Destination Bristol

Placement organization

Name of organization: Destination Bristol
Town/city: Bristol
Country: Groot-Brittannië
Website: http://www.visitbristol.co.uk

Student

Name of student: Elena Twehues

Specialist area: ITMC
Placement period: 2017-2018

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Destination Management Organisation
Organization’s activities: Promote Bristol to tourists, journalists, influencers, businesses etc
Build network with attractions, restaurants and businesses
Social media appearance for the city
Target group of the organization: Everyone interested in Bristol/ England
Company culture: There is the CEO (John Hirst), the Head of Tourism (Kathryn Davis) and the Marketing Manager (Jon Chamberlain) who are in a higher position than the others. Apart from that there are different departments within the company but no hierachy, communication is informal and very friendly.
Number of employees: 20
Dress code: casual
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? Yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working?

(digital) Marketing

Brief description of your daily activities: Update the website (add and edit events, change descriptions, add special offers and blogs), prepare newletters, answer marketing related emails and contact members, analyse google analytics of newsletter and website clicks
Brief description of your company assignment: Create itineraries with 5 different topics for groups visiting Bristol
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: Kathryn, my supervisor, was always really busy and rarely in the office, so when I had questions or doubts I mostly asked Jon, the marketing manager or one of my colleagues, which helped as well. I havent seen my supervisor all too often, mostly briefly once a month.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? sociable, independent
Additional company requirements for this placement? Word, Excel, DMS will be taught
English: Advanced
Spanish:
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages:

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: Plane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? www.spareroom.co.uk
How did you go to work every day? by foot

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? No
Do you need a work permit? No
How did you arrange the necessary documents:
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents?
Did you need certain vaccinations? No
How long in advance?

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? I dont think that’s necessary

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 120€ return
Accommodation (monthly): € 460€
Local transport (monthly): € –
General costs of living (monthly): € 380€
Costs of visa: € –
Costs of work permit: € –
What did the company pay for/to you? –

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
I read some articles online about Bristol, apart from that I did not prepare since the english culture is quite well known
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? No

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: elena.twehues@web.de

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: Search for accomodation in Southville and Bedminster (or Clifton if you can afford it) since its in walkable distance to the centre and Queen Square where the office is located.
Start conversations yourself and suggest things you would like to do instead of waiting for them, be proactive.
Start a hobby right from the beginning.
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Climbing and mountainbiking is big in Bristol, try it while you’re here :). Apart from that there are several theatres, gyms, pubs, parks and shopping centres around. Through your placement you are always up to date what’s going on in Bristol so you know where to go.If you’re lucky you can get complimentary tickets to shows, free menu tasting invitations, etc from the company which is amazing

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link