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Olympics and tourism

30th Jul 2012
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Just returned from a week in Weymouth - the venue for the Olympic sailing.

Olympic preparations were in evidence everywhere, from the closed car parks to nose to tail buses.

I am sure the sailing will be a great success there, but from what I gathered the general tourist trade appeared somewhat down.

Heres hoping that improves for the area shortly. Finally had some great weather though..

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By User deleted
31st Jul 2012 21:20

Went to Excel today ...

... and had an ab fab time

I was so impressed with everything.

The journey went like clockwork, despite a hitch on theCentral Line well informed staff at Vauxhall gave me clear an concise instructions for an alternative route which was actually better than my planned route.

All over there were friendly staff to help, all good natured and smiling.

The venue was fantastic, plenty of food and refreshment outlets catering for just about any palate or dietary requiremet at expensive but not rip-off prices

Journey was about 1.5 hrs each way, well under what I expected, and whilst busy, not excessively so and we managed to get home to see the conclusion to our event on BBCi.

As for our event, it was a gripping well contested competition, with a good view from our near perfect position seats.

Have to go to Poole area Thursday, just hoping the journey won't be too badly affected by Weymouth traffic!

 

 

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Jennifer Adams
By Jennifer Adams
01st Aug 2012 17:32

See my comment under previous blog

I blogged about this on 18th July -  it was placed under the blog titled 'The Olympics - heaven or hell' and headed 'Long moan about the Olympics''- my text is rewritten below -

I live near Weymouth where the Olympic sailing is to be. Ask many local businesses about the Olympics and you'll find the answer to be less than enthusiastic for a variety of reasons. The waste of money is all to see. At one roundabout there have been placed flagpoles with flags that are blue and have the London 2012 Olympics logo - what exactly is going to happen when the Olympics is finished - they cant remain so will be pulled down.

This tells the real story.... I go to a Business Womens meet every other week at 7.30pm and getting a car parking space near the hotel Prince Regent on the sea front is just impossible in June/July - I have to park quite a walk away. Last week I could park anywhere. I couldnt believe it - the place was deserted! Why?

I told the manager of the hotel and she told me that her bookings were really down. For example, they usually have three weddings a week - this year they have had three booked for the whole season. A direct result of the Olympics. Many of the lovely small hotels/guest houses on the seas front are displaying 'Vacancies' for the weeks up to the Olympics .

The reason being that the usual holiday makers are staying away. The Hotelier association in Weymouth are worried - worried in case people go somewhere else, like where they go and dont come back.

I have a client who runs a Cleaning business she has three full time employees and always does a good trade in the summer cleaning holiday lets as well as the usual rental properties. She usually takes on at least three additional staff in the summer - she has taken on none at all this year. When I asked why she said because people are not coming to the Dorchester/Weymouth area for their holidays - put off by the Olympics. She wasnt big enough to be allowed to quote for the Olympics themselves.

I could go on...no.. the Olympics is bringing pain to a lot of small firms. And Coca cola as the official sponsors wont allow anyone to advertise - a business isnt even allowed to put up a sign e.g 'Hotel Prince Regent welcomes the olympics' - says it all really.

And dont even start me on the £365K spent on Weymouth's new 'mushrooms'!! 

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