Speaker: Kathryn Davies - Visit West

The visitor economy is crucial to Bristol, Bath and the wider West of England, generating over £2.46 billion and supporting around 45,800 jobs. Visit West plays a central role in coordinating, promoting and developing this economy.

Visit West operates as an officially accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), delivering the Visit Bristol and Visit Bath brands, business-led development programmes, travel trade activity, and the Meet Bristol and Bath Convention Bureau. It represents public and private sector partners across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, while supporting businesses through a membership programme.

Awarded LVEP status in March 2023, Visit West is part of a national network created by VisitEngland following the de Bois Review, aimed at strengthening collaboration and reducing fragmentation in destination management across England.

In addition, Visit West manages three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Bristol—Broadmead, Bristol City Centre, and Redcliffe & Temple—focused on improving safety, cleanliness and the overall visitor experience for levy-paying businesses.

Together with cities, towns, villages and regional businesses, Visit West helps position the area as a leading UK destination, supporting the sector through marketing, research, workforce development and recruitment resources.