VisitLondon seeks agency to encourage partnerships

VisitLondon, the capital’s official tourist body, is looking for a partnership agency to boost its commercial relationships with sponsors and other major companies.

The organisation has already forged relationships with brands such as HSBC and British Airways, which appear on the VisitLondon website and are listed as partners.

But the organisation says that as it expands it needs a specialist agency to foster links with business. A spokeswoman says that VisitLondon will deal directly with agencies, rather than making an appointment through COI Communications.

VisitLondon, formerly known as the London Tourist Board, has grown in recent years and now wants to hire a specialist agency to help with its partnerships.

The organisation has developed its online profile and launched London TV, its own TV channel, in March last year (MW March 11, 2004). It is keen to develop its commercial arm further.

The spokeswoman says: “The partnership agency will be going out and forging links with non-tourist related companies on a higher level than we do at the moment, in terms of sponsorship and other deals.”