English airports and London 2012

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, last week held a seminar for representatives from airports across England from Manchester to Newquay, to discuss the important subject of welcoming visitors ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The first of its kind, the discussion group was opened by the Minister for Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose MP, and was hosted at Gatwick Airport’s Sofitel Hotel.

Since 2009, 15 airports across England have undertaken a ‘Welcome Audit and Improvement Plan’ process, which reviews the visitor’s journey throughout the airport from booking, to arrival and departure.  Several airport representatives attending the seminar shared details of improvements made following the results from their Welcome Audits.  Outcomes included greater collaboration with local travel operators to improve onward travel links, partnering with destination management organisations to offer enhanced visitor information onsite and customer service training projects.

The event was part of VisitEngland’s Welcome Airport project, which aims to ensure that visitors’ first and last impressions of England’s airports are as positive as possible by bringing together airport operators and their supporting partners, and highlighting best practice. www.visitengland.com

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