We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have won Gold for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award in Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Awards.  Plus, our very own Rachel Macpherson, Senior Marketing Executive, won Gold in the Unsung Hero Award category. 

The Large Visitor Attraction award recognised the innovative marketing and PR campaigns that BA i360 has implemented, the attraction’s partnerships with local community organisations, the significant growth achieved in travel trade sales pre-Covid and the company’s sustainable and responsible credentials. 

“After an extremely challenging year we are just over the moon to win these highly prestigious awards, against a hugely talented line-up of tourism businesses. We would like to thank the judges, and everyone involved in making British Airways i360 the success it is today. I am immensely proud of every member of the team at BA i360, they are passionate, dedicated, and hard-working individuals and it is fantastic that their efforts have been noticed.” Ian Hart, Chief Operating Officer.

Rachel’s nomination as an Unsung Hero recognises her single-handed creation and management of all marketing communications during the first lockdown, when British Airways i360 was temporarily closed. 

Rachel created such innovative and appealing content during the lockdown that both followers and engagement rate across all social media accounts grew by more than they had in the same period the previous year.  A remarkable achievement given BA i360 was closed at the time so there was little in the way of news, and of course no visitors or events.

Rachel also significantly improved the value of BA i360’s emarketing, through implementation of a new platform, A/B testing and data segmentation.  She compiled several interesting home school challenge blogs and wrote articles to inspire our audience for post lockdown travel, which included other local attractions and organisations to promote the whole area, not just BA i360.

Rachel played an integral part in the re-opening of BA i360 after lockdown; creating and installing multiple directional and informational signs for the new Covid secure operating measures in place at BA i360. 

She really does go above and beyond for our visitors and our business.

The Beautiful South Awards for Excellence recognise and celebrate the very best tourism businesses and experiences in South East England. The ceremony is held annually to commemorate all of the hard work and achievements made by the flourishing tourism industry in the South East.

Head of Marketing & Trade Sales, Anna Prior, says: “Winning a Beautiful South Award always means a great deal to us at BA i360.  Never more so than now as we start to plan our reopening and to welcoming visitors back to the attraction from 17th May.  The Beautiful South Award is a badge of honour that all our team can show off to our customers.”