Speed mentoring supporting Devon tourism businesses

South Devon based experts in tourism, hospitality and marketing have signed up to offer a FREE speed mentoring service in English Tourism Week in 2013.

The Speed Mentoring event forms part of the English Riviera Tourism and Business Conference at Torquay’s Riviera International Conference Centre on 21st March 2013 being organised by the English Riviera Tourism Company.

The mentoring team will be giving bite size chunks of information about hot topics, delivered on a one to one basis, to tourism businesses who just want to pick up new tips or ask a few critical questions.

The event was launched in 2012 by McAllister and Co and Director Maureen McAllister says: ‘People who spend their days delivering excellent tourism experiences, do not always have the time to sit through a day long workshop or training event. This gives them a quick (10 minute) focused session with top tips and advice.’

This year’s topics have been selected to reflect the issues that are recognised as key ingredients for success in these challenging times: marketing, PR, social media, advertising, customer care, market research, and going green.

Mentor and event coordinator, Deirdre Makepeace says: ‘I would like to thank all of the mentors for giving up their valuable time. Speed mentoring is fast and furious so I know they’ll have fun. But more importantly, I know that they genuinely want their advice to make a real difference for these tourism businesses, many of them small and micro businesses. This all helps to ensure the competitiveness of the resort as a whole.’

And the 2013 mentors are…
Paul Ridgers from Rh Partners, Eddie Bent from e-strategy, Paul Haydon and Di Goffey from The South West Tourism Research Company, James Harper from James Harper Commuications, Dr David Dann from Dann Associates, Bradley Lewis from the SW Energy Centre and Deirdre Makepeace from Makepeace Marketing.

Mentoring slots can be booked in advance by contacting angela.wright@englishriviera.co.uk with a maximum of three slots available per business.