Tourism businesses encouraged to get ahead with online bookings

Winchester City Council's tourism service is organising a free event for anyone who owns or manages a visitor accommodation business in the Winchester District. The event takes place on Thursday 26 November between 10am and 3pm at the Hospital of St Cross in Winchester. Its main focus is to introduce B&B owners, hoteliers and others to the commercial benefits of on line bed bookings.

The session will provide an opportunity to find out more about the introduction of online accommodation bookings on the official tourism website for Winchester located at www.visitwinchester.co.uk It will also be an occasion for discussion, information exchange and networking, with time to chat with fellow accommodation owners and Winchester City Council staff. At the end of the meeting there will be a tour of the Hospital of St Cross, England's oldest almshouse.

Winchester City Council's Leader, Cllr George Beckett, who holds the portfolio for economy and tourism, said:

"I am delighted that we are introducing online accommodation bookings for the 2010 season. Today's tourists are often short on time, so providing 'short cuts' of this kind when they book holidays or short breaks is just the kind of modern, efficient service they will expect. We hope that this initiative will particularly help to generate bookings for small and medium sized accommodation businesses like B&Bs and self catering properties, making the most of the current trend towards holidaying in the UK."

Kathleen McCulloch, Winchester City Council's E-Access Development Officer, who is leading the project to introduce online accommodation bookings, added:

"We want to ensure that our accommodation providers have all the tools they need to keep pace with changes in technology and to stay ahead of the game. We are very mindful that some of our visitors are keen to book their accommodation online: it gives them flexibility to book at a time which suits them, and in a way which feels natural to them in this era of e-commerce."

Delegates from around the Winchester District who are eager to learn more about online bookings have been signing up enthusiastically for the event.

Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information, or to book your space, contact Alison Woods, Tourist Information Centre Manager at Winchester City Council on 01962 840 500 or email tourism@winchester.gov.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For further information about the event, contact Winchester City Council's Tourist Information Centre Manager, Alison Woods, on 01962 848 347 or email awoods@winchester.gov.uk

2. For information about online accommodation bookings, contact Kathleen McCulloch, E-Access Development Officer, Winchester City Council, tel 01962 848 296; email: kmcculloch@winchester.gov.uk