Tourism Business Chat Larking Gowen

The power of generative AI, what we can learn from sustainable New Zealand tourism and the drama of family business coup’s  
During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on all things tourism and hospitality.
Richard Turvel from SwissCamplings, a leading laundry supplier to the sector, reflects on what he calls ‘steady boring growth’ and how he believes in the power of his people, even though a huge part of his business is based in machines. He’s also open about the decision to displace his brother at the top of the family business to secure its future, and where he sees technology and AI taking us.
Tori Burns is a business advisor who also owns a holiday park in New Zealand, she discusses the sustainability pledge that thousands of New Zealand businesses have signed up to help educate tourists, and focus businesses on the value in community, employment and responsible supply chains.
Jules Rickman from Flair Content is an expert on all things AI, she provides a whistle stop tour on how generative AI can be your ‘multi-talented assistant’, help with your marketing and provide you with cost efficient assets. She also highlights the benefits it brings in analyzing your own data, how your customers may be using it to research and book their holidays and days out,  and why keeping your website up to date and impactful will be key going forwards.
View the full survey results brochure here.
You can view Tori’s presentation video Tiaki & the Guardians – Air New Zealand, here
View Jules presentation video Virgin Voyages: Jen AI – here

How does a headteacher at the top of her career come to live and work on the Broads? We find out, as Mary takes us on a journey that ‘cruises’ through a career working with troubled teens, into a battle with cancer, and out into the warmth and wonder of Beccles, a hugely popular part of the Norfolk Broads. 
After being told that the stress of her job was the likely cause of her cancer returning, Mary and her husband took this as a sign to pack up their London life and pursue their dream, starting a business in boat repairing. Mary was adamant, though, that she didn’t want to work in tourism!
Some number crunching later, and they realised that tourism was where their creativity and success lied, and the floating pods, day cruisers and water sports soon followed. 
Mary is outspoken about the challenges tourism faces when it comes to customer behaviour and trends, banning alcohol on board. She discusses how they have embraced social media, and the problem with green washing. 
The Sparrows see themselves as ‘custodians of the river’ and, with rewilding and other projects, aim to leave the river better than they found it. 
This is not to be missed for anyone thinking of investing in tourism, or who ever doubted why they got into it in the first place. Mary’s story, with her passion, is a shining example of what can be achieved in the sector, particularly with sustainability in mind, and why so many visitors continue to flock to the Broads.
Visit Hippersons Boatyard here
Visit the Broads 
GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. 
We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!
You can also now watch on YouTube too, just click here  
Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights 
Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk
© Larking Gowen LLP 

The Tourism Business Survey was relaunched for 2023, after a ‘COVID-19 break’ and the results were announced at a seminar on 25 April to an audience of sector leaders. We recorded the panel discussions hihglights for listeners to enjoy who were unable to attend on the day. 
You can hear reflections on the results of the survey from the team of experts at Larking Gowen, and commentary from Andy Wood, CEO of Adnams, Claudia Roberts, CEO of Zoological Society of East Anglia which operates Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, and Mary Sparrow, owner of Hippersons Boatyard in Norfolk. Valerie Watson-Brown from the Visitor Economy Network Initiative provided detail on the work of this innovative project driving careers in the sector, and you can also hear questions from the audience there on the day.
This is the perfect accompaniment to the full survey brochure which you can download here. The brochure has the full results of the survey, and insightful commentary articles from leading businesses including Holkham Hall, ROARR! and many more. Many thanks to sponsors Adnams, Lloyds Bank, Swiss Camplings and insight6
For more details on the survey, including past results and why you should consider taking part next year, visit www.tourismsurveys.co.uk 
GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. 
We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!
Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk
The Tourism and Leisure Business Survey is produced by Larking Gowen Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers. Please contact enquiry@larking-gowen.co.uk if you have any questions or would like to speak to one of our tourism specialists.  

© Larking Gowen LLP 

Chris whisked away some leaders in the tourism sector after the Tourism Business Survey seminar on 25 April 2023, and hosted a very special chat. His guests were Oliver Paul, co-owner of Suffolk Food Hall, Tarnia Robertson, a Hospitality Consultant and Business Coach (and former MD of Ufford Park) and Elliott Attew, Manager of Deer’s Glade Caravan and Camping Park. 
In this bitesize episode, they reflect on the results of the Tourism Business Survey and how the data has reflected concerns and stories around trends and sustainability. They discuss how to make sustainability part of your brand; the change in what customers want, including the rise of veganism; how they look for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) structure; and the ‘ramifications of green washing’.  
They also drive home the message that tourism business owners should remember that they are comrades of other businesses around them, and their community should be part of their decision-making process. They advocate that team members need to be empowered to be the masters of first impressions.
Highlights from the full event will be available soon, follow us so you dont miss out!
You can download your copy of the full tourism survey results brochure here
For more information on the survey and why you should take part next year, visit www.tourismsurveys.co.uk  
Visit Suffolk Food Hall here
Visit Deer's Glade Caravan and Camping here
Contact Tarnia on LinkedIn here
(c) Larking Gowen 

What does your mind conjure up when we say Great Yarmouth? Whether we’ve been there or not, we likely all have something come to mind. That’s the power of marketing and positive experiences. Asa Morrison is Chief Executive of Visit Great Yarmouth, a Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO) and tourism business improvement district, of which there are only three in the UK. 
Asa is passionate about where he lives and works, and his role is to increase support and visitors to Great Yarmouth, in a sustainable and responsible way. He chats to Chris about the issues with the public transport infrastructure, why visitors are good for ALL businesses in the area, and the issues business owners are facing with wages, costs and promotion. 
He discusses how Visit Great Yarmouth works with Visit East of England, and potential future central funding and the proposed Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP). 
Asa’s career in the tourism sector is a great example of how there’s room for growth, diversity and progression in the sector, and how tourism is not ‘just a stepping stone’ to a career elsewhere. They also discuss the power of ‘the influencer’ and why businesses should be embracing technological updates arising from lockdown. 
You can find out more by visiting Visit Great Yarmouth online here. 
GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. 
We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! You can also now watch on YouTube too Click here
Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights 
Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk 
© Larking Gowen LLP 

This week, Chris speaks to two of East Anglia’s big hitters, Park Director of ROARR!, Adam Goymour, and the park’s Managing Director, Martin Goymour.
ROARR! is the UK’s biggest dinosaur themed adventure park, beloved by thousands of families, both locally and across the country.
This successful father and son team has taken the park to dizzying heights in recent years. They reflect on what prompted their decision to start up what is now one of the UK’s biggest Halloween scare attractions, PrimEVIL! They even discuss their legal battle surrounding a certain famous dinosaur called Dippy!
They see themselves as ‘memory makers’ and chat to Chris about how people, namely, their team members, and the families they serve, are at the heart of every decision they make.
Adam is open and honest about challenges they’ve faced, how new ideas get off the ground, how they managed during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and what they’ve done to make their attractions accessible during the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting so many visitors.
Martin reminisces about his time running Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, and why the decision was made to form a charitable trust, the Zoological Society of East Anglia, and ‘hand over’ his life’s passion in the interest of conservation and animal welfare.
This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look into what it really takes to run one of the region’s biggest tourist attractions. 

Visit ROARR! here 
GET IN TOUCH!  We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. 
We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!
Check out our website to see how our team of tourism experts could help you and your business 
www.larking-gowen.co.uk
© Larking Gowen LLP