EVENTS
KEVIN FRASER, HOLIDAY INN LUTON SOUTH; CHRIS WALES, COACH TOURISM COUNCIL; ANNIE HAWKINS, HERTFORDSHIRE TOURISM OFFICER; JANE PITMAN, HERTFORDSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; DERRICK ASHLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
T
he message came from a heavyweight assembly of speakers at a special “Countdown to the Olympics” evening organised by the Hertfordshire Hoteliers Association (HHA) to draw attention to the opportunities presented by the Games. The association represents 24 properties throughout the county and is actively lobbying for more members to join. Chairman Jon Kett-Reynolds said: “The run-up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the events themselves should bring a significant increase in business into Hertfordshire. We are one of the few counties chosen to host Olympic events and now is the time to focus on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We would like to thank our hotel supply partners whose generosity helped to make this evening such a success. “The association is fully behind this showcase for Britain and our members are very pleased to have this opportunity and are working together to ensure a warm welcome to our county. We are determined all our visitors go away with good memories of Hertfordshire to encourage them and their friends to return many times over the coming years.” Reinforcing Mr Kett-Reynolds’s message at the Countdown evening at the Sopwell House Hotel in St Albans were guest speakers including St Albans MP Anne Main, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Officer Tim Hutchings and Stephen Bromberg, Head of Communications at the Lee Valley Water Centre, our very own Olympic Venue in Hertfordshire”. The evening began with a drinks reception and
included presentations on the opportunities 2012 will bring to the region and was followed by a barbecue in the Sopwell House gardens, accompanied in the Olympic spirit by some medal-winning wines. Sopwell House Hotel was a founder member of the HHA and Phil Cox. General Manager of Sopwell House said, “Hertfordshire is a very attractive county for visitors for both business and pleasure and we have an important role to play as hoteliers to ensure that they enjoy their stay here and return to become regular guests.
CHRIS HALL, BEALES HOTELS; RICHARD MOPPETT, THISTLE NOKE HOTEL; CHRISTINE SMITH, KNEBWORTH HOUSE; IAN PLATT, THISTLE NOKE HOTEL
“The Hotel Association assists its members in various ways, including the sharing of information and best practice which helps to raise the overall standard within the hospitality sector of this important tourism industry. “Sopwell House was a founder member of the organisation and is very pleased to be hosting this event in the run up to the Olympics which of course will bring many more opportunities for business to the County”. The evening concluded with a prize draw of a holiday to Marrakech, given by Hertfordshire Company Marrakech Riads – the proceeds of the draw have been donated to the Hertfordshire Talented Athletes Programme, which strives to help aspiring young athletes realise their full potential, whether they are able bodied or competing with a disability. The HHA would like to thank their supply partners supporting us, the generosity of the following companies is gratefully appreciated: Matthew Clark, Brakes, 3663 and WaverleyTBS. Sopwell House wishes to acknowledge the generous support of its many direct suppliers.
JILL COGGINS AND CHRIS WALES
ANNE MAIN MP; JON KETT-REYNOLDS, HERTFORDSHIRE HOTELIERS ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN
AUGUST2011 45