’re Invited campaign, outlining the scope of the opportunity we have in the next 12 months and beyond and highlighting useful resources to help businesses prepare for next year.
What type of companies/individuals will find your talk relevant?
All businesses I hope! Even if your business won’t directly benefit from the Games i.e. you will not be hosting Games-time visitors, it will explain what the national tourism opportunity is and how you can benefit from that, either in the short, or long term.
How will they benefit from it?
I hope it will demonstrate how seriously both government and VisitBritain is taking the opportunity presented by the Games and the myriad of incredible events taking place in the UK next year.
In your field, what exciting developments will 2012 bring?
An unrivalled opportunity to leverage all the world-class events happening next year including the Diamond Jubilee, 2012 Games and Cultural Olympiad and issue an invitation to the world to visit Britain. We can really put Britain on the map in international markets and demonstrate what a fantastic tourism offering we have in this country.
How best can the travel industry use social media and the internet?
Our Love UK facebook page now has over 500,000 members – we provide fun, inspiring content and competitions for our fans to interact with.
What’s your favourite travel destination?
One of my favourite places in the world has to be the Devonshire coast which I have been visiting since I was a kid. Woolacombe beach is a highlight.
Where’s your favourite place in London?
This changes all the time but right now I would have to say the Brixton covered market which is packed full of brilliant new restaurants, cafes and bars.
Sum up the capital in five words:
Where it is all at.
