South West Tourism has been working with Taste of the West to create a copyright free library of mouth-watering food and drink images for the tourism industry, so that businesses can make quick and low cost additions to their websites and other promotional materials.
Recent research, undertaken by South West Tourism, highlighted the strength of food and drink as a key motivator for people visiting the region. Therefore by adding food images onto websites and other marketing material, businesses can help potential visitors to gain a real feel for the wonderful food and drink experiences that we offer across the region, encouraging them to book and visit.
John Sheaves, Chief Executive of Taste of the West, said:
"We are delighted to support food and tourism promotion and have gathered mouth-watering food and drink images representing our great regional produce.
Tourism businesses that don't have their own stock collection of food and drink images would definitely benefit from this, as they could be used on all marketing materials to help promote our wonderful region."
Kirsty Cumming, Deputy Director of South West Tourism, said:
"This is an opportunity for the food and tourism industry's to support one another more closely to really push our fantastic regional produce and regional difference this year. It is important that visitors can see visual images so they can gain an experience, which could ultimately help to generate bookings as a result."
Taste of the West would like to offer this copyright free image CD FREE to all Taste of the West members or only £25 to non-members. These images are royalty free so they can be used on your website and marketing material.
To obtain your food CD or for more information please contact Hannah at Taste of the West:
Tel: 01392 440745
Email: hf@tasteofthewest.co.uk
Date added: Wednesday 14th October 2009
Latest updated: Wednesday 28th July 2010
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South West Tourism,
Sterling House,
Dix's Field,
Exeter EX1 1QA
Email: post@swtourism.org.uk
Comments
Kirsty Cumming, Deputy Director, South West Tourism
Thanks for your comments. I should clarify (and we'll change this feature accordingly), that the photography shows examples of local produce rather than prepared meals. Over recent years as we've looked to extend the length of the tourism season in the region, we've had to present new types of holiday experiences for potential visitors. One really effective way to do this, that a number of leading businesses have adopted, is to add information to websites or printed brochures, to show the types of holiday experiences that people can have and to bring to life the local area. For example whilst your accommodation maybe stunning and well represented on your website - you maybe able to secure a greater number of walkers if you talk a little about the wonderful walking in your area and show an image or two of the scenery or give sample walks. Equally, for foodies you could talk about the region's superb food and drink and the opportunities to explore local wineyards, dairies, go fishing etc. This may just capture the imagination of potential guests and give you an edge over your competition. I agree that it would be inappropriate for businesses to suggest that the images represented the type/standard of food served at the accommodation, unless it actually did. Managing visitor expectations is key to happy customers, repeat visits and word of mouth recommendations. Good photography can be expensive and so we hope that this offers businesses a low cost way to inspire more visitors and secure extra bookings. I hope that's helpful and thank you for highlighting your concerns.
Comment made: Monday 19th October 2009
Hilary and Steve Mabbutt, English Table Ltd
Whilst we are sure that this initiative has been made with the best intention - we have spent years building a photography portfolio showing our own food. We agree that supporting food suppliers and local photographers is a much more ACCURATE route for a win win situation. We have recently taken part in a publication where two or three food suppliers have shown the same fantastic food photograph - I hope they can replicate it in the kitchen and their customers are not over sold and under delivered!!
Comment made: Monday 19th October 2009
pat Booth, Mariners
Nice Idea but I agree with Ian .We show a breakfast photo that is just what the guest is provided with .Also a good point to remember that is if you fly the Taste of the West Flag this ought to be all the food served to be of good quality .What a dissapointment to be given Catering Jam with a cream tea in Sidmouth.
Comment made: Friday 16th October 2009
Terry Glazebrook, Cape Cornwall Golf & Leisure Resort
Terry Glazebrook Cape Cornwall Golf & Leisure Resort I totally agree with the comments of Ian Ripper providing photographs of food beyond the capabilities of the kitchen would at best setting false expectations & at worst no doubt some kind of trade description offence. Generic shots of say a Chef carving a side of beef would work but really if you are serving interesting & high quality food only a similary professional photograph will do justice to the Chefs work. By the way I am neither a Chef nor a food photographer!
Comment made: Friday 16th October 2009
Kim Spencer, Wringworthy Cottages
I take Ian's point but if you are self catering what you are trying to do is give an impression of your premises - rather like photos with candles or wine in! I think it is a fantastic initiative and think SWT should run a photo competition for Best Food photo and best tourism shot.
Comment made: Friday 16th October 2009
Nigel Carpenter, St Michael's Hotel & Spa
I couldn't agree more Ian. It potentially encourages to mis-represent their food offering.Far better for Taste of the West to have "match funded" a day's high quality photography of that establishment's food in situ.
Comment made: Friday 16th October 2009
Ron Bushell, Ron Bushell Photography
If you are proud of your establishment why would you want to show someone else's cooking? Remember the South West consists of more than just tourism services, would it not be better to support and employ the skills of local photographers, who wouldn't charge London prices, to show your own cuisine instead of misleading potential customers, who after visiting and finding that what's on offer isn't what's displayed. Surely this amounts to a breach of the trade description act?
Comment made: Friday 16th October 2009
Ian Ripper, Wheatland Farm
I think this is great providing that the accommodation people using the images actually provide the same food as that in the image. One of the key ingredients to a good website is to be genuine about your offer so it would be a great mistake to show images of great food that is not the same as that available in the accommodation.
Comment made: Thursday 15th October 2009
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