GROUP TRAVEL

Group Travel Guide

Oxford's Group Travel Guide provides information for groups planning to visit this historic city, the guide is available to download from our brochure page.

Pre Booked Private Walking Tours (formally known as Group Walking Tours)

Oxford Tourist Information Centre can organise private walking tours of Oxford on a wide choice of subjects relevant to the city. For more information including prices, language options, suggested tour subjects, contact the Tours Assistant
Tel: +44 (0)1865 252037
Email: wtours@oxford.gov.uk

Coach Parking

Details can be found in our Group Travel Guide from our brochure page.

Bulk Brochure Requests

Enquires regarding bulk brochure requests should be emailed to brochurerequests@oxford.gov.uk
A price list, and order form can be dowloaded here.

 

LOCAL BUSINESS

Oxford Marketing Group (OMG)

The Oxford Marketing Group is a group of local tourism-related businesses who meet regularly to discuss tourism development in Oxford.

Membership of the Oxford marketing group costs £50.00 & VAT for an individual or £100.00 & Vat for a group membership. If you are interested in joining the group please read the attached Oxford Marketing Group Terms of Reference, and return the Partner Agreement Form

OXFORD TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE - Supporting you

The centre sells areas of its wall display space  and offers a range of support to local tourist businesses, including free leaflet display to relevant businesses. To find out more contact tic@oxford.gov.uk. 

We are always interested in locally produced quality gifts and sourvenirs and hand made locally sourced goods. If you would like us to consider selling your items please send your proposal to eshop@oxford.gov.uk.

PRINT ADVERTISING - Promote your business in a Visit Oxford Publication

Visit Oxford offers a host of marketing activities for tourism businesses through a range of visitor publications and tear-off map pads. Some of these publications can be viewed on the brochures page. For more information please view our 2008 rate card.
2009's rate card is currently in production and will be available soon.  Please register your interest now by emailing tourism@oxford.gov.uk

Main Guide - Welcome to Oxford
Bookings to advertise in the ‘Welcome to Oxford 2008' publication closed on 23rd October 2007.
2009's publication will be taking bookings around June 2008. Please register your interest by requesting a rate card for 2009, currently in production. Email tourism@oxford.gov.uk

Group Travel Guide
An annually produced guide aimed at groups. Please register your interest by requesting a rate card for 2009, currently in production. Email tourism@oxford.gov.uk  

Free tear-off map pads
Advertising spots are available on the reverse of these maps, and prices vary depending on the size of advertisement and print run quantity.  If you wish to be advised before the production of the next edition please register your interest by emailing tourism@oxford.gov.uk

WEBSITE ADVERTISING - Promote your business on www.visitoxford.org / web links

Attracting over 70,000 unique visitors a month to our website.  (Current figures viewable on our facts & figures page)

For accommodation providers please read with the additional information below in 'Website advertising'  under 'Accommodation Providers'

www.visitoxford.org is powered by a data management system (DMS), provided by New Vision. If you are interested in a web presence on our site we have packages to suit all.

Advertising Attractions & Activities in 2008 ( Jan - Dec)
Free listing: Contact details (excluding a web link) with small image in browse
Enhanced web listing: £50.00 + vat. Offering all of the above plus a higher page ranking, a web link, additional photos displayed,  inclusion of description and all information provided on your completed questionnaire. Opportunity to take advantage of additional advertising offers.

Advertising Restaurant, Eatery & Shops 1/6/08 - 31/5/09
Free listing: Contact details (excluding a web link)
Enhanced web listing: £50.00 + vat.  Offering all of the above plus a higher page ranking, a click through to web link, additional photos, inclusion of description and all information provided on your completed questionnaire. Opportunity to take advantage of additional advertising offers.

Our booking form can be downloaded here, please contact our data steward for more information:  Email: dms@oxford.gov.uk
The relevant questionnaire for your business can be downloaded here:
Serviced Accommodation Questionnaire
Self Catering Accommodation Questionnaire
Hostel Accommodation Questionnaire
Camping Questionnaire
Restaurant / eatery Questionnaire
Attractions Questionnaire
Events Form

Additional Advertising Offers: 
Contact tourism@oxford.gov.uk for more information on any of these, prices and availability.

