Destination UK - Welcoming the World in 2012: Around the Rings Newsmaker Tea

ATLANTA – August 26, 2009 – London is one of the most sophisticated and developed tourism destinations in the world. But is it ready for the Olympics?

Not just London, but all of Great Britain will be in the spotlight once the 2010 Winter Olympic Games cauldron is extinguished next February.

Travel and tourism to Great Britain is the topic of the next Newsmaker event, set for Sept. 9 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. The event is jointly sponsored by VisitBritain and UK Sport. It precedes the U. S. Olympic Team Media Summit.

“We will explore what's being done to prepare hotels and other visitor services, such as airports and transport. How can Olympic visitors get the most value for their money? What is Britain doing to improve accessibility for the disabled? What about pre-Games training camps? We'll cover these questions and more,” says ATR founder and editor Ed Hula.

Panelists include Simon Bradley, regional director for the Americas for VisitBritain, Mark Lewis, president of Jet Set Sports, Laurie Borman, former editorial director of Rand McNally, and representatives from the hotel and airline industries.

“The 2012 Games present an unrivalled opportunity for the UK tourism industry to welcome millions of new visitors to our shores in the lead up to, during, and after the Games. VisitBritain’s vision is that the whole of the UK visitor economy should benefit from the 2012 Games, and will work in partnership with a wide range of tourism and non-tourism partners to showcase brand Britain to the world.” said Sandie Dawe, chief executive, VisitBritain.

Of course, there’s nothing like first-hand experience. Members of the audience will have the chance to win two pairs of tickets to the London Eye and four Great British Heritage Passes. A drawing for the tickets will be held at the close of the event.

An authentic afternoon tea – just like those favored by Bertha Palmer – kicks off the event from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ATR editor Ed Hula will introduce the topic and panel at 4:30 p.m. Following a Q&A with his guests, the floor is turned over to questions from the audience for the remainder of the event.

Newsmaker Breakfasts began as casual meetings led by Hula during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. They continued in Sydney, Salt Lake City and Beijing. Previous Newsmaker guests have included IOC President Jacques Rogge, then president of the European Olympic Committees; NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol; Gianna Angelopoulos, chair of Athens 2004, and Prince Albert of Monaco.

Space is limited. RSVP via email to: breakfast@aroundtherings.com, or call Sheila S. Hula or Janice McDonald at +1 404 874 1603, ext. 102.

To schedule an interview with Ed Hula, contact Sheila Hula at Sheila@aroundtherings.com.

For a two-week trial of Around the Rings, email twoweektrial@aroundtherings.com.

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About Around the Rings

For nearly 20 years, AroundTheRings.com has been the only publication devoted to providing original, on-the-scene reporting about the $5 billion dollar business of the Olympic Movement. Based in Atlanta, Ga., with a worldwide team of correspondents, Around the Rings provides thorough international sport business news coverage with daily email blasts, a weekly newsletter and special edition magazines.