Businesses in the new Suffolk and Norfolk Local Visitor Economy Partnership have been applauded by the Chair of Visit England for being full of 'passion and enthusiasm'.

VisitEngland Advisory Board Chair Lady Victoria Borwick visited Suffolk and Norfolk, hosted by Visit East of England, which operates the recently-accredited LVEP.

A busy four-day schedule took Lady Borwick and VisitEngland's Rachel Gillis, Regional Development Lead for the East Midlands and East of England, from the Suffolk coast to North West Norfolk via Norwich and the Broads National Park (pictured).

'As the latest accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership in the VisitEngland family, I was very pleased to visit Suffolk and Norfolk and to see first-hand the vibrant visitor offer delivered with such passion and enthusiasm,' said Lady Borwick.

She added, 'The industry's commitment across the region to staff training and development really shone through. It was also great to see how businesses are diversifying, developing and investing in their products, with particular emphasis on growing a year-round offer to attract both domestic and international visitors.'

Visit East of England chair Andy Wood said, 'We were delighted to host Lady Borwick in Suffolk and Norfolk, as it was a great opportunity for us to showcase the breadth and diversity of our superb tourism offer and also to discuss the future potential of our new two-county LVEP.

'Now we have the VisitEngland accreditation and the support of Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils we must work together across local authorities, businesses and destination organisations to ensure we reap its benefits over the next few years.'

VEE Executive Director Pete Waters, who escorted Lady Borwick on the visit, said, 'We barely scratched the surface of our overall visitor economy, there were so many fabulous destinations we just couldn't pack into the time available, but there's no doubt Lady Borwick left not just with a sense of how strong our sector is, but also that it is keen to work with the new LVEP and VisitEngland and VisitBritain to grow visitors and visitor spend.'

Monday, October 16

Senior Ranger James Page gave Lady Borwick a tour of Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park outside Ipswich, including feeding polar bears at the Lost Lands of the Tundra and meeting brown bear Diego.

The next stop was National Trust Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge where Allison Girling explained the story of the Anglo Saxon treasures uncovered by amateur archaeologist Basil Brown in 1939, with views of the burial site from the observation tower.

Rachel Aldridge talked about Screen Suffolk's work, including The Dig, starring Ralph Fiennes, which was based on Brown's and then-owner Edith Pretty's story.

While in the area Lady Borwick also visited Snape Maltings, Thorpeness and Blackshore Harbour.

Lady Borwick enjoyed supper with Hotel Folk Chief Executive Officer David Scott and Training Development Manager Sophie Jeffrey at The Brudenell, Aldeburgh where they discussed the company's progressive approach to staff development.

Tuesday, October 17

An early morning tour of Adnams' Brewery and Distillery in a sunny Southwold was hosted by Adnams' Director of Hospitality and Retail Nick Attfield.

Lady Borwick was then shown around the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts by Head of Media, Marketing and Communications Caroline Mayers, discovering the permanent collection as well as exciting new exhibition Why Do We Take Drugs. Caroline was supported by Head of Learning Kate Dunton and Head of Visitor Operations Steve Allman.

At Norwich Castle, Lady Borwick was given a behind-the-scenes, hard hat, high viz peek at the £18m Royal Palace Reborn reimagining of the Castle Keep by Project Manager Hannah Jackson and Assistant Head of Norfolk Museums Service Robin Hanley.

Lady Borwick was able to see the completed new entrance, glass atrium, restaurant and education room as well as construction work on the Keep project.

Following this Lady Borwick visited Norwich Cathedral where she toured the nave and cloisters and new Hostry visitor interpretation with Dean Andrew Braddock and Chapter Steward Freddie Van Till before enjoying a Bread Source afternoon tea in The Refectory.

The Cathedral has been pioneering in its visitor initiatives such as Dippy The Dinosaur and resident helter skelter.

Wednesday, October 18

Lady Borwick left The Maid's Head Norwich the next morning after viewing the hotel's magnificent Bentley.

Her next stop was at Ranworth Staithe in the Broads National Park for a boat trip on the Liana with Broads Authority Chief Executive John Packman and Visit the Broads chair Mary Sparrow of Hippersons to discuss sustainable tourism.

Martin and Adam Goymour hosted Lady Borwick at ROARR! at Lenwade, which has seen significant family investment over the past few years and taken it to become the UK's largest dinosaur-themed attraction.

Holkham Hall & Estate Managing Director Peter Mitchell hosted Lady Borwick in the afternoon and evening, with Head of Marketing Lucy Downing outlining the property's sustainability ambitions.

Belle Hutton gave a tour of the hall with guide Lucy, Sarah Hiner explained their Travel Trade approach and Darren Williams showed Lady Borwick around Pinewoods Holiday Park with a visit to Wells-next-the-Sea beach and its 200 beach huts.

Staying at The Victoria on the Holkham estate, Lady Borwick was joined in the evening by Peter Mitchell as well as Norfolk County Council Economic Development portfolio holder councillor Fabian Eagle and NCC Director of Growth and Investment Chris Starkie to discuss the region's visitor economy and work of the new LVEP.

Thursday, September 19

Lady Borwick's visit to Suffolk and Norfolk ended with a trip to Sandringham Hall and Estate in North West Norfolk where she was hosted by Visitor Enterprises Manager Garry Marsden and Operations Manager Sally Porter and discovered how the customer welcome had been transformed, how Travel Trade is being developed and saw changes to the gardens initiated by King Charles III.

Suffolk and Norfolk LVEP – your questions answered