Find out more about the people and organisations behind the Hub
The South West Visitor Economy Hub began as an application to the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSWLEP) for funding from an Innovation and Digital Technology grant. The initial aims of the proposed ‘Tourism Data Hub’ were to provide Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) and wider tourism and hospitality businesses with consistent, robust and valuable data insights into consumer and business behaviours, enabling more efficient market targeting and product development to drive recovery in a post-COVID world.
The main objectives included giving businesses access to real-time data on indicators such as visitor arrivals, visitor demographics, hotel and transport capacity and forward bookings. It also aimed to help businesses spot the gap between actual performance and market potential, allowing them to make informed decisions.
The progress of the project is being led by a Steering Group of representatives from across the Visitor Economy in Devon and Somerset:
Alistair Handyside – PASC UK
Amanda Lumley – Destination Plymouth
Carolyn Custerton – English Riviera BID
Claire Gibson – HotSWLEP
Claire Toze – Visit Exeter
Elizabeth Devonport – Torbay Council
Emma Thomasson – Visit Exmoor
Giles Adams - Visit Somerset
Jamie Evans – Devon County Council
Jo Butler – Visit South Devon
John Turner – Visit Somerset
Nicki Maclean – Somerset Council
Rebecca Davies – Torbay Council
Sally Everton – Visit Devon
Vince Flower – HotSWLEP
Initially, Acorn T-Stats Limited were procured to perform the Feasibility Study, with a brief to identify if the concept was achievable within the budget, and financially sustainable after the funding period ceased. During this study T-Stats consultants spent many hours speaking with stakeholders from across the region of Devon and Somerset. These included DMOs, BIDs, Chambers of Commerce, tourism businesses, councils, and other private sector organisations.
Acorn T-Stats concluded the concept was achievable and could build upon their existing data tracking software, T-Stats Solutions.
The team at T-Stats will continue to work closely with the Steering Group and the wider stakeholder community throughout the implementation process in order to maximise the quality and quantity of the data in the system.
Providing training and onboarding sessions to all interested businesses and organisations, they look forward to developing a system for Devon and Somerset that fulfils, and indeed exceeds, the objectives set out.
About The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership
The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership – covering Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay – is one of the 38 LEPs in England. The Heart of the South West LEP is a business-led partnership between the private sector, local authorities, universities and colleges.
