Member Article

MPs give boost to tourism across Warwickshire ahead of the summer

Two local MPs visited venues in Warwickshire hoping to see a surge in summer trade thanks to two very different reasons.

Jeremy Wright – MP for Kenilworth and Southam – visited The Holiday Inn in Kenilworth; while Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington Spa, tried his hand at bowling in Leamington ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The visits, arranged by Shakespeare’s England, which markets and promotes tourism across South Warwickshire and the surrounding areas, highlighted the venues and attractions as part of English Tourism Week.

The VisitEngland led initiative is an annual celebration of the tourism industry, highlighting its economic importance to local economies and promoting the innovation, quality and range of products and services on offer to encourage more domestic breaks.

English Tourism Week, with ‘You’re Welcome’ as its strapline this year, is also sending a message that England’s tourism industry is ready to welcome visitors and provide a stand-out experience.

The Holiday Inn was supporting the Government’s fight against Covid until October last year and has now reopened, while Leamington is preparing to host the bowling events of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Helen Peters, CEO of Shakespeare’s England, said: “These two venues are expecting very busy summers for very different reasons but both are key to the leisure and tourism offer in the area so we are hoping that they are very busy throughout.

“The tourism and leisure industry is vital to this region, so it is great to have support from our local MPs who fully understand the importance of a successful recovery after more than two years of strife across the sector.”

Matt Western, tried his hand at bowling under the watchful eye of Alistair Hollis, Bowls England’s head of sport development and B2022.

He said: “International focus is going to be on Birmingham 2022 and the bowling will not only highlight the very strong attractions of Leamington but will also support our hotels, guest houses and restaurants.

“Having had a go myself, I will be glad to merely be a spectator later this summer!”

Jeremy Wright said: “The Holiday Inn is a landmark property in the town and after serving a different purpose during much of the Covid crisis it is great to see it welcoming guests once again.”

Daniel Graham, general manager of The Holiday Inn, Kenilworth, said: “The pandemic has had a massive implication on our business, like many others. We have had the opportunity to support the Government initiative to provide accommodation for families in need over the pandemic and have now since reopened to a much more vibrant market.

“We look forward in 2022 to work to improving both our product and our place in the local market, and with some really exciting projects coming up in the near future, Holiday Inn Kenilworth will have a game changing year! In the words of Sigmund Freud: ‘Out of our vulnerabilities, will come our strength’.”

Also on the same day, Nadhim Zahawi, Secretary of State for Education and MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, and Nick de Bois, chairman of the VisitEngland Advisory Board, paid a visit to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall in Stratford town centre, which will reopen on Friday, April 1.

Last year was its 600th anniversary but all celebrations had to be shelved and its doors remained closed during much of the Covid crisis.

The government minister also visited another iconic heritage site in the town, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, where Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be. Together with Shakespeare’s New Place – the site of the playwright’s former home – the historic thatched cottage, orchard and sculpture garden reopens on Saturday March 26 for the 2022 season.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .