Local MP Bim Afolami has shown his support for the tourism and hospitality industry in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages following English Tourism Week which took place from 17 – 26 March.
On Friday 31 March, the MP paid a visit to the Hitchin Priory Hotel and St Paul’s Walden Bury accompanied by Neil Hayes, the CEO of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Deirdre Wells OBE, Chair of English Tourism Week and CEO of Visit Herts.
Bim Afolami MP said: “It has been great to visit some of the tourism and hospitality businesses in Hitchin and Harpenden and the villages and to meet the staff and owners who work so hard to provide visitors with amazing experiences. I know that we are currently living through very challenging economic times, but we are very fortunate to have some wonderful attractions, landscapes, hotels and historic houses in the local area and I urge everyone to get out and about to enjoy them when they can.”
Deepak Choudhary, General Manager of Hitchin Priory Hotel, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome everyone to Hitchin Priory Hotel and to showcase what we have to offer our guests, be it meetings, weddings or a music festival. We are committed to working closely with the local community, with many exciting plans coming soon. We also look forward to working closely with Visit Herts to promote our hotel, high service standards and hospitality. We are grateful to Bim Afolami, for giving up his valuable time to visit us and to provide his support, guidance and ideas to help us explore a better future for the Priory Hotel and the hospitality sector."
Chief Executive of Visit Herts, Deirdre Wells OBE said: “We are very grateful to Bim Afolami for taking the time to visit local businesses in his constituency. With the focus more than ever on quality of life and our health and wellbeing following the pandemic – it is so important that we all show our support for the tourism and hospitality industry that do so much to support these goals whilst also contributing to the local economy.”
Neil Hayes, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire LEP said: “It has been a pleasure to meet the teams behind some of Hertfordshire’s brilliant tourism and hospitality businesses. The support our MPs have offered throughout English Tourism Week reflects the sector’s importance to the local economy.
“Hertfordshire’s tourism industry was on a strong growth trajectory pre-COVID, topping £2.4bn for the first time in 2019. While the industry is showing positive signs of recovery, the pressures businesses continue to face post-pandemic means the assistance offered by Visit Herts, our business support service Hertfordshire Growth Hub and skills and employment portal HOP, remain as important as ever. We urge businesses to take advantage of these programmes and look forward to helping them grow and thrive in Hertfordshire.”
For more information about Hertfordshire, please visit www.visitherts.co.uk
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Notes to Editors
Further media information on Visit Herts is available from antonia.stratford@gotoplaces.co.uk
About Visit Herts
Visit Herts is the destination management organisation for the county of Hertfordshire, which in 2019 welcomed 29 million visitors a year, supported 43,390 jobs and generated £2.4 billion for the local economy.
Visit Herts works with a range of public and private sector businesses and organisations to raise the county’s profile as a leading destination. Activities include targeting UK and overseas markets through consumer marketing and PR campaigns, forging strong relationships with the travel trade, improving quality and skills within the industry, and growing investment in tourism.
Visit Herts is a public/private sector partnership supported by Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and is delivered by destination management specialists Go to Places.
In 2022, Visit Herts were delighted to secure funding from the UK Community Renewal Fund enabling the team to successfully launch a brand new project which capitalises on the world leading hub of film and TV studios located in the county to ensure that the wider community benefits from these assets.
For further information tweet @visithertsuk or visit www.visitherts.co.uk.
About Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is a business-led, multi-sector partnership focused on accelerating sustainable economic growth, job creation and raising workforce skills within the local area. Working in partnership with businesses, government, investors, education and not-for-profit organisations, the LEP puts people at the heart of growth.
Hertfordshire is home to thriving sectors of international importance including creative media, film and TV, life sciences and advanced manufacturing, with an economy delivering £41.57bn for UK plc annually.
Our dedicated team is focused on driving the local economy by boosting inward investment, key sectors, clean and inclusive growth. It provides skills leadership, detailed economic intelligence, and a comprehensive package of support to Hertfordshire’s business community. Find out more – www.hertfordshirelep.com
Media Enquiries
Lucy Gravatt
Director of Partnerships and Communications
07747 762698
