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MIDLANDS GROUP WINS ISLE OF WIGHT HOLIDAY

A group of friends from the Midlands have just enjoyed a free, pre-summer break on the Isle of Wight simply by requesting an official Isle of Wight accommodation guide.

Neil Pinfield from Droitwich in Worcestershire, was contacted by the Isle of Wight Council’s Tourism team to say that he had won the prize break after being chosen at random from thousands of others who had ordered a holiday guide from an advertisement placed in the Mail on Sunday.

The Isle of Wight accommodation guide, produced by The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry (IWCCTI), is one of the Island’s most requested tourism publications. This year’s £260,000+ tourism campaign entitled ‘Just Add Water’, financed by the Isle of Wight Council and industry partners promotes the accommodation guide, which is available from Tourist Information Centres throughout the country and via www.islandbreaks.co.uk. The campaign also supports advertising in national newspapers as well as adverts on the London tube network and on buses in the Midlands.  

After winning the prize, Mr Pinfield, his partner and their two friends travelled to the Island in March, courtesy of Red Funnel Ferries, and accommodation was provided by Coast & Country, staying at one of their luxury self-catering properties in Yarmouth. 

A brilliant weekend of sunshine meant the group were able to get out and about and do some serious walking and bird-watching. 

Mr Pinfield said: “This was our first visit to the Isle of Wight and as keen walkers, we have been really impressed with the brilliant network of footpaths, especially the Tennyson Trail that took in Freshwater Bay to the Needles.  We also walked to Newtown Nature Reserve from Shalfleet, where we were delighted to spot Redshanks, Sandpipers, Curlew and flocks of Brent Geese.

“We had excellent meals at The Garlic Farm at Newchurch and the New Inn at Shalfleet and are very grateful for the hospitality we have been shown, especially at the Bugle Inn at Yarmouth, where we spent some of our evenings.  We had a great time on the Isle and would recommend a visit to anyone, especially if they like the outdoor life.”  

Cllr George Brown, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for the economy, tourism, leisure and planning, said: “It is important that the Council reaches those people who are in the market for an Isle of Wight holiday and competitions like this are a useful marketing tool for driving brochure response and gathering valuable tourism data.

“It was good that the winners made the most of their short stay taking in so much of what the Island has to offer. We hope they will become regular visitors and spread the word to friends and family that we are well worth a visit.” 

The 2010 Just Add Water marketing campaign will have a greater emphasis on online marketing using for the first time popular social networking sites.  This includes Facebook and YouTube, where more user-generated content can be added such as videos and photos, as well as visitors’ and residents’ comments. Online search engines Google and Yahoo are also being used to promote the Island with the use of online adverts.