Visit Chester & Cheshire launches campaign

Tourism bosses in Chester and Cheshire are linking up with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Trains to launch their latest national advertising campaign, showcasing a new summer of events.

The campaign has been created and produced by Visit Chester & Cheshire, the official tourism body for the North West destination.

Nicola Said, head of marketing at Visit Chester & Cheshire, was joined by Danny Gonzalez, Virgin Trains' marketing manager, at London's Euston station to launch the campaign, titled Eventful Escapes.

Said commented: "Virgin Trains are a valued supporter in our Eventful Escapes campaign, their outstanding value rail services enable visitors to travel to Chester and Cheshire from as little as £9 one-way.

"We can promise visitors a really special experience. Our events programme is diverse and through it we join with local tourism providers to give new and existing visitors a very warm welcome to Cheshire."

Gonzalez added: "We are very pleased to be supporting Visit Chester & Cheshire. We have seen impressive passenger numbers on our routes to Chester and Cheshire, and we're delighted to support such a dynamic and attractive destination.

"Our great value offers mean there's never been a better time to visit Chester and Cheshire by train. We are very excited about the Eventful Escapes campaign, especially as the UK is an increasingly popular holiday destination this year."

The campaign also builds on the North West Development Agency's national marketing activity to promote Manchester, Liverpool, Chester and the Lake District.

Nigel Dove, director of marketing at the NWDA, said: "Chester and Cheshire's cultural offer continues to go from strength to strength; from the Tatton Park Biennial to the activities surrounding Elizabeth Gaskell's bicentenary, there are so many events and festivals that make a visit to Chester and Cheshire unique.

"This campaign highlights some of those exiting events, as well as some of the other attractions that add up to make a great visitor experience. It will encourage many more people to come and enjoy what the region has to offer and will provide a boost for our growing visitor economy."

Tracy Lynn, director of Chester Festivals, an umbrella organisation representing events and festivals across Chester, said: "For the first time, all these major events have been brought together into one integrated campaign managed by Visit Chester & Cheshire.

"This has enabled each of the participating events to reach a national audience for the first time by taking this co-ordinated approach through VCC."

As part of the summer long campaign, print advertising will be placed into weekend magazines for the Daily Mail, Times, Sunday Times and both Telegraph weekend editions. Inserts will also go into titles like BBC Gardeners' World.

The campaign will also include radio advertising throughout the north and midlands regions on Classic FM. The radio campaign has been voiced by Liza Tarbuck.

• An Eventful Escapes guide has been produced for visitors, as well as a dedicated website