Isle of Wight tourism and hospitality businesses came together with Red Funnel to explore how they can attract more visitors, support the local economy and showcase the Island as a great place to live, work and visit.
Red Funnel’s latest Trade Customer Forum brought accommodation providers, attractions and other Island businesses together with CEO Fran Collins and her team, giving partners the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss how working together can make a difference.
Encouraging visitors all year round
A key focus of the sessions was how Red Funnel and its partners can encourage more people to discover the Isle of Wight throughout the year.
From making journeys to and from the Island easier and more reliable, to promoting its hotels, restaurants, attractions and experiences to new audiences, the forum explored the ways that closer collaboration can support businesses and the wider visitor economy.
Marketing the Island
Red Funnel continues to promote the Isle of Wight through a multi-channel marketing programme spanning TV, digital radio, outdoor, social and digital advertising.
This includes the recent launch of a new television campaign featuring comedian and actor Diane Morgan, alongside ongoing press visits showcasing Island businesses and experiences.
Partners discussed opportunities to build on this activity and strengthen the Island’s appeal outside the traditional peak season.
Collins: Making a difference
Speaking about the forum, Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said,
“Our trade partners are experts in what visitors are looking for and what businesses across the Island need, and it’s great to be able to discuss what we can do together to make a difference.
“We all want to see the Island thrive, and part of that means giving more people more reasons to visit throughout the year, making it as easy as possible for them to get here and showcasing everything that makes the Isle of Wight such a wonderfully different place to live, work and visit.”
Improving the travel experience
Partners heard about work to improve the Red Funnel travel experience.
Following extensive winter maintenance and refits, the operator has further strengthened preventative maintenance and operational readiness across its shoreside and onboard teams, resulting in improved reliability.
Longer-term investment
The forum also gave partners the opportunity to hear about Red Funnel’s longer-term investment, including its fleet replacement programme and continued investment in its existing vessels, digital systems, infrastructure and people.
Feedback and ideas from the Trade Customer Forum help shape Red Funnel’s ongoing development, with further opportunities to collaborate on attracting visitors, improving their experience and supporting a thriving Island economy.
News shared by Sophie on behalf of Red Funnel. Ed
