Masham woman launches network to help Yorkshire tourism businesses

Susan Briggs has created The Yorkshire Tourism Network (YTN) in response to complaints from business-owners – from bed-and-breakfasts to visitor attractions – that they can feel isolated when making important commercial decisions.

Ms Briggs, who lives in Masham and has worked in tourism marketing for over 30 years, has run networks in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors for the last 10 years on a voluntary basis.

She has created the YTN to arrange tourism marketing events, offer advice through an online hub, send out regular updates about industry issues as well as share marketing ideas and advice such as how to attract more online bookings.

She also hopes the YTN, which can be found at www.TourismNetwork.co.uk, will offer tourism businesses the chance to debate topics that affect the industry, such as climate change, and to act as a lobbying body to help them get the services they need.

Ms Briggs said: “The idea of the Yorkshire Tourism Network is to help businesses feel less isolated, create new collaborations and offer practical solutions to common issues. Having worked in the industry for so long I know what works and can help businesses avoid some of the pitfalls.

“The Network is free to join, so I hope tourism businesses across Yorkshire will sign up and benefit as soon as possible.”