Tourism Business Chat

In part 2 of our Tourism Business Survey specials, Jamie Steel delivers the survey marketing results, examining how businesses have adapted in the face of AI and rising costs, and payroll expert Dannielle Chapman analyses the staffing and employment results, looking at what changes businesses are making, and how they have responded to increases in NI and other policy and regulation changes.

You can find more recordings from this seminar at larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights, including insights from the author of Stand Out Hospitality, Cassie Davison, and the full panel discussion with Cassie, The Hotel Folk and Pensthorpe nature reserve.

Download your full copy of the results brochure here.

You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, Youtube, or wherever else you get your podcasts

GET IN TOUCH!

We would love to hear your thoughts on today's episode, email us at [email protected].

We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!

Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights

Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk

This content is designed for the information of viewers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, information provided may not be comprehensive and should not be acted upon without seeking professional advice.

© Larking Gowen LLP

In the first of three special episodes recorded live at the Tourism Business Survey seminar in May 2026, this episode explores the challenges and opportunities the UK tourism and hospitality sector faces as the Larking Gowen team reflect on 20 years of the survey and this years results. Plus we hear from industry expert, and the author of Stand Out Hospitality Cassie Davidson, on what businesses should be doing to thrive in the face of constant change.

You can find more recordings from this seminar at larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights, including insights on the employment, staffing and marketing results, and full panel discussion with Cassie, The Hotel Folk and Pensthorpe nature reserve.

Download your full copy of the results brochure here.

Buy Cassie's book – Stand Out Hospitality – here

You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, Youtube, or wherever else you get your podcasts

GET IN TOUCH!

We would love to hear your thoughts on today's episode, email us at [email protected].

We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!

Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights

Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk

The views and opinions expressed in this recording are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Larking Gowen LLP.

© Larking Gowen LLP

Recorded live on 12 June 2025 as part of the Tourism Business Survey results seminar, Chris Scargill hosted a panel conversation with Steve Magnall, MD of Two Magpies Bakery, Adam Goymour MD of Goymour Group, and Philip Turner, MD of Chestnut Group. The conversation explored the challenges and strategies faced by businesses in the tourism sector, particularly in relation to employment costs, consumer behavior, and economic pressures.

The panel give personal insight into the importance of training and maintaining customer confidence while navigating pricing strategies. They also highlighting the need for resilience and innovation and the importance of collaboration and community engagement.

This was a fascinating chat amongst three titans of the East Anglian tourism scene - not to be missed!

Watch the full video of the Tourism Business Survey results seminar here.

Find the full 2025 survey results brochure here!

GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today's episode, email us at [email protected].

We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!

Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights

Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk

Listen to Philip Turners keynote presentation here.

Find out more about Two Magpies Bakery

Find out more about ROARR!

Find out more about Chestnut Group

© Larking Gowen LLP

The views and opinions expressed in this recording are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Larking Gowen.

"If you can't BE the destination, be the destination WITHIN the destination" so says Philip Turner, founder and owner of Chestnut Group, and keynote speaker the 2025 Larking Gowen Tourism Business Survey results seminar, held on 12 June in Norwich.

If you missed being there on the day, let this special episode of Tourism Business Chat take you into the room where it happened, and hear Philip cover everything from his backstory, to his approach to growth and investment, staying as an East Anglian business, the importance of the relationship with your bank, the power hospitality holds in communities, his run in with Jeremery Clarkson, and more in between.

Find out more about Chestnut Group

Watch the full video of the Tourism Business Survey results seminar here.

Find the full 2025 survey results brochure here!

GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today's episode, email us at [email protected].

We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!

Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights

Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk

During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. One of them is a familiar face on TV and in bookshops, and owner of Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park, Jimmy Doherty.

Jimmy chatted to Chris Scargill about the changes he has seen over the years in customer behavior and trends, the importance of investment and funding for tourism based businesses, what tourism really means to him, and of course, how you go about embarking on a rescue mission that means building Europe's largest polar bear reserve, on a UK farm!

You can view the full survey results brochure here, and listen to Jimmys Park Director, Stevie Sheppard, on another episode of Tourism Business Chat here

Find out more about the survey, including other conversations on the day, and other Tourism based content from Larking Gowen by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/Tourism-Insights

Find out more about Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park and their Lost Lands of the Tundra project here

During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector.

