Eynsham Hall welcomes David Cameron to unveil “New Look” Boutique Country Hotel in Oxfordshire

Today marked the first Experience Oxfordshire networking event of 2016. Held at Eynsham Hall, there were over 150 local business and organisations in attendance as well as the Rt Hon David Cameron, Prime Minister and MP for Witney.

The informal event offered Experience Oxfordshire partners a chance to meet other business from across the visitor economy sector and network as well as well as an opportunity to catch up with the Experience Oxfordshire team. The event was also the grand unveiling of Eynsham Hall's £2.5million refurbishment to the local industry.

After speaking to the invited audience Mr Cameron did a walk around taking the opportunity to speak with many of Experience Oxfordshire's Partners and local businesses and also presenting B4's Richard and Colin Rosser a celebratory certificate on behalf of Experience Oxfordshire congratulating them on their 10 years in business.

The event is part of a series of annual events and programme's that Experience Oxfordshire runs for their partners.

On the event David Cameron MP said:
"It has been a pleasure to attend today's event here at the stunning, newly refurbished Eynsham Hall and to speak with local businesses. I am passionate about the tourism sector -- as shown by the drive I have given to the government's plans, including the excellent "Great" campaign -- and I am extremely proud to see the sector doing so well here in Oxfordshire".
"I was delighted to hear of Experience Oxfordshire's plans for the future and to see true public and private sector collaboration. I would urge any business with an interest in the visitor economy to get involved with Experience Oxfordshire and the great things they are doing. I will watch how this further develops with much interest and my support for the sector remains strong"

Hayley Beer-Gamage, Chief Executive of Experience Oxfordshire added;
"This has been a fantastic start to the year to have both the Prime Minister in attendance, showing how collaboration is key to success. At Experience Oxfordshire we are delighted to see so many of our Partners and Ambassador's here today to celebrate with Eynsham Hall and make exciting plans for the year ahead. We are an ambitious organisation who are looking to engage and grow the visitor economy across Oxfordshire and we are delighted to be receiving so much support. We have only touched on some of the exciting plans for the year ahead today and there is much more to come!"

Shaun Bowles, the General Manager of Eynsham Hall who welcomed everyone to the event said:
"This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work recently completed at Eynsham Hall, especially the new main hall bedrooms which are a real credit to the hotel. It's also incredibly warming to receive such strong support from Experience Oxfordshire and fellow members"

Richard Rosser, Chief Executive of B4 said;
"We are tremendously proud to receive this award from Experience Oxfordshire and the Prime Minister to mark the 10th anniversary of B4 magazine. On the behalf of the team I'm delighted to receive this honour and recognition of our work."

Prime Minister Backs APPG Events Inquiry

Ahead of the launch this month of the 2014 Britain for Events campaign, the industry body and All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Inquiry for events received endorsement from Prime Minster David Cameron for their ongoing promotion of business tourism in the UK.  

 

Mr. Cameron congratulated the campaign on its recent work with the APPG and subsequent report, having received a copy by APPG Chair Nick de Bois MP. 

 

In his letter, the Prime Minister wrote: “Business and events tourism represents an important and growing sector of our economy, so I do welcome the efforts of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events for the publication of this Inquiry Report.”   

 

He continued: “The Government looks forward to working with the APPG for Events in the future and continues to recognise the significant work it performs in helping to attract world class business to our shores.” 

 

This follows the launch at International Confex of the Events are GREAT report, which revealed an increase in direct spend by event attendees of £3 billion since 2010 to £39.1 billion. 

 

Michael Hirst, campaign supporter and Chair of the Business Visits & Events Partnership comments: “The work the APPG inquiry and campaign have done over the last year has been great and receiving glowing recognition from the Prime Minister is deserved endorsement for their commitment to the events industry. Without doubt bringing the APPG together has been a great challenge but has shown that there is support and ambition out there from government for the development and continued growth of the events industry.”  

 

“It’s now up to the industry working in partnership with government to see through the various recommendations in the Inquiry report”.

 

The next eight months will see the Britain for Events campaign presence at the International Festival for Business in July and at its new creation, the National Events Month in October.  

 

Since publication of the APPG Inquiry, copies of the report were sent to the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers and government agencies. Secretaries of State were asked by the Prime Minister to outline their views on issues raised within the report as it affected their respective departments.