1284 Communications founder George Oliver joined an Insider Media round table to look at opportunities around Leicester’s tourism economy.

George was invited to join sector and business leaders to talk about how Leicester can harness its 2,000-year history, sporting triumphs, and innovation sectors to cement its place as a dynamic destination for investment and tourism.

The round table, chaired by Insider Media’s Midlands Deputy Editor Ian Griffin,was held at Freeths offices in Colton Square and brought together Leicester’s leading business figures including:

• Chas Bishop, CEO, National Space Centre
• Chris May, Partner, Freeths 
• Sarah Harrison, Leicester City Centre Director
• Rajee Pattni, Chair, Leicester Business Growth Engine
• Iain McKenzie, CEO, at Mattioli Woods
• Michael Harris-Wakelam, Chief Executive, Big Difference Company
• James Spence, Director, Withers Sports 
• Ross Tarbard, Communications and marketing officer, Invest Leicester 
• Sam Pancholi, Partner, Freeths
• Taylor Haywood, Head of Customer Operations, PPL PRS
• Phil Hackett, General Manager, Richard III Visitor Centre and Jewry Wall Museum 

The wide-ranging conversation covered Leicester’s unique selling points, its competitors, and its opportunities. Subjects included investment, impact of the BID, the growth of tourism in the city and county over the last decade, strategic vision, and the role of small businesses in the city centre.

George, Managing Director of 1284 Communications, said: “It was a really insightful conversation and it was encouraging to hear the positive numbers being reported by leads from Visit Leicester and the city’s big attractions.

“There are always going to naysayers - and the panel was not afraid in tackling specific challenges - but the overriding feel was that there is a lot of opportunity and still plenty more to come.”

Assets under discussion included the impact of developing heritage and food and drink trails, as a method of retaining visitors and increasing spend within the local economy. This is underpinned by structural assets including the Richard III Visitor Centre, National Space Centre, the newly-refurbished Jewry Wall Museum and the sports offer built around Leicester City, Tigers, Riders and Leicestershire County Cricket.

Attendees agreed that, while solid progress has been made in recent years, coordinated marketing efforts and strategic partnerships across sectors remained crucial to fully unlocking Leicester’s potential.

Part of that will come with a new 5-year tourism plan for the city centre, which is currently nearing completion, as a successful plan for 2020-25 nears completion.

Insider Media will have a full report from the meeting in coming weeks.