MORE than 80 hospitality businesses gathered at Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club to explore new strategies for attracting visitors and building resilience across the sector.

Hosted by the Cornwall Hospitality Collective (CHC) last Tuesday, the Cornwall Visitor Economy Forum took place just weeks after Visit Cornwall’s voluntary liquidation, providing a timely opportunity for hospitality businesses, educators and community partners to regroup, share ideas and explore new models for tourism leadership and sector-wide resilience.

Supported by key partners including Truro & Penwith College, Cornwall Rural Community Charity and Cornish Tea & Cornish Coffee, the event featured keynote presentations, regional tourism and business insights, and an alternative Tourism Strategy for Cornwall delivered by Karen Hoyle of Ghost Consulting.

Delegates participated in a hospitality panel chaired by Elly Owen, director of CHC and award-winning sommelier, alongside Simon Mahon, chief operating officer of Watergate Bay Hotel; Josie Hutt, marketing manager at Cornwall Airport Newquay; and Katie Marriott, general manager at Jamaica Inn.

The programme also included best-practice showcases and interactive workshops on marketing, collaboration and mentorship, complemented by networking opportunities and partner-hosted business stands.

The forum also spotlighted CHC’s work in promoting hospitality careers through school engagement, careers fairs and mentorship programmes – including partnerships with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision settings. These initiatives have already reached over 9,000 young people.

“This forum couldn’t have come at a more critical time, with Cornwall’s tourism leadership in flux,” said CHC co-founder and director James Cavanagh-Shaddock. “We originally planned to run it in collaboration with Visit Cornwall and while we’re naturally saddened by the loss of such a key organisation, the energy, motivation and passion in the room reflected a shared commitment to shaping a stronger, more resilient future for Cornwall’s visitor economy.

“Thanks to our partners and sponsors, we’re able to deliver high-impact events like this, alongside accessible training and engagement opportunities that empower businesses and inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals.”

CHC is a membership-led Community Interest Company (CIC) uniting businesses, educators, suppliers and communities in a bid to raise standards, inspire careers and strengthen Cornwall’s hospitality sector through collaboration, training and career development.

In addition to monthly member training and networking events, CHC is delivering a series of free events throughout November, supported by Experience Bodmin, including hospitality marketing workshops at SeaSpace, Newquay on Thursday, November 20, and at The Hangar, St Mawgan on Tuesday, November 25, both from 10am to 4pm.

Each session is open to all and fully funded by Experience - a Cornwall Council-led project promoting Cornwall as a year-round destination - and is designed to help businesses rethink their offer, improve customer experience and adapt to changing visitor expectations.