Hospitable Cities
7th April 2017 – London
There is real change in the air and there are many cities and countries working on new methods and ways of improving both tourism but also the way they interact with visitors. Just as research tells us that a great welcome in a hotel can improve a guest’s spend by up to 15%, it is no different with visitors to a city or country.
Of course it is a difficult balance as most of the leading cities also face genuine security fears and there is a need for safety – but security fears are not a new concern. In the early 1980s, the IRA was a constant threat in UK cities – The Hyde Park and Regents Park bombs and the bombing of Harrods in December 1983. It was awful but life went on. Now we ask do we need each person in London photographed 25 times per day?
What would make Cities even better to visit?
- Could the City offer free Wi-Fi across the city? Should some 5 star hotels still be charging for Wi-Fi access in this age? Estonia is working to offer free wi-fi access across the whole country
- Could the welcome at Airports be improved?Yes there are security issues to be considered but could the welcome and service offer be improved?
- Do we understand the visitor journey when coming to a City – the fears and anxiety?
- Iceland offers a buddy system to visitors the country – what could others do?
- What more can be done to just improve the visitors experience in London? After all,London is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world with superb gastronomy, arts and crafts, sport and music let alone its heritage.
- What more can be done in making the Cities more sustainable?
- London has won many awards for its business community and the opportunities it provides. But how can it becomea market leader in other areas too?
- What can be learnt from other cities around the world?
On the 7th April, EP and eHotelier will be delighted to welcome speakers from around the world to share their experiences and thoughts.The aim of the day is to create an interactive forum to debate and discuss how cities can change and the role that Hospitality can play in that change. More and more people are travelling from all round the world. Security is a major issue but also how cities change, evolve and welcome their visitors will be increasingly important. Hospitality has a central role to play in the economies and success of cities – so how can we work together to offer the best levels of service against a difficult backdrop This days’ conference is not just about being Hospitable; it is about improving sustainable economic performance.