Leaders from tourist attractions across Dorset gathered to celebrate 30 years of the Best of Dorset Attractions Group (BOD).
Their special lunch, AGM and seminar was held at Athelhampton House, the home of their founding meeting.
Among the guest speakers were Dr Bruce Grant-Braham, tourism, leisure and hospitality champion and communications lead at Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, and representatives from Battens Solicitors who sponsored the BOD group this year.
Dr Grant-Braham spoke about promoting tourism in Dorset and exciting new proposals for a destination management organisation.
Battens Chairman and Head of Planning David Stephens outlined the recent changes to planning law and what this will mean to tourism businesses wishing to build a new feature or change the use of their buildings. And Head of Employment Dawn Gallie delivered advice on casual hours and zero hour contracts and how to deal with staff capability issues.
Three of the original founding members were in attendance and recalled meeting at Athelhampton House in 1983. Michael Ridley from The Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester said: “We had an idea to work together to encourage growth in the tourism sector and produce an attraction guide for visitors to the area. It is great to see how the group has developed over the years.”