Banner Adverts 
Web banner advertising space now expanded through the whole site.  Available to all enhanced DMS and accommodation advertisers.  Reservations for monthly spaces now being taken until Dec 08.  Help with artwork and special offers available. 

Direct web link address:
Don't have your own website? Why not link directly into your enhanced DMS entry with your own web address to publicize.

Ticket Sales Agent:
Interested in selling your tickets through our website?  We are pleased to discuss this facility with you.

Promote your business with Special Offers:
Coming Soon - an offers page on our website to attract visitors.  Combined with our eNewsletters to our visitor database.

Coming End 2008 / Early 2009:
We have plans to introduce itineraries to our website, with advertisers offering visitors incentives to be included.

FREE - Promote your events on this website

Details of tourism events you are organising and press releases can be e-mailed to tourismevents@oxford.gov.uk for consideration of inclusion on our website.

Please note a data management system questionnaire may be requested on the first occasion you supply an event to us. The completed questionnaires will provide us with your contact and venue details. Questionnaires are downloadable above.

Why not take out a banner advertising spot to promote your event?

Events of local interest can also be submitted to the council's main website www.oxford.gov.uk/events

Participate in the Oxford Visitors Card

World City Solutions offers businesses who want to reach Visitors the opportunity to market their products and services for free.

Smoking Ban Guide

This guide tells you everything you need to know for your tourism business in regard to the smoke free law that came into force on 1st July 2007

Marketing Opportunities through Tourism South East

Marketing Opportunities Overview
A Fine tradition Marketing Opportunity leaflet
Just the two of us Marketing Opportunity leaflet
For current information contact Tourism South East, Training Services, 40 Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire. SO50 5JH
Tel: +44 (0)23 8062 5445

Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)

The GTBS is an accreditation scheme for tourism businesses relating to environmental good practice. It has been recognised as providing practical environmental measures to enable businesses to reduce their environmental impact, improve the management of any resources they use, such as energy and water, and increase their marketing potential for a marketplace with an ever-growing environmental conscience.

 

ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS

In addition to the promotional opportunities and information given above, the following is aimed more specifically at accommodation providers.

Accommodation Providers Meeting

We are hosting a meeting for existing and potential accommodation advertisers on Wednesday 23rd July 2008, at lunch time in the Town Hall, St Aldates, Oxford.  If you would like to attend please email tourism@oxford.gov.uk by 18th July to reserve a place and obtain more information.  (Individual invitations were sent on 12th July by email.)

Quarterly Newsletter

The Tourist Information Centre are now producing a quarterly newsletter that will be emailed to our 2008 participating accommodation providers.  These can also be viewed on line here.
Issue One.
Issue Two.

Accommodation Occupancy 2008/9

Oxford City Council collates occupancy stats from Oxford City accommodation providers through our data management system (DMS).  
Aggregated results can be viewed on our facts and figures page. 
Note that the 2007/8 figures were manually collated from the information provided direct from participating properties.  

Terms and Conditions for 2008

Accommodation Providers Terms and Conditions

WEBSITE ADVERTISING - Accommodation providers 2008 web advertising levels

This information should be read in conjunction with the 'Website advertising' section above under 'Local business'

Please note Oxford City Council / Visit Oxford only work with quality assured accommodation.  You must be classified and graded under the VisitBritain or AA Schemes. We require proof of registration and grading with all entries.

See how your entry could appear. Additional information can be found in the 2008 rate card.

Accommodation providers application form* to advertise on this website in 2008, or to upgrade their advertising level on this site.

*Discounts now available.

With 2008 website advertising comes the opportunity to display your availability and the facility for us to act as your booking agent. (See Terms and Conditions)

2009's rate card is currently in production and will be available soon. Please register your interest now by emailing tourism@oxford.gov.uk

Questionnaires for DMS (Data Management System) with New Vision.

To be completed and returned with all new accommodation provider advertiser's applications.
Serviced Accommodation Questionnaire
Self Catering Accommodation Questionnaire
Hostel Accommodation Questionnaire

FREE PRIZE DRAW - to highlight your property on our 'Where to Stay' web page. (Property of the Month)

Each month all accommodation providers advertising on this website, who are actively updating and displaying their availability for reservations or bookings, will be entered into a free prize draw.  The monthly winner will be featured on the 'where to stay' page with a click through link to their DMS entry.  The winner will benefit from a prominent position on this landing page, with an excellent spot light on their business.

