Laurence launches new illuminations brochure

A new brochure, designed to encourage businesses to back Blackpool’s Illuminations, has been launched by the display’s creative curator, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Laurence, who has been helping to design the world famous display for many years, is a huge supporter of the resort and has always sought to create interactive displays which encourage visitors to get out of their cars and explore the resort as well as the Illuminations display.

And with the display set to be reinvigorated thanks to a £2m Coastal Communities Fund investment, the display is set to be transformed and further increase its interactivity.

However, support from the private sector is still important to contribute towards the creation of new Illuminations features to keep the lights shining for many years and continue welcoming the millions of visitors the iconic light show receives each year.

As a result, Laurence met with businesses, including some major national and multi-national firms, to promote the new brochure and reveal new sponsorship opportunities available.

Laurence told the meeting: “I love Blackpool. I spend a lot of time travelling around the world in Asia and America and all over the world they have heard of the Blackpool Illuminations and they ask me about it.

“It’s a global brand and my job as its curator is very clear – I want to tell business that what we have here is truly extraordinary and a huge asset to them and they can help to make it even better.

“The Coastal Communities Funding we’ve received will help greatly but it won’t help to make the display any more sexy! That is what I want from you.”

“I’m not looking for an enormous amount from any particular business; I want people to be able to commission bespoke pieces of public art which will have an incredible impact on their brand.”

One business who have already seen success through the scheme was Blackpool’s Houndshill Shopping Centre.

Their Alice in Wonderland themed feature was one of the most exciting and interactive features of last year’s display.

Centre manager, Debbs Lancelott told the meeting: “It was fantastic working with Laurence and the impact on our business was incredible. It made a real impact.”

Cllr Graham Cain, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: “We’re delighted Laurence was able to launch our new Illuminations brochure.

“We’ve spoken widely to businesses and looked at the ways in which we can incentivise people to support the illuminations through sponsorship and marketing opportunities.

“With the new technology we have, there’s a major opportunity to get really creative and innovative if businesses are willing to invest.

“Blackpool Illuminations attracted more than 4 million visitors last year, so the potential reach for multi-national, national and local companies to get their message across is virtually unrivalled.

“I would urge companies to get in touch now.”

The brochure is now online at www.visitblackpool.com/illuminationsopps

To discuss sponsorship and marketing opportunities with VisitBlackpool, contact Jo Ashton on 01253 478240 or email [email protected].

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

VisitBlackpool is the tourism arm of Blackpool Council and is tasked with promoting the UK's most popular holiday destination to leisure and business visitors, both domestically and internationally.

Blackpool Illuminations
• Blackpool Illuminations will shine nightly from Friday 4 September to Sunday 8 November
• Blackpool Illuminations attracts more than four million visitors in 2014 to the resort
• The Illuminations display stretches for more than five miles
• Blackpool’s first electric lighting was in 1879 when just eight Siemens arc lamps illuminated the Promenade.  The effect was described by Victorian visitors as ‘artificial sunshine’.
• The Lights are credited to the pumping of more than £275 million into the local economy

Joe Robinson
Communications Officer
Blackpool Council
Tel: 01253 477189
Web: www.blackpool.gov.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bpoolcouncil
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bpoolcouncil