VisitBritain and made Tourism Marketing hosted a “Feel Good Inc.” event for its Canadian travel partners on 06OCT, inviting them to a private box at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena for an electric concert by record-breaking British rock band, Gorillaz.
The idea was to bring travel partners together to connect and enjoy an exciting show by an iconic British band, Vince Mutty, Co-Founder & CEO of made Tourism Marketing told Open Jaw just before the band took the stage.
“We just wanted to bring everyone together,” he says. “We invited several suppliers from across England to join us and we’re here to talk about selling the U.K.”
Gorillaz are a British virtual cartoon band born out of the imagination of musician Damon Albarn and the talents of illustrator Jamie Hewlett. From Feel Good Inc. and Clint Eastwood to Rhinestone Eyes and DARE, the band played some of their best tunes with their trademark animated videos playing on a large screen behind them.
Open Jaw caught up with four British destination representatives and suppliers at the show to find out: What is the coolest thing about the destination or attraction you represent?
Fran Downton, Chief Executive, Tourism South East
“We’ve just been across the world with the Queen’s passing, and we’re about all things royal. We have Windsor Castle, where the Queen has been finally laid to rest and next year will be the coronation of King Charles, so you have loads of connections throughout our region to the Royal Family.”
Heather Egerton, Head of Trade Sales, City Cruises
“We have boats in three locations across England but in York, in the north of England, we have self-drive motor boats, so people can take their own boats out.
Magdalena Ciocea, Travel Trade Sales Manager, Up @ The O2
“You can climb it. It’s a unique outdoor climbing experience over a top entertainment venue. It’s like a walkway, so you get harnessed in and you literally climb on top of it.”
Catherine Fannin Peel, International Education and Development Executive, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust | Royal Shakespeare Company
“We’re the non-profit that cares for the five Shakespeare family homes and gardens. They’re the actual places where Shakespeare walked and lived and worked so when you come, you’re literally walking in his footsteps and seeing what he saw and what inspired him to write the plays. You can’t replicate that anywhere else."
