The ‘Silver Award for Service Quality’ was presented to Jennifer Cormack, Chair of LDHA, Chair of the English Lake District China Forum and Sales & Marketing Director at our member, Windermere Lake Cruises. The award was presented at the Chinese Tourist Welcome (CTW) Awards ceremony, part of the ITB China event, where Jennifer met with a large number of tour operators and members of the Chinese press over two days.
Prior to the ITB China event and in ongoing efforts to continue the growth of overseas visits to the Lake District, Jennifer also joined a delegation of some of Europe’s most successful tourism businesses in Shanghai at last week’s European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) event CEM (China European Marketplace). The European delegation included six businesses from across the North of England.
All six Northern businesses also visited the offices of the Xuhui District Department of Culture and Tourism to explain how they are working collaboratively to promote the entire North of England using Manchester as the region’s gateway.
Earlier this year, Windermere Lake Cruises reported its Chinese visitor figures had reached an all-time high, with both independent travellers and those visiting as part of larger groups having increased by a massive 286% since June 2016. Figures also showed a year-on-year rise in the number of tickets being booked online from China, rising by 32% in 2016, increasing to 59% in 2017 – and jumping to 70% in 2018.
Windermere Lake Cruises Sales & Marketing Director Jennifer Cormack also used the trip to represent all 19 local businesses which sit on the English Lake District China Forum, to further showcase everything the Lake District – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has to offer international visitors, well-beyond the shores of England’s largest lake.
Among the highlights was the Travel Trade Workshop hosted by Marketing Manchester which focussed on attractions from across the North of England including Windermere Lake Cruises, Manchester City Football Club, Liverpool and the Beatles Story; and Castle Howard.
Jennifer says, “It’s the second time in seven months that Windermere Lake Cruises has flown out to China; and the eighth time since 2015. As with every previous mission, this proved to be another fantastic opportunity to enhance the cultural understanding between China and the UK and we remain extremely confident that efforts from businesses like ours; and others from across the North, will help to continue our combined success and continue to take our appeal to overseas markets from strength to strength in the coming years.”
Here at LDHA we are incredibly thankful to Jennifer, her dedication to increasing levels of international tourism to the Lake District is admirable and of great benefit to us as an association of tourism businesses, but also to the wider local community. Keep up the good work!