The Independent Venue Roadshow (IVR) provides independently owned hotels and venues with the opportunity to meet with event professionals with a guaranteed number of appointments.
Sales Managers’ time is best spent in front of potential customers, generating revenue for their hotel or venue. IVR is a year long programme that eliminates the time and effort required to generate appointments with buyers that are often difficult to reach.
We are delighted to have Amanda Baker, the Sales Manager of Tewkesbury Park, on the blog today. Amanda chats about how exhibiting at the Independent Venue Roadshow has benefited her role as a Sales Manager. She also dishes on what gives Tewkesbury Park the unique sparkle that keeps guests and event planners running back.
Keep reading for our conversation with Amanda Baker.
What do guests say they love most about staying at Tewkesbury Park?
As we are an independent family-owned property, I believe we stand out in terms of going the extra mile. We receive a tremendous amount of positive Trip Advisor comments and online reviews, it’s always how welcoming our staff are, how nothing is too much trouble and how there’s always a recommendation and information about where to visit local attractions in the area to which there is an abundance.
Tewkesbury Park commands a stunning position above the medieval town of Tewkesbury, with a sweeping drive, the views of the Cotswolds and the Malvern’s Hills are absolutely stunning. Everywhere you turn is a window framed view of the three counties. We are situated in 174 acres of parkland providing a peaceful and tranquil haven for both leisure and corporate guests alike.
Also, our food is exemplary. Our head chef, Anuj Thakur and his team are amazing in terms of using locally sourced ingredients. I love what produce the Gloucestershire area offers; the local meats; cheeses; honey; fruit & vegetables, plus the great selection of craft beers and ciders – the list is endless! So great to have all this fabulous produce on our doorstep.” Our Chef’s utilizes all these ingredients in his menus and they are stunning in terms of the dishes we produce.
What is one fact buyers or event planners should know about Tewkesbury Park?
It’s so nice to work with a family who value the importance of hospitality, they have invested hugely in restoring Tewkesbury Park from a very tired looking 2 star property to an impressive 4 star venue, all with the home from home comforts you wouldn’t see at the conventional chain hotels.
Our latest edition to the family is our architecturally stunning Cotswolds Suite, with stunning views overlooking the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire county, this will appeal to incentive away days, sales training or company product launches… the perfect suite to create a wow factor. No boring meetings held here!
What is your favourite thing about being a part of the current IVR programme?
Being a part of the programme enables us to be in front of pre-qualified agents, I think it’s 60 or so in a short period of time. Because we can see 60+ agents over 5 events across the year, it’s time efficient. If you were to go out on the road and actually physically meet 60 agents, the time involved would be huge.
The vast benefit to us at Tewkesbury Park is the opportunity to showcase our hotel at the last IVR, I am looking forward to hosting the buyers and hoteliers so that they can see in person what a super venue we have.
It’s the opportunity to meet like-minded hoteliers and events people and chat about the industry and how it’s performing, what they’re doing differently, and gain some advice.
At CHS we champion independent venues with the IVR programme, what do you personally think are the benefits of a event planner teaming up with an independent venue or hotel?
I know that event planners will receive a more bespoke service, it’s more personable. I believe that independent hotels will go that extra mile to ensure they win the business. From the initial enquiry we have to work hard to ensure we stand out from the rest particularly with RFPs.
An event planner needs to have complete confidence in venues and hotels that they are suggesting to their clients, I think they do get that with an independent venue. We are more passionate about, handling the initial enquiry, winning the business, and ensuring it’s delivered correctly. Thus ensuring there is an opportunity of repeat business at a later date. Our ultimate ethos is to ensure that we are at the forefront of an event planners venue search.
Whereas with the more chain hotels, it’s completing a form, sending it out and not really showing passion or empathy for what the client is looking for. I believe Independent venues work a lot harder for it to ensure they win the business and stand out from the crowd.
If you are an independent venue or hotel interested in learning more about exhibiting with us during the 12-month Independent Venue Roadshow programme, please click here.
If you are an event planner or buyer interested in attending the next Independent Venue Roadshow, our next event is at Tewkesbury Park on the 8th and 9th of March, 2018. Please visit this page for more information.