Tourism Summit 2025

Simon Calder, renowned travel writer and broadcaster, will be bringing his expertise from his role as Travel Editor of The Independent, presenting BBC 2's Travel Show and hosting the Travel Clinic on LBC 97.3, alongside his regular commentary on travel issues across national media.

Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, giving an update on the priorities of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, as well as the emerging new tourism strategy for England.

Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO of UK Hospitality, with an update on the challenges facing the hospitality sector following the last trading year and the impact of the most recent budget.

Lord Hutton, Chair of the Cornwall Economic Forum, bringing us up to date with the rolling priorities emerging for Cornwall on the growth agenda and the visitor economy.

Patrick Richards, Founder and Director of TerraVerde, will present the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a low and/or net zero visitor economy.

A representative from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport will be joining us on day one to discuss the government’s priorities for tourism and its recognition of the sector’s vital contribution to the economy.

Jon Hyatt, Chair of Visit Cornwall, and Malcolm Bell, Development lead for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), providing an update on the priorities of Visit Cornwall, and an update on the formation of the LVEP.

Jim Plunkett-Cole from Smart Growth Analytics will explore the true value of tourism in Cornwall, offering data-driven insights into its economic impact.

Andy Jasper, the newly appointed CEO of the Eden Project, will discuss the key challenges facing Cornish tourism businesses, and will share insights on navigating these in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Additional topics will cover national and international challenges in travel and tourism and their impact on Cornwall. More speakers to be announced—check back for updates!

The morning will follow a similar structure to day one, with sessions led by:

Tom Chartres-Moore and Amy Ralston from Stephens Scown. More and more marketers are looking to use AI in their marketing – for copywriting to customer service. Tom and Amy will address the legal considerations if you are using AI in your marketing.

Chris Thompson, CEO of You Smart Thing, will be taking you through some exclusive regional data, giving you an insight into the locations people are searching for, how people are moving around the county and how this can be incorporated into your marketing to make it more targeted.

Rob Edlin from Niddocks, and non-executive Visit Cornwall director. The Visit Cornwall website attracts 4 million visitors each year. Rob will be taking you through the data – giving you a valuable insight into what people are looking for and when, with practical guidance on how to time your marketing efforts and where.

Robin Tjolle, VisitEngland Regional Development Lead for the South West, and Abi Steel, Visit Cornwall Tourism Manager, who will be presenting the opportunities for Cornish businesses to work with the travel trade.

Bethany Allen, Growth Operations Manager of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Hub, will outline the business support and skills development opportunities available to help Cornish businesses adapt, innovate, and grow.

Nick Hall, Founder & CEO of the Digital Tourism Think Tank, will be sharing global trends and best practices, giving you tips on how to use tech to your advantage to take your business to the next level. He’ll also be sharing some of the new technology you can use within your marketing to make it more targeted, efficient and to deliver better outcomes.

On the Thursday afternoon, Nick will lead interactive workshops, allowing attendees to explore the latest digital tools and techniques in a hands-on environment. This is an opportunity to develop practical skills, understand emerging trends, and position your brand for growth in today’s competitive digital landscape.