HELLO! readers have been given a glimpse of what Guernsey has to offer. The celebrity-profile magazine featured an advertisement promotion of the island, describing it as four destinations in one with Alderney, Sark and Herm.

‘We’re very pleased with the way it turned out,’ said VisitGuernsey chief executive Stuart Pinnell.

Headed ‘Glorious Guernsey’, it also focused on local cuisine including July’s Seafood Festival, the Food and Ale Festival in September and the Tennerfest for six weeks from 1 October.

The French influence was also mentioned and adverts for two local hotels were included.

Mr Pinnell said that the department was working heavily in partnership with the private sector, enabling tourism businesses to advertise in publications for a quarter of the normal cost.

Detailed research highlighted over-35s with significant disposable income able to take short breaks in the shoulder months as the target profile. Hello! readers fitted these criteria.

Families were focused on nearer the summer holiday period.

A large media-buying company advises VisitGuernsey on when and where to place adverts to be most effective. Phone numbers are included so that people request brochures.

VisitGuernsey also had a special paid-for supplement in a Saturday edition of the Daily Telegraph newspaper, receiving 5,000 copies of it to distribute.

Mr Pinnell was pleased with the four-page guide in a paper that sold 2.5m. copies. It featured island-hopping, gourmet and local events, walks, floral beauty and the 800th anniversary celebrations of Guernsey’s allegiance to the British Crown It also included adverts for accommodation, tour operators and Aurigny.

‘It was a fine example of the way we’re partnering with the private sector and follows the type of approach VisitBritain and VisitEngland are taking.

‘I’m very aware that it has created a lot of interest and was very well received by everyone who saw it.’

The level of interest generated from such adverts can partly be monitored by the number of hits to the VisitGuernsey website, which had already gone up since it changed its name.