On this page you can watch all of the past webinars with our fantastic panel of industry experts. Minutes from the webinars, along with other resources can be downloaded from each recording.
If you’d like to get involved in our next webinar, then please email us on getinvolved@experiencewestsussex.com.
Previous webinars:
Grants, funding and business support webinar
Building Resilience Webinar Series
Survive, Revive and Thrive webinar series
All on Board industry support webinars: Watersports and conservation
Head to Head series
Introducing our Sussex Tourism Chat ‘Head to Head’ series on innovative and creative ways to strengthen your business. These short informal video conversations invite local tourism businesses and organisations to share their knowledge and experience.
Grab a coffee and drop in for a short chat between Kelly from Sussex Film Office talking to Sam Smithson, our lead on business liaison and support at Experience West Sussex. Discussing Sussex film locations, how to become involved and earn revenue, and what beach location hosted a Brad Pitt film shoot?
West Sussex Tourism Symposium
Tuesday 29th March, South Downs National Park Centre, Midhurst
Thank you for joining us for a unique opportunity to develop your tourism business. Experience West Sussex Partnership and South Downs National Park hosted a Symposium for all West Sussex Tourism and hospitality businesses at the South Downs National Park Centre in Midhurst on 29 March. Those in attendance heard from industry experts Expedia Group and Visit Britain/Visit England about the latest tourism trends and were able to take advantage of free marketing plus get hands-on, practical advice from a range of West Sussex business support providers. There were practical workshops on marketing, sustainability, planning applications and funding and a networking lunch.
Following English Tourism Week, we’re keeping the momentum flowing. West Sussex is an outstanding tourism destination with plenty of scope for growth and development. We have something to appeal to all visitors, from culture vultures to adrenaline junkies. From coast to countryside, gardens to gourmet, watersports to walking, cycling, arts and history, we have so much to offer and less than two hours from London by low carbon transport. By working in partnership and collaboration we can help attract more visitors, encourage longer stays and increase revenues.
The symposium was hosted by destination marketing organisations as well as a range of West Sussex business support teams including Coast 2 Capital, The Business Hothouse, Sussex Chamber of Commerce, LoCASE and more.
Slides, minutes and opportunities can be found below.
Digital Transformation for Tourism and Hospitality
Greening your Tourism Business
Planning Applications for Tourism Development
EWS: Grants, funding and business support webinar
January 2022
Organised by Experience West Sussex Partnership – on behalf of all the district and borough councils in West Sussex. This webinar highlights how best to access financial support for hospitality, leisure, accommodation businesses and related supply chain.
Join fellow West Sussex visitor economy businesses in this event as they cover:
– Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
– Additional Restrictions Grant
– Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund
Slides and minutes for the webinar can be found below.
Business Grants – Support & Relief
Building Resilience webinar series
In order to aid the tourism sector to continue to survive and flourish, this partnership of Sussex organisations has created a series of webinars focussed on identifying the challenges and delivering practical solutions and advice for those in the industry looking to rebuild.
This series is created to help you gain insight into the climate of the industry and provide you with practical tools to help your business.
Session 3: Building Resilience – Sustainability in Tourism – A Greener Restart
The partnership of Sussex organisations brings you our third session in the building resilience series: Sustainability in Tourism – A Greener Restart, where we came together for an inspirational session on how to action sustainability strategies into your business. This webinar was held fresh in the wake of Cop26 in Glasgow – which left us with a clear message that we all have to act now. So with an increasing concern in UK consumers around climate change, the demand for businesses to commit to green practises is rapidly growing. We delve into the focal points facing the tourism industry, including carbon reduction, nature-based tourism and conservation, as well as how we can develop a circular tourism economy.
You’ll be hearing from our panel of trailblazing experts who are leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, business and tourism.
Panellists and Contributors
Industry Contributors:
Natasha Padbury
Nigel Greenwood
Simon Green
Kat Beer
Panel of Experts:
Richard Hammond
Jenny Andersson
Jon Young
Session 2: Building Resilience – Innovating Through Adversity
A partnership of Sussex-wide organisations has created a series of webinars focussed on identifying the challenges and delivering practical solutions and advice for those in the industry looking to rebuild. The second of these webinars, Building Resilience – Innovating Through Adversity will focus on the new challenges brought by the second lockdown and how to remain innovative when confronted with hardship.
Panellists and Contributors
Industry Contributors:
Natasha Richards
Senior Advocacy & Industry Relations Manager, IMEX Group
Andrew Comben
Chief Executive, Brighton Dome
Laura Hogbin
Commercial Director, Hilton Brighton Metropole
Steph Fuller
Director & CEO, Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft
Sarah Emburey
Marketing Director, Cowdray Estate
Panel of Experts:
Emma Wilkinson
Head of England Marketing, Visit England
Deb Brookes
Freelance Travel & Tourism Consultant, DB Consulting Solutions
Anthony Rawlins
Author, Digital Visitor
Ana Golawski
Owner, Stratus Coaching
Session 1: Building Resilience – Seasonal Solutions for Tourism Businesses
The first of these webinars will focus on the key to seasonal survival after an unprecedented Summer. We’ll be looking at the challenges we’ve faced in the tourism sector over the last few months. We will analyse the adaptations and fundamental changes to our business models, and examine what innovations can be helpful as a means for survival. We will help you plan on how best to market your business over the winter months, and help you discover new audiences through partnerships and collaboration.
