AN AWARD-WINNING floral exhibit helped to point potential visitors in Guernsey’s direction. VisitGuernsey’s stand received a silver gilt award in the garden design class at Harrogate Spring Flower Show last month.

About 60,000 people visited the four-day show at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Tony Dawson, VisitGuernsey’s marketing manager, independent travel, said that the event was a tremendous success for the island.

‘We’ve promoted Guernsey at Harrogate several times but have never had a reception like this before. Guernsey was the only destination to exhibit this year and we were bowled over by the sheer weight of interest in the islands. We were very busy indeed.’

The show is an important promotional opportunity for the island, particularly as VisitGuernsey is focusing its marketing effort on areas with existing links to Guernsey. Harrogate is less than two hours from Manchester, which has direct links to the island through Aurigny.

‘People who learn about Guernsey at the show and like what they see will find it very easy to visit,’ said Mr Dawson.

The 36sq.m stand, which was in the landscape and garden design marquee, incorporated Naturally Guernsey branding and all the Bailiwick islands.

Guernsey adopted a partnership approach, inviting two major tour operators, Premier and Preston Holidays, to join it on the stand.

Representatives offered dedicated Bailiwick holiday packages and were delighted with the level of enquiries over the four days.

‘They did terrific business and said that Harrogate attracts exactly the right market for Guernsey.

‘They said they were busier there than at many of the mainstream holiday shows,’ said Mr Dawson.

The Spring Flower Show is one of two annual events run by the North of England Horticultural Society, which has been organising such events in Harrogate since 1923.

With most of the show under cover and on hardstanding, it is a popular all-weather event, attracting people from hundreds of miles around.

Guernsey’s floral charms will be on display again at the Chelsea Flower Show from 25 to 28 May, followed by the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show from 5 to 11 July.