'Getting to the 'next level': Shrewsbury's potential highlighted at Downing Street meeting
The success of Shrewsbury as a destination – and the challenges of getting to the 'next level' – were highlighted to the Government during a meeting at 10 Downing Street.
Mike Matthews, owner of the Prince Rupert Hotel and chair of Shrewsbury BID (Business Improvement District), was among the guests at a meeting of business owners arranged by Enterprise Nation, where he put his views to the Prime Minister's lead business adviser, Franck Petitgas.
Mr Matthews said: “It was a really positive discussion and Mr Petitgas was genuinely interested in what we had to say.
“I was there to represent Shrewsbury as well as the Prince Rupert, so I raised the subject of how successful Shrewsbury has been over the past 10 years, and how the Government can support us to get to the next level.
“I said we have exceeded expectations as a town, and we are now ahead of comparable destinations in terms of sales figures and hotel occupancy, but what we have not yet tapped into is the American and Far Eastern markets.
“The potential is huge, and as a theme of the meeting was accessing new markets, I felt it appropriate to ask for Government support to put Shrewsbury alongside the likes of Bath, Chester and Harrogate for overseas tourist itineraries.
“You don’t often get the opportunity to sit in Downing Street and talk about your town with an advisor to the Prime Minister. It was a fantastic experience and I would like to thank Emma Jones from Enterprise Nation for arranging the meeting and inviting me to take part.”
