Visit York Tourism Conference 2025
Wednesday 29th January 2025
Creative Centre, York St John University
Sponsored by LNER
The Visit York Tourism Conference returns to York St John University on 29 January 2025, and free tickets will go live on Friday 6 December for Visit York members. Join us to explore the city's tourism priorities and opportunities and an overview of Make It York's plans for 2025, plus tourism insights and market trends from VisitBritain.
Not a Visit York member? Find out more here.
Speakers
- Sarah Loftus, Managing Director, Make It York
- Katerina Rysova, Senior Insights Manager & Interim Head of Research and Forecasting, VisitBritain
- Stuart Paver, Chair, Make It York and Chair, Pavers
- Alex Warner, Chief Executive, Great Scenic Journeys
Schedule
After the Tourism Conference, attendees are invited to join us for a networking lunch sponsored by York St John. In the afternoon, there will be a choice of two optional workshops: we will be running a Membership MOT workshop to help you get the most out of your Visit York membership, and the Green Business Forum will be hosting a Sustainable Tourism session focusing on ways businesses in the tourism industry can implement sustainable practices.
Morning
08:45: Registration and Refreshments
09:30-12:45: Conference
12:45-14:00: Networking Lunch
Afternoon (optional sessions)
14:00-15:00: Membership MOT: Get The Most Out Of Your Visit York Membership
or
14:00-16:30: Green Business Forum: Sustainable Tourism
Please note: When booking your conference ticket, you will see two add-ons for the networking lunch and for the Membership MOT workshop. Please select these add-ons if you wish to book for the lunch and/or the workshop. To register your interest for the Sustainable Tourism session, please contact carbon.reduction@york.gov.uk
Green Business Forum: Sustainable Tourism
The Green Business Forum will be hosting a Sustainable Tourism session focusing on ways businesses in the tourism industry can implement sustainable practices to positively impact their revenue and reputation and help York become net zero by 2030. Participating businesses will access free expert advice, hear from local business case studies and network with like-minded local organisations.
To register your interest for the Sustainable Tourism session, please contact carbon.reduction@york.gov.uk
BetterPoints: Travel Sustainably to the Conference
City of York Council have partnered with BetterPoints to use their app to run a free rewards challenge for anyone who lives, works or studies in York.
Throughout the challenge there are thousands of pounds’ worth of rewards and prizes up for grabs by choosing to catch the bus, cycle or walk in York.
Rewards can be traded for a variety of vouchers from national brands or local businesses.
If you sign up to the BetterPoints York challenge and travel sustainably to the Visit York Tourism Conference you with earn a reward bonus and be entered into a prize draw for a £10 York Gift Card.
What you need to do:
- Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play or scan the QR code below if you're not reading on your phone.
- Register an account and then take the Baseline Survey to unlock rewards for walking, cycling or catching the bus.
If you run a local business and would like to sign up to offer vouchers in the app, get in touch at: james.baker@betterpoints.uk
For more information, visit: york.betterpoints.app
Host
Dr Brendan Paddison
As an urban geographer, Brendan's research interests include tourism and destination management, spatial justice, policy, and collaborative forms of destination governance and development. Brendan teaches across a range of Business and Management subject areas, including tourism, responsible business and politics and completed his PhD titled Governance and Community Advocacy in Tourism Development: An International Comparison.
Brendan leads the Visitor Economy and Experience research group at York St John, is co-chair of the Tourism Education Futures Initiative (TEFI) and Chair of the York Tourism Advisory Board. He is Subject Editor: Tourism for the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education and a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism and the e-Review of Tourism Research journal.
Exhibitor
Yorwaste
Yorwaste will be on hand to explain the new Simpler Recycling legislation, effective 1 April 2025. Simpler Recycling is a new government reform to the recycling system to make recycling straightforward and consistent. If you are a business with 10+ employees, you will be required to put out dry recyclables and food waste for separate collection from 1 April 2025. It will also apply to micro businesses (less than 10 employees) from 1 April 2027.
You don’t have to navigate these new regulations alone, Yorwaste is here to help. Talk to us about your waste management. We will listen and support you in reaching your goal simply, effectively and cost-efficiently.
Revisit the Insights: Watch the Visit York Tourism Conference 2024 Online
Missed the Visit York Tourism Conference 2024 or wish to revisit the insightful discussions? Watch the recording of the event below to catch up on all the highlights and takeaways from the event dedicated to shaping the future of tourism in York.