EDTN - Make Your Business Memorable: Marketing and Events for 2027

Explore new ideas for marketing your leisure, tourism, or hospitality business with confidence in the New Year. Join us on Tuesday 1 December at Rockbeare Manor for the East Devon Tourism Network’s final event of 2026, Make Your Business Memorable: Marketing and Events for 2027. Head into the new year with confidence as we share ideas for how you can get noticed, get talked about and get people coming back. Most businesses already have what they need to market themselves well: a place people want to visit, customers who tell their friends, and a real drive for what they do. Your events and everyday moments could be working harder for you, but what’s often missing is knowing how to use them. Good marketing comes down to being memorable, because memorable businesses get talked about and get visited again. This event looks at two ways of doing that: events that bring people through the door, and small, unexpected touches that turn an ordinary visit into one customers can’t wait to talk about. We’ll cover examples for different budgets and business sizes, so you can take away ideas that work best for you. Our speakers: Rosie Hawkins | EDTN team Rosie has over 20 years of event strategy, production and mentorship experience. Her approach has helped businesses turn event ideas into something that works at a scale that suits them. She’ll look at how a well-judged event or local partnership brings people through the door and can get them spending, sharing and rebooking, and what it takes to make one work without a big budget or a big team. Rosie cut her teeth in events and marketing across a variety of backgrounds and industries - from corporate and commercial, to not-for-profit and higher education. She has worked with tourism businesses for the past five years and is deeply passionate about the value, talent and opportunity they bring to East Devon. Rosie believes the best way to market your business is to show people your business, and that is exactly what she will teach in this quickfire session. Louise Gregson-Williams | EDTN team, LEAP Thirtytwo Louise believes marketing doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive or full of vanity metrics. Sometimes you’re playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order. With over a decade of experience, from the Met Office to working with 40+ small businesses, Louise shows that marketing is often simpler than you think. She works with businesses who have tried marketing before and found it didn’t live up to expectations, or who aren’t sure where to start, and helps them go from nowhere to noticed. At this event, Louise shares real examples of Marketing Delighters, the small, unexpected touches that give customers something to talk about. Robin Tjolle | Regional Development Lead for the South West, VisitEngland Robin has spent his career in tourism and destination management, including as Chief Executive of Shakespeare’s England and Cotswolds Tourism, and in roles with VisitEngland and VisitBritain. As VisitEngland’s Regional Development Lead for the South West, he builds partnerships across the region, including the new Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs), VisitEngland’s accredited network of destination partnerships. He’ll share VisitEngland’s marketing plans for 2027 and how East Devon businesses can make the most of the opportunities they bring.You’ll leave with ideas you can borrow, a clearer sense of which ones suit your business, and, we hope, a conversation or two started with neighbouring businesses about working on them together. Come along, bring a business friend who also needs to be there, and let’s make 2027 memorable! Event logistics and additional information Toilets Accessible toilet facilities and step-free access are available. If possible, please advise in advance of step-free access requirement and we will ensure it is in place. Directions + transport Car sharing is encouraged to minimise environmental impact and make the most of parking. Rockbeare Manor, Near Exeter, Devon EX5 2FE. Directions from the M5 and Honiton are available on the Rockbeare Manor website. The entrance is about half a mile beyond Rockbeare village, on the right. Parking Free parking is available on site. Accessibility Parking - there is plenty of car parking available in the car park at the rear of the House. For accessible parking, please park in front of the Manor. If possible, please advise in advance of step-free access requirement and we will ensure it is in place. Refreshments Tea, coffee, and refreshments will be provided. EDTN events are FREE to attend but advance booking is required for all events and spaces are limited. Please note that events are exclusive to tourism and hospitality businesses and those who directly serve them. About the East Devon Tourism Network (EDTN) The Network strives to empower the East Devon tourism and hospitality sector by enhancing its growth, elevating quality and accessibility, supporting our district's businesses, CICs, and not-for-profits to achieve net zero, and fostering a culture of collaboration.