Chris Scargill chaired a panel discussion on the day, and the audience heard commentary on the results of the survey and insight on other key issues impacting the sector. The panel included Park Director at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park, Stevie Shepperd, Director of Visit North Norfolk and Manager at Woodland Holiday Park, Andrew Hird, and the owner of Hidden Talents Iain Wilson, which operates an array of local businesses including The Assembly House in Norwich, Byfords Hotel in Holt, and cake company Sponge.

They discussed issues around staffing, government and council red tape, investment, the change in consumer habits and much more.

You can view the full survey results brochure here,

Find out more about the survey, including other conversations on the day, and other Tourism based content from Larking Gowen by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/Tourism-Insights

During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector.

In this episode, Tourism & Leisure Partner Chris Scargill discusses the results of the survey in detail, with further insight from specialists Emma Hayward and Sarah Pickett.

View the full survey results brochure here.

The power of generative AI, and what we can learn from sustainable New Zealand tourism

During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders working in tourism and hospitality.

Richard Turvel from SwissCamplings, a leading laundry supplier to the sector, reflects on what he calls 'steady boring growth' and how he believes in the power of his people, even though a huge part of his business is based in machines, and where he sees technology and AI taking us.

Tori Burns is a business advisor who also owns a holiday park in New Zealand, she discusses the sustainability pledge that thousands of New Zealand businesses have signed up to help educate tourists, and focus businesses on the value in community, employment and responsible supply chains.

Jules Rickman from Flair Content is an expert on all things AI, she provides a whistle stop tour on how generative AI can be your 'multi-talented assistant', help with your marketing and provide you with cost efficient assets. She also highlights the benefits it brings in analyzing your own data, how your customers may be using it to research and book their holidays and days out, and why keeping your website up to date and impactful will be key going forwards.

View the full survey results brochure here.

You can view Tori's presentation video Tiaki & the Guardians – Air New Zealand, here

View Jules presentation video Virgin Voyages: Jen AI – here

How does a headteacher at the top of her career come to live and work on the Broads? We find out, as Mary takes us on a journey that 'cruises' through a career working with troubled teens, into a battle with cancer, and out into the warmth and wonder of Beccles, a hugely popular part of the Norfolk Broads.

After being told that the stress of her job was the likely cause of her cancer returning, Mary and her husband took this as a sign to pack up their London life and pursue their dream, starting a business in boat repairing. Mary was adamant, though, that she didn't want to work in tourism!

Some number crunching later, and they realised that tourism was where their creativity and success lied, and the floating pods, day cruisers and water sports soon followed.

Mary is outspoken about the challenges tourism faces when it comes to customer behaviour and trends, banning alcohol on board. She discusses how they have embraced social media, and the problem with green washing.

The Sparrows see themselves as 'custodians of the river' and, with rewilding and other projects, aim to leave the river better than they found it.

This is not to be missed for anyone thinking of investing in tourism, or who ever doubted why they got into it in the first place. Mary's story, with her passion, is a shining example of what can be achieved in the sector, particularly with sustainability in mind, and why so many visitors continue to flock to the Broads.

Visit Hippersons Boatyard here Visit the Broads

GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today's episode, email us at [email protected].

We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!

You can also now watch on YouTube too, just click here

Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights

Check out our website to see how our team or tourism experts could help you and your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk

© Larking Gowen LLP

With Claudia Roberts, CEO of the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA)

Whatever your moral feelings towards zoos, there’s no denying that conservation is vitally important in a world with ever-decreasing natural habitats, and Banham Zoo is a leading example of this. Claudia Roberts is CEO of the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) which operates Banham Zoo and Africa Alive. The charity was formed in 2013 to secure the long-term future of the zoos and in the interest of improving animal welfare, or as Claudia puts it ‘profit for purpose’ 
Claudia’s step into both the zoo and charity world was a big one, having previously been commercial director of a national garden centre chain, leading the retail buying and marketing.

She was brought in to help get things back on track after the catastrophic impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns, giving an us insight into her time in front of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee for support. 

Claudia doesn’t shy away from the criticism and controversy that surrounded her appointment, and how she handled media scrutiny. She maintains that a strong, resilient business model is needed to back up charitable objectives, and believes that you need to take the stakeholder along with you when making changes.  

Learn more about the ZSEA here

Book your tickets for Banham Zoo here, and Africa Alive here 

GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at [email protected]. 

We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us!

You can also now watch on YouTube too, just click here  
Find more episodes from the series by visiting larking-gowen.co.uk/tourism-insights 

 www.larking-gowen.co.uk
© Larking Gowen LLP