Isle of Wight businesses have voted in favour of BID 3, giving Visit Isle of Wight a fresh mandate to market the island as one destination and to champion its visitor economy throughout the year.
Ballot result
After a month-long vote, the ballot closed on 29th October 2026. Of the businesses that voted, 55.1% backed the proposal, representing 73.9% of total rateable value, on a turnout of 28.7%.
What BID 3 will focus on
The result keeps a single, collective voice for the island in an increasingly competitive UK tourism market. It also marks a clear break with the past: BID 3 has been built around what levy-payers said they wanted, with a leaner structure, a sharper focus on marketing, and a business plan that businesses can hold the organisation to.
Visit Isle of Wight responds
Dominic Wray, Interim CEO of Visit Isle of Wight, said,
“This is a vote of confidence in the Isle of Wight, and I want to thank every business that took the time to read the plan, ask the difficult questions and cast their vote. Businesses told us clearly what they needed from a new BID: marketing that brings people here, a strong voice for the island, and value they can see. They’ve backed that plan.
“Now the real work starts. We know trust is earned, not given, and that’s exactly how we’ll approach the next term.”
What happens next
BID 3 is built on three pillars:
- Marketing Our Island,
- Partnerships and Representation, and
- Commercial Growth and Intelligence.
In the coming weeks Visit Isle of Wight will:
- appoint a Marketing Director to lead the organisation into the new term, with governance held by the Chair and board
- confirm its new agency partners for PR, social media and digital marketing, following an open tender
- finalise its first-year marketing programme
- contact every levy-paying business directly with what the result means for them and how to get involved
News shared by Amy on behalf of Visit Isle of Wight. Ed
