User:Edgoldswain/sandbox

Origins
Celebrated on the second to last Saturday of March, National B&B Day was launched to recognise the achievements and the contribution of independent hosts and hoteliers throughout the UK hospitality industry. The UK’s 20,000 B&Bs together contribute £2 billion the economy every year. The inaugural day was during English Tourism Week, on 28 March 2018.

Reception
The 2018 event was well supported across the UK hospitality industry, with over 400 B&Bs joining the official National B&B Day website and creating customer offers to celebrate the day - from breakfast for dogs to free lake cruises. The day received backing from the UK government with:

1. An Early Day Motion in parliament :

"That this House notes that there are some 25,000 B&Bs and guest houses across the UK, with a combined direct turnover well in excess of £2 billion; stresses the important role that B&Bs play in rural and coastal areas, where they are often the only tourism accommodation and play a key function in supporting local livelihoods; urges all hon. Members to visit local B&Bs on 24 March 2018 for National B&B day; and calls on the Government to support B&Bs as an integral part of the UK’s tourism sector.

2. Michael Ellis, the UK Tourism Minister, issuing a supporting statement:

''“Millions of tourists from the UK and abroad get a great night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast every year, thanks to the hard work of these entrepreneurial small businesses up and down the country. These are businesses that create valuable jobs in their local communities and together contribute over £2bn to the UK economy each year. This day serves to highlight the vital role that B&Bs play in Britain’s cultural and economic life and I am delighted to support National B&B Day 2018.”''

Lobbying and governmental support led to a number of UK MPs visiting B&Bs across the UK. A promotional B&B Breakfast cookbook was released in celebration of National B&B Day with proceeds going to the Family Holiday Association and attracted coverage from the Daily Mail, the Sun and Waitrose Magazine. The day itself was covered by a range of regional press, including Blackpool

Participating Organisations
National B&B Day 2018 was organised by the UK B&B Association, with help from the booking-software company eviivo. The day was sponsored by a range of UK industry bodies and companies, including:

Booking.com, Bournemouth Tourism, Cumbria Tourism, Discover Yorkshire Coast, English Riviera BID Company, eviivo, Expedia, First Data, Googl e, LateRooms.com, Lincolnshire Coastal Destination BID Company, Little Touches, National Express, New Mind | tellUs, Ryanair Rooms, StayBlackpool, Staylists, Tevalis, The AA, toprooms.com, Tourism South East, TripAdvisor, Visit Blackpool, Visit Brighton, Visit Lincoln, Visit Somerset, Visit Wiltshire, VisitBritain, Welcome to Yorkshire

Blackpool celebrates National B&B Day https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/resort-celebrates-national-b-b-day-1-9079973

Scotland prepares for National B&B Day: https://www.scottishfield.co.uk/travel/scotland-travel/scotland-prepares-to-mark-national-bb-day/

National B&B Day sponsors announced 7/2/2018: http://www.travelgbi.com/articles/125735/tourist-boards-back-inaugural-bb-day