WITH 2022 just around the corner, Cumbria’s tourism and hospitality industry is looking to the future.

Businesses from across the county are set to discover and discuss key topics at an interactive tourism conference on November 26.

Held at Energus Workington and focussing on the theme Tourism: Rebuilding for the Future, the event, organised by Allerdale Borough Council, will address key issues affecting the Cumbrian visitor economy, with attendees learning from expert speakers through interactive sessions alongside a free breakfast and networking opportunities.

Attendees will enjoy engaging presentations from a wide range of expert speakers and host Susanna Boccaccio of Bright Trees Media, leaving with a clearer understanding of how to make the most of the coming months alongside the skills to do so.

Staffing continues to be a vitally important issue for employers and the event will address how businesses can attract new recruits, with Cath Dutton from the Cumbria Careers Hub sharing how businesses can change perceptions around industry careers and highlight the long-term opportunities the sector offers.

The growing cycle tourism market, highlighted by Cumbria’s inclusion in the 2021 Tour of Britain and the recent Solway Coast Cycling Festival, will also be addressed. Tourism expert Nick Lancaster of Lancaster & Lancaster will share how businesses can increase longer, higher spending visitor stays across the Solway Coast and beyond by encouraging exploration on two wheels (particularly by e-bike), and how this can boost local businesses across the region.

The event will also include interactive sessions designed to provide key takeaway skills that can be applied to the wide range of tourism businesses across the region. Sustainability the Smart Way recognises the growing calls for sustainability to be integrated across the sector from both environmental and visitor demand perspectives. Crake Consultancy’s Gemma Procter will guide attendees through the concept of sustainability and the opportunities available to benefit the planet but also their business.

In Smart Social Media Cumbria Tourism representatives will share hints and practical tips on how businesses can make the most of social media’s huge potential by creating quality, re-usable content focussing on key platforms and defined audiences.

Recruitment issues and increasing costs have made efficiency a priority. In Working Smarter – Dan Visser, Director Sales & Marketing at the Langdale Hotel and Spa, will share his extensive experience and help attendees identify simple changes they can meet to increase efficiency and productivity as they adapt to changing visitor and recruitment needs.

Allerdale Borough Council’s Leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder Councillor Tony Markley said: “The last 18 months have been incredibly difficult for businesses and many have not yet fully recovered. However, important lessons continue to be learnt over the course of the pandemic and this conference is an excellent opportunity for businesses across Allerdale and further afield to learn and plan how to make the most of the coming months. We’ve a fantastic line-up of expert speakers eager to share their experience – I’d recommend anyone working in the tourism and hospitality industry to register.”

The conference, arranged by Allerdale Borough Council in association with Cumbria Tourism, is free to attend for all tourism and hospitality businesses across Cumbria. Business owners and representatives can learn more and register for free at https://visitallerdale.co.uk/tickets/tourism-conference.