Industry Contributors:
Ami Bouhassane
Director, Farleys House & Gallery
Alex Hole
Managing Director, Perch Restaurant
Mardi Roberts
Director of Communications, Ridgeview
Stuart Beare
Partner, Tulleys Farm
Panel of Experts:
Samantha Richardson
Director, National Coastal Tourism Academy
Kelly Mikulla
Managing Director, Sussex Film Office
Gareth Sear
Programme Manager, The Business Hothouse
Nicole Humphreys
Solicitor, Acumen Business Law
Survive, Revive and Thrive webinar series
Experience West Sussex, Sussex Chamber of Commerce, South Downs National Park Authority and Coast to Capital Growth Hub present:
A series of dynamic webinars for the Sussex Tourism Sector.
Over three webinars, the organisations will bring together industry leaders and business experts to help the Sussex tourism industry Survive, Revive and Thrive. The contents of these webinars will flex and grow as the situation changes.
- Session 1: Survive
- Session 2: Revive
- Session 3: Revive part II
The full webinar sessions and minutes can be viewed and downloaded below.
Produced by PLATF9RM
Session 1: Survive
With tourism at its heart, Sussex has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. The aviation and tourism industries were the first to be impacted by the virus, and with a potential phased exit planned, it looks like they’ll be one of the last to restart.
Our ambition is to create a space for the industry to collaborate, innovate, repurpose and discuss what the future landscape of tourism might look like.
Panellists & Contributors for ‘Survive’
Survive, Revive and Thrive webinar series
Experience West Sussex, Sussex Chamber of Commerce, South Downs National Park Authority and Coast to Capital Growth Hub present:
A series of dynamic webinars for the Sussex Tourism Sector.
Over three webinars, the organisations will bring together industry leaders and business experts to help the Sussex tourism industry Survive, Revive and Thrive. The contents of these webinars will flex and grow as the situation changes.
- Session 1: Survive
- Session 2: Revive
- Session 3: Revive part II
The full webinar sessions and minutes can be viewed and downloaded below.
Produced by PLATF9RM
Session 1: Survive
With tourism at its heart, Sussex has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. The aviation and tourism industries were the first to be impacted by the virus, and with a potential phased exit planned, it looks like they’ll be one of the last to restart.
Our ambition is to create a space for the industry to collaborate, innovate, repurpose and discuss what the future landscape of tourism might look like.
Panellists & Contributors for ‘Survive’
Industry Contributors:
Simon Basset
Owner, 2xs
Sophie Tanner
Director of Sales & Marketing, Historic Sussex Hotels
Rosemary French
Owner of Hus B&B
Stephen Manion
Manager, Arundel Castle
Paul Bromley
Communications Director, Bluebell Railway PLC
Panel of Experts:
Phil Green
Director, MD Hub
Dan Soanes
Director & Solicitor, Sherrards Employment Law
Debbie Venn
Partner, DMH Stallard
Debbie Hindle
CEO, Four Communications
Session 2: Revive
Our ambition is to create a space for the industry to collaborate, innovate, repurpose and discuss what the future landscape of tourism might look like. The second session ‘Revive’ was hosted on Wednesday 13 May with a panel of industry contributors and experts.
Panellists & Contributors for ‘Revive’
Industry Contributors:
Samantha Richardson
Academy Director, National Coastal Tourism Academy
Steph Fuller
Director & CEO, Ditchling Museum
Richard Betts
Adventure Director, Pied a Terre Adventures
Stewart Drew
Director & CEO, De La Warr Pavilion
Mark Driver
Owner, Rathfinny
Andy Sparsis
Owner, The Proto Restaurant Group
Jeremy Pardey
Resort Director, Butlins
Jo Williams
Partnership Manager, Experience West Sussex
Panel of Experts:
Phil Green
Director, MD Hub
Dan Soanes
Director & Solicitor, Sherrards Employment Law
Debbie Venn
Partner, DMH Stallard
Helen Coop
Session 3: Revive part II
Focusing on three key subjects: Consumer Confidence, Diversification and Innovation in avenues for revenue and Tech in Tourism. Our ambition is to create a space for the industry to collaborate, innovate, repurpose and discuss what the future landscape of tourism might look like.
All on Board industry support webinars: Watersports and conservation
16 October 2020
Nikki Hills, Project Manager at Sussex Wildlife Trust and Alice Tebbs, Agents of Change Project Coordinator at Marine Conservation Society, join the All on Board Network chat to present the Wild Coast Sussex Project and help create more engagement for watersports and marine conservation.
Coastal West Sussex Experience Development Workshop
24 February 2021
The All on Board project and Experience West Sussex teamed up with Unmissable England to deliver this interactive Experience Development Workshop, facilitating innovation and collaboration between businesses to generate brand new visitor Experiences across the region. Tourism Business Advisor, Chris Brant from Unmissable England, led this online workshop on experiential tourism.
Attendees got the chance to explore the essential ingredients needed to develop an unmissable experience and looked at opportunities for new experiences in Sussex. The workshop was illustrated with various success stories from across the country and also looked at how to reach new markets and improve growth.