In September, Guernsey welcomed the Rotary International past District Governors who enjoyed a vin d’honneur in the Amherst Room at Castle Cornet.

Here’s what they had to say about MeetGuernsey

I cannot thank MeetGuernsey enough for all your work in arranging and carrying out the Vin d'Honneur the Castle Cornet on Saturday evening.  All of our colleagues enjoyed the visit and were extremely impressed by the organisation and hospitality.

All staff at the castle work so well together and made all of our Rotarians feel so welcome, this occasion will have made a great impression on those who are influential in decision making around the United Kingdom and Ireland over venues for future Conferences.

As per the image : The earlier visit to fire the noon day gun was also a success Peter L Offer (RIBI President 2006-2007) was invited to assist in firing the gun.

Testimonial from Mike Smith, Rotary District 1110

Background:

Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland consists of 29 districts and the President of RIBI who control the operation of Rotary in this world.  Each of the District Governors are the sole representatives of Rotary International for their District.  They also make up the General Council which is the body responsible for the decision making within RIBI. 

Our group consists of all the District Governors plus the RIBI President for the Year 2006-2007 and we hold an annual reunion which takes place in a different District each year.  This years meeting was the turn of District 1110, and the governors chose Guernsey as their preferred venue.

During their period in Guernsey formal dinners and separate meetings were held to discuss current topics of Rotary and international importance. 

During the visit they also took an island coach tour to discover local attractions and the renovated area at Delancey Park

VisitGuernsey is stepping up its targeting of group business this year as it builds on a successful 2010 in the group travel sector.

The island exhibited at Excursions 2011 in January, its first-ever participation in this event, in partnership with Condor Ferries and Premier Holidays.  This followed last year’s introduction of a dedicated groups e-brochure and a marked increase in interest from specialist operators at the Guernsey Trade Workshop event in May 2010.

“Groups business has been on the increase for us for 18 months or more,” said Jason Moriarty, VisitGuernsey’s Manager – Trade & Media Relations.

“Last year’s initiatives built the levels of interest and the time is right for us to devote more attention to this market and showcase the range of excursions, museums and activities we have to offer.”

With year-round direct flights from nine different UK airports, plus seasonal flights from two further airports and convenient ferry crossings from Poole, Weymouth and Portsmouth, Guernsey is easily accessible from mainland Britain.  The island also offers a range of accommodation to suit groups, from intimate boutique-style properties to larger four-star hotels with more extensive facilities.

The island boasts a wide variety of attractions and experiences, with plenty for all types of traveller.  Heritage is a big draw, with a range of excellent museums focusing on Guernsey’s maritime history, its Occupation by the German forces during World War 2, traditional Guernsey lifestyles and the story of the island’s most famous resident Victor Hugo.  Hugo’s home-in-exile, Hauteville House in St Peter Port, is one of Guernsey’s most compelling attractions, which also include the Sausmarez Manor house and the colourful Little Chapel, thought to be the smallest in the world.

Visitors can also relax at one of Guernsey’s 27 tranquil beaches and bays, enjoy colourful gardens and flower-filled rural lanes, or get active on the island’s 28 miles of spectacular clifftop paths and cycling routes  -  and even try their hands at coasteering and surfing.

Guernsey’s compact size (just 24 square miles) makes all of this easily accessible, and to add even greater variety day excursions to the traffic-free islands of Herm and Sark can be easily arranged.

To download the Guernsey group travel e-brochure organisers should visit Meet Guernsey or call 01481 234567.