Updating your availability is the key to generating more bookings.  If you don't participate your properties details will not be returned in search results on-line at www.visitoxford.org, Oxford Tourist Information Centre or any of the network of Tourist Information centres across the country.  Also for updating Oxford City centre properties we facilitate bookings from www.visitbritain.com and www.enjoyengland.com, as we are the city's data stewards.

This replaces the Property of the Month free prize draw for supplying your occupancy stats.

Guest link training opportunity - updating your availability on-line

Christine Justice, Accommodation Officer, Oxford Tourist Information Centre, offers one-2-one training on updating your property's availability and using tariffs within the guestlink system. Contact Christine at the centre to arrange +44 (0)1865 252200. Alternatively help is on hand with guestlink's helpline on 0845 166 2217 or Email helpdesk@guestlink.co.uk.

New Accommodation Standards

Quality in Tourism is the new national quality assurance inspection agency for accommodation. There are 9 main types of accommodation under the sectors of Hotels, Budget Hotels, Guest Accommodation, Campus, Hostels, Self Catering, Boats, Holiday Parks, Holiday Villages. Sub-divisions of these sectors are called designators - such as Country House Hotel in the Hotels sector or Bed and Breakfast within the Guest Accommodation sector. Each type has a grading of 1-5 stars, except for Budget hotels, Camping Barns, Bunkhouse and Approved Caravan homes.

A list of the sectors and designators are available to download in the Quality Rose Toolkit

Oxford City Council will only work with quality assured accommodation.
Quality in Tourism
Tel: +44 (0)845 300 6996
Email: qualityintourism@gslglobal.com

The AA
Tel: +44 (0)1256 844455
Email: customer.services@theaa.com

Training Opportunities

For future training opportunities contact Tourism South East, Training Services, 40 Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire. SO50 5JH
Tel: +44 (0)23 8062 5445
Fax: +44 (0)23 8062 0010
Email: mgrant@tourismse.com

2009 Enjoy England Accommodation Guides

Download dates for the 2009 Enjoy England Accommodation guides.
The initial downloads on the 3rd December 2007 (Hotels and Guest Accommodation) and 10th December 2007(Self-Catering and Camping & Caravanning) are for the first solicitations offering enhanced entries in the guides and giving accommodation providers the opportunity to amend their details if necessary.

The second set of dates on 9th May 2008 (Hotels and Guest Accommodation) and 16th May 2008 (Self-Catering and Camping & Caravanning) are for the free listings data and downloads all data to be published in the guides, the data published in the free listings section includes Establishment Name, Establishment Address, Telephone Number, E-mail and Website (where applicable)

Downloads are taken from accommodation providers data stewards records. To find your data stewards contact details check the official website for English tourism: Enjoy England. The data steward for the city of Oxford is Sarah Greening.
Email: dms@oxford.gov.uk

Reception Packs 2008

Visit Oxford have now updated our reception pack for 2008. Whilst this is always on going, you can now download the most recent version FREE of charge.  These packs are still available to purchase, for displaying in your reception, for both staff and guests to use. The cost is £10.00 per pack, payable in advance.  If you are interested in buying the complete pack, which comes with index cards and in a ring binder email tourism@oxford.gov.uk

 

OXFORD TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

Located in the heart of the City Centre, the Oxford Tourist Information Centre offers a comprehensive range of services including local and national accommodation reservations, Official Guided Walking Tours, Information on local, regional and national attractions, entertainment, events and transport.
The Centre receives over 450,000 visitors annually and is designated as a Historic City destination Centre.
In 2007 the centre was successful in its bid bid to be recognised as a Visit Britain Official Partnership Tourist Information Centre which is a nationwide partnership aimed at promoting excellence and world class customer service. The Centre is currently working towards an accreditation under the The Green Tourism Business Scheme relating to environmental good practice.
Please call in when you are next passing -the centre staff would be delighted to see you.

 

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING

Olympics Tourism Strategy for 2012

Latest News

For the latest news, view the recent Trade Tourism eNewsletters
May 2008
June 2008

 

CONTACT

For trade enquiries, please contact us by e-mail tourism@oxford.gov.uk
For visitor enquiries, please contact the Oxford Tourist Information Centre tic@oxford.gov.uk +44(0)1865 252200