Pictured (left to right): Tim Checketts, Secretary, Royal St George's Golf Club; Deirdre Wells, Chief Executive, Visit Kent; Tim Ingelton, Head of Inward Investment & Tourism, Dover District Council
A toolkit to help Kent businesses reap the benefits of The 149th Open when it returns to Royal St George’s in Sandwich from 12-19 July 2020 has been produced by Dover District Council and Visit Kent. The launch of the toolkit comes ahead of the first Local Business Forum at The Bell Hotel on Thursday, 5 December (6-8pm).
The Open is the largest sporting event hosted in Kent with tens of thousands of spectators attending over the week-long Championships, golf’s oldest and most prestigious major. Ticket sales have been at record levels as The Open returns to Sandwich for the first time since 2011.
Tim Ingelton, Head of Inward Investment & Tourism at Dover District Council, said: “We want local businesses to make the most of the opportunities created by hosting one of the world’s great sporting events here in East Kent.
“The toolkit has been designed to help local business understand the opportunities and what they need to do to grab a slice of the action as the world comes to Sandwich in 2020.”
Deidre Wells, Chief Executive of Visit Kent, said: “The Open is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the very best of Kent tourism in 2020. We’re already seeing record levels of bookings with accommodation providers throughout the county.
“Local businesses have a key role to play in promoting everything the county has to offer, from our fantastic attractions and heritage, to superb local produce. All delivered with a warm Kentish welcome.”
Barbara Cooper, Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport at Kent County Council, said: “We know from hosting The Open in 2011 that it generated an additional £24 million for the Kent economy, which is why Kent County Council is delighted to support its return. Kent businesses, large or small, have an opportunity to directly be involved and take advantage of the significant economic benefits that this world class event brings to Kent, and I would encourage all businesses wherever they are located in the county, to use the toolkit to see the opportunities available to them.”
Tim Checketts, Secretary of the Royal St George’s Golf Club, said: “Local businesses have a key role to play in delivering a successful Open Championship. The toolkit is a great way for local businesses to get involved and to start planning to harness the potential of The Open.”
The Business Toolkit is available online at www.dover.gov.uk/OpenGolf, www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk and www.visitkent.co.uk.
The Local Business Forum takes place at The Bell Hotel in Sandwich from 6-8pm on Thursday, 5 December. Guest speaker will be Richard Baker of Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, hosts of The 148th Open which made a triumphant return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 2019.
About Visit Kent
Visit Kent Ltd is the Destination Management Organisation for Kent (the Garden of England), welcoming 65million visitors a year, championing the county’s £3.8 billion tourism industry and supporting more than 77,000 jobs.
It is recognised as one of the country’s leading DMOs, targeting UK and overseas markets to raise Kent’s profile as a premier destination, improving quality and skills within the industry, and growing investment in tourism. Visit Kent is a public/private sector partnership supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, district and borough councils, and the leading sector tourism businesses in Kent.
For further information visit www.visitkent.co.uk (consumer) or www.visitkentbusiness.co.uk (business), or tweet @visitkent
Posted on 28 November 2019