A New Era for Visit Exmoor

Five new Directors appointed at the recent Visit Exmoor Annual General Meeting bring a wealth of tourism and business acumen to the partnership, in addition to representing a wide geographical spread of Exmoor and its environs.

At the Visit Exmoor AGM the main item on the agenda was the election of a new Board of Directors. Company rules require all directors to stand down at the end of their first year in office and allow the membership to choose a new Board. Six new potential directors were nominated, and more than 50 people attended the AGM, demonstrating a strong commitment from tourism businesses across the greater Exmoor area to making the Visit Exmoor partnership work.

Members asked some searching questions and there were some difficult issues to address; the Board was questioned about Visit Exmoor’s work over the last twelve months and plans for the future. In his annual report, out-going Chairman, Ron Morrison-Smith, commented on the trends in tourism, both nationally and more locally and how Visit Exmoor must respond, highlighting the recently adopted marketing review and plan which will guide the task of raising the profile of Exmoor and West Somerset in UK and overseas markets.

Mr Morrison-Smith concluded that “the next twelve months are crucial for Visit Exmoor. We have funding in place for marketing, we will have a new web site and a full programme of work to improve the quality of tourism. Perhaps the greatest challenge will be to make sure Visit Exmoor is advantageously placed in relation to the new tourism organisations being set up for Devon and Somerset.”

The new Board of Directors bring a determination to ensure that Visit Exmoor successfully draws together the tourism trade for the benefit of the whole area. New Directors are Cathy Doel, owner of the George Hotel in South Molton, Linda Hatch who owns the Sunfield Hotel in Minehead, Clive Knight, a tourism marketing consultant based in Brushford, Cliff Nicholson who owns Spears Cross in Dunster and Loretta Whetlor who runs a self-catering business in Watchet. Existing directors who were re-elected are: Mike Ellicott of Stockleigh Lodge in Exford, Paul Spratley of West Lyn Farmhouse near Lynton, Joanna Webb of Threadneedle in East Anstey and Aron Cody-Boutcher of Somerset Consulting. The two directors representing West Somerset Council and Exmoor National Park Authority will remain the same: Steven Pugsley and Ron Morrison-Smith.

Once a new Chair and Company Secretary are chosen, the Board are anxious to get on with their task of directing the work programme and formulating policies for Visit Exmoor and representing the tourism industry in the area at local, regional and national levels. A Marketing Review carried out over the summer months will be debated by the Board and they will decide how best to move forward with marketing and other activities. A new look website and a nationwide PR and advertising campaign are expected to put Exmoor and its environs on the map.