The Isle of Wight Day at Westminster on Tuesday saw approximately 200 journalists, MPs and business investors in attendance throughout the day and has been hailed a great success.
Isle of Wight Day was the result of a collaboration between the MP’s office, Visit Isle of Wight (VIOW) and Solent (representing Taste of the Wight) who joined forces to put on an event that would surprise and delight politicians and journalists by showing them that there is more to the Isle of Wight than they might know.
It was the second such event for the Island which was held to give a selection of businesses a chance to market and promote themselves to a wide audience including MPs, key food buyers, mainland destination partners, business investors as well as food and travel journalists.
The Island’s MP, Andrew Turner, opened the event, after which guests heard from the Chairman of Visit England Lady Cobham, who talked about the importance of food and drink to the tourism offer, and toasted the occasion with a glass of “Turner Prize”. In his speech, Council Leader Ian Stephens confirmed the economic value and importance of tourism to the Island’s economy and workforce, while Chairman of Visit Isle of Wight Simon Dabell introduced the new Shades of Wight brochure produced by VIOW and the message behind it. David Brooks, Sales Director of Solent spoke of the Taste of the Wight brand and the local produce on offer on the day.
VIOW worked with Ventnor Botanic Gardens to create a pop-up garden room complete with palm trees, a lily pond and atmospheric sound effects. This provided the perfect environment for the 200+ visitors in attendance throughout the day to try local food and drink while wandering around and talking with food producers and Visit Isle of Wight staff about the Island’s appeal and holiday messages.
In an adjacent room and spilling into the “garden isle” display, Taste of the Wight showcased a range of products promoted by Solent under the Wight Marque branding – a recently launched sign of quality and provenance for the Isle of Wight.
A Taste of the Wight “Westminster” menu comprising Ventnor Haven crab meat quenelle, Tomato Stall oak roasted tomatoes on Melba toast, Briddlesford Lodge Farm veal sausage roll with Wight Squirrel ale and Isle of Wight vegetable chutney proved extremely popular. In addition, a Garden Isle bar was installed to serve drinks that resonate the Island’s character from Isle of Wight tomato cordial and the new Sunshine Mary cocktail to award-winning local ales that use locally grown hops.
Visit Isle of Wight created an exhibition stand featuring their new Shades of Wight branding, a campaign with a high-end brochure which seeks to challenge perceptions of holidaying on the Island by encouraging potential visitors to see it as a year-round escape with many “shades of Wight” to be explored. Bicycle Island’s most popular trail, Taste Round the Island Cycle Route, featured in a cargo bike display with two “Bullit” cargo bikes dressed with some of the Island’s very best food produce which visitors can sample whist riding the Taste Cycle Route.
David Thornton, CEO, Visit Isle of Wight said:
“Wightminster” was part of Visit Isle of Wight’s campaign to raise the profile of the Island at national level, both as a food-producing area and as an inspiring holiday destination.
“I feel that we’ve really encouraged people to “take a new look” at the Island and discover what’s fresh and exciting in our area. It was a great opportunity to present the Bicycle Island brand and our new Shades of Wight concept to journalists who may go on to write highly influential pieces in the national media.”
Councillor Ian Stephens, leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“It was a very successful and well attended day at Westminster and I met a large number of people who were very interested to learn more about the Isle of Wight.
“It was also covered by many national media outlets such as major newspapers and was a very good opportunity to showcase what the Isle of Wight has to offer.
“It is very important the council supports events such as the Westminster visit to demonstrate first hand what a top visitor destination the Isle of Wight is and to showcase the wide variety of produce, skills and industries that is prevalent on our Island. The effort of all involved in bringing forward such an event so evidently displayed our unique Island brand.”
