West Midlands

Tourism is the fourth largest contributor to the economy of the West Midlands, generating over £5billion each year. The visitor economy, as a whole, in the region supports 303,000 people with 28,000 businesses operating in tourism and leisure sectors. 90% of visits to the region are domestic day and overnight visits, with the majority undertaken by families with children.

The region has a strong business tourism sector, which is larger than in any other UK region outside London. Major assets such as the NEC, ICC, Ricoh Arena and Telford International Centre make the region a major global competitor.

The region offers a range of cultural and heritage attraction including Stratford, Warwick Castle, the World Heritage site of Ironbridge Gorge and ‘The Potteries’, home to the famous Wedgwood brand.

Support and marketing for the regional visitor economy is provided by the Regional Development Agency, with guidance from an advisory board, while local area support and marketing is provided by Destination Management Partnerships.

Tourism West Midlands Board

Tourism West Midlands Board is made up of 20 members drawn from public and private sector organisations to represent a range of tourism related interests.

Board members provide a strategic outlook and give guidance to Advantage West Midlands on the development of tourism in the region.

Advantage West Midlands

The Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, provides strategic leadership for the tourism economy and leads marketing of the visitor economy.

The Tourism Executive Team, based within Advantage West Midlands, is responsible for delivering the ‘Regional Visitor Economy Strategy’ as well as contributing to regional economic priorities as detailed in the ‘Regional Economic Strategy’.

The team works closely with regional and sub-regional partners, and within the Agency, to ensure that tourism and leisure’s contribution to meeting regional economic goals is maximised. The team has lead responsibility for regional tourism policy development, providing advocacy and leadership for the tourism industry, along with executive support to the Tourism West Midlands Board.

Key People

Chairman Tourism West Midlands Board Brian Summers,
Head of Tourism Policy, Advantage West Midlands Roger Allonby
Cluster Manager for Tourism and Leisure Advantage West Midlands Chris Lily
Head of Tourism Marketing Sam Warnock
Research and Policy Manager Nigel Russell
Cultural Tourism Manager Lindsey Wyke

Contact Details

Advantage West Midlands
3 Priestley Wharf
Holt Street
Aston Science Park
Birmingham
B7 4BN
Telephone: 0121 380 3500
Email Format: firstnamesurname@advantagewm.co.uk
Corporate Website: www.advantagewm.co.uk
Visitor Website: www.visittheheart.co.uk

Sub Regional

Destination Management Partnerships

In the sub-regions, public and private sector partners have joined together in Destination Management Partnerships which, as membership bodies, aim to deliver an important tourism agenda including marketing, e-business, research and quality improvement.

Management Partnerships are a core part of Advantage West Midlands Tourism delivery model and work within a regional network facilitated by Advantage West Midlands.

Contact Details

Visit Herefordshire
P.O.Box 4
Plough Lane
Hereford HR4 0XH
Herefordshire, UK
Tel: 01432 260621
Email: tourism@visitherefordshire.co.uk
Website: www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

Destination Worcestershire
C/o Worcestershire County Council
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP
Tel: 01905 728787
Email: tourism@worcestershire.gov.uk
Website: www.visitworcestershire.org

Manager: Rod Nipper

Destination Staffordshire
Development Services
Riverway
Stafford
ST16 3TJ
Tel: 01785 277397
Email: info@enjoystaffordshire.com
Website: www.enjoystaffordshire.com


Marketing Birmingham
Millennium Point
Level L2
Curzon Street
Birmingham
B4 7XG
Tel: 0121 202 5115
Email: info@marketingbirmingham.com
Website: www.marketingbirmingham.com

CV One - Coventry and Warwickshire
1 Castle Yard
Coventry
CV1 5RF
Tel: 024 7660 7000
Email: enquiries@cvone.co.uk
Website: www.cvone.co.uk

Shakespeare Country
E12 Holly Court
Holly Farm Business Park
Honiley
Kenilworth
CV8 1NP
Tel: 0870 160 7930
Email: info@shakespeare-country.co.uk
Website: www.shakespeare-country.co.uk

Black Country Tourism
Black Country Consortium Ltd
The Deckhouse
Waterfront West
Dudley Road
Brierley Hill
DY5 1LW
Tel: 0845 815 1516
Email: mail@blackcountrytourism.co.uk
Website: www.blackcountrytourism.co.uk

Sunday, 5 September 2010