Message from Jamie Christon, CEO of Chester Zoo, Chair of Destination Chester and Chester BID Board Member

Message from Jamie Christon, CEO of Chester Zoo, Chair of Destination Chester and Chester BID Board Member

As we prepare for the wider re-opening of businesses from April 12th onwards, we wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the work we are undertaking as part of a new network ‘Destination Chester’.

Destination Chester was set up in 2020 as the umbrella organisation representing the visitor economy of Chester. It was formalised in February 2021 and it works on behalf of the below stakeholders to provide a single, independent, joined-up voice for the destination;

Chester BID – Marketing Cheshire – Taste Cheshire – Chester Hospitality Association – Chester Attractions Partnership– Chester Cathedral – Chester Zoo – Cheshire Oaks – Chester Racecourse – Storyhouse – Chester Grosvenor – We Love Good Times Ltd – Canal & River Trust – Chester FC Community Trust– Grosvenor Estate – The University of Chester – Chester Visual Arts – Good For Nothing Chester and supported by Cheshire West & Chester Council.

We know that people are planning and booking staycations for Spring and Summer, others are making plans to visit more shops, al fresco restaurants and pub beer gardens from the 12th April. Across the Destination Chester partners, promotional activity is already underway to reach these markets.

As the Destination Chester network we would like to do more than this this year, and are working with Cheshire West and Chester to develop a summer programme which will amplify existing activity.

Our aims are to;

  • Support the businesses and sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, from retail and hospitality, to attractions and events, to creative freelancers.
  • Maximise and market the destination’s USP’s, through celebrating all the offers across Chester
  • Develop a summer and autumn events and activities programme, with safe places for friends and family to meet again that showcase the imagination of local creatives.
  • Step up our communication and marketing locally, regionally and nationally.

This programme of activity will be focused on Chester City Centre and will be taking place throughout the summer, from June – September. There will be lots of opportunities for individual businesses to engage and we hope it will support your ability to generate new customers as well as retain existing ones this year. Building on from this year, Destination Chester will also be working on a plan and strategy for future development to ensure that Chester is a must-visit destination.

We will be in touch in due course but wanted to take this opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to Chester as a place, it’s businesses, residents and visitors. If you would like more information about the Destination Chester network, please get in touch with Nicola Said, Marketing Cheshire n.said@marketingcheshire.co.uk 

Published 22nd March 2021