Summer Poppies, Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex

A new Chairman for the Sussex Tourism Partnership

New Chairman for Sussex Tourism Partnership

New Chair for Sussex Tourism Partnership

Thursday 5^th November...At its Annual General Meeting held at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea, the Sussex Tourism Partnership¹ today announced that Sally Ann Lycett will succeed Brighton hotelier Nick Head as Chair of the non-profit making membership organisation that promotes tourism to West and East Sussex.

As Head of Communications for De La Warr Pavilion, Sally Ann Lycett was first invited to join the Sussex Tourism Partnership two years ago and, until recently, chaired its marketing group. In her new position as Chair of STP (effective 12 noon, 5^th November), she will steer a three year plan that will initially focus on promoting the region’s acknowledged strengths, not least the environment in the area proposed as the South Downs National Park.

Speaking to an audience of STP members from both the commercial sector and local authorities in Sussex, Sally Ann Lycett said: “In the coming year we will aim to communicate distinctive messages about Sussex to draw in more tourists from the UK and further afield. In a competitive environment where every region of the UK is fighting hard for an increased share in the tourism pot, that distinctiveness should be about what Sussex can offer that no other region can.”

“This means our delicious local food and wine, our speciality restaurants, our unique attractions and our top quality hotels. And surely it means our fantastic environment – the South Downs, our beautiful coastline, the woodland and gardens – many of these free to visitors. You can’t put a price on the view from Burling Gap looking back to the Seven Sisters on a sunny day – that is real value.”

With a particular interest in the arts, fuelled by her ongoing work for De La Warr Pavilion, Sally Ann Lycett sees culture in all its guises as a driving force within the tourism sector. “Culture is important to people - it makes them feel good about themselves - and Sussex is fortunate to have very many exceptional organisations that can draw in tourists to a contemporary cultural trail that is unparalleled anywhere else in the UK outside London.”

Sally has worked as a communications professional for over 25 years, working mainly in arts and culture. For five years she ran Sally Ann Lycett Associates, a London-based PR and Marketing consultancy. Sally grew up in East Sussex and returned home 14 years ago. In 2001 she was invited to join the team at the De La Warr Pavilion as Head of Communications, to see it through a £9million restoration and refurbishment programme and to re-open it as a major centre for contemporary arts in the south east. By 2007, the Pavilion had an economic impact on the south east of £16m, including press coverage valued at £3m and a footfall of over half a million visitors per year.

The Sussex Tourism Partnership is an independent authoritative body that brings together and represents all tourism interests in Sussex. It is the area tourism partnership that represents East and West Sussex for Tourism South East.

The aim of the Sussex Tourism Partnership is to achieve a sustainable visitor economy whose benefits spread throughout Sussex to businesses, communities, local people and the environment. The partnership’s objective is to strengthen consumers’ preference for Sussex as a recommended leisure destination and to improve the visitor experience.

The Board of the Sussex Tourism Partnership comprises:

Sally Ann Lycett De La Warr Pavilion

(Chair)

Annie Wills Eastbourne Borough Council

(Vice Chair)

Nigel Smith Tourism South East

Richard Cole Chichester District Council

Emma Oldham Rother District Council

Janice Fraser Worthing District Council

Michael Clinch Steyne Hotels Ltd, Worthing

Reina Alston Mid Sussex Hoteliers Association

Mike Caven Bunn Leisure