Lincolnshire Life puts focus on the aims of Lindum Heritage

As published in Lincolnshire Life, May 2010, http://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/

Tour company bosses are on a mission to encourage more people to discover Lincolnshire’s hidden gems and proud history in a move designed to boost the county’s £958 million tourism industry.

Whilst many of our twenty-six million annual visitors know of Lincoln Cathedral, the city’s Castle, our rolling countryside and holiday resorts, they are still surprised to learn just how much the county offers and that it has a wealth of wartime history.

But BTM Heritage Events plans to change all that, after taking over Nettleham-based Lindum Heritage and starting to expand on the tours that business offered. BTM Heritage Events, Managing Director Bill Morran, who has more than twenty years experience of working at board level in a number of companies said: "We are aiming to offer a wide range of very high quality, well-organised tours."

Lindum Heritage, which traditionally uses a high standard of hotels and transport, is keen to build on its ethos of offering friendly, relaxed and uniquely personal experiences for people who book its tours – which are specifically aimed at parties of up to twenty people. "My vision for the future is to build on the excellent foundation that exists and significantly grow the business by providing further diversity of tour experiences across the UK and also into Europe in the future, whilst, at all times remaining true to the company ethos," said Mr Morran.

Lindum Heritage, which is based in The Terrace in Danesgate, Lincoln, attracts tour lovers from within the county itself, but from the whole of the UK, Europe, America and Australia, and traditionally more than sixty-nine per cent return for more. While the company also offers experiences in other parts of the UK, Mr Morran said there is so much to show off to visitors coming to Lincolnshire.

"We are truly blessed with magnificent churches, grand stately residences, fantastic museums and wonderful working windmills, that will comfortably fill a much increased level of tour experience," he said. "In Lincoln, we are steeped in history and heritage of every description. We have an obligation to shout loud and long about our wonderful gems and to encourage significant inward investment in tourism around the Castle, Cathedral, The Collection and the Bailgate quarter, to name just a few of the absolutely awe-inspiring jewels that we have in our crown."

Newly Acquired Lindum Heritage Breakfast Briefing attracts theRight Worshipful Mayor of Lincoln

Managing Director, Bill Morran, and his team at Lindum Heritage were extremely pleased to welcome
The Mayor of Lincoln, David Gratrick and the Mayoress, Sandra Gratrick to their recent re-launch
breakfast briefing.

Bill, through his Company BTM Heritage Events Limited, acquired Lindum Heritage on 1st February
2010 and has great plans for its future growth which will really benefit Tourism revenue levels in
Lincolnshire.

Lindum Heritage, based at The Terrace, in Lincoln specialises in high quality, friendly, smaller group
(maximum of 20) Heritage related tour experiences and events.

Bill enthuses “We always provide a very personal, friendly and customer focused experience which
includes the use of expert and personable guides, minimum of 3 star accommodation (often higher
and with leisure facilities and free car parking), good quality transportation and uniquely, on every
tour, the services of a 24 hour Tour Manager to ensure the very close personal attention that our
customers so enjoy”

At the breakfast briefing, Bill outlined his strategy for business growth in the future “What attracted me
most to Lindum Heritage was its overwhelming attention to customer service and this will remain key to
our ethos going forward.

"My three-year plan is to increase the number of tour experiences by fivefold and
much of the growth will come from Lincolnshire based experiences. I intend to develop strong
strategic partnerships with Lincolnshire suppliers and organisations to ensure that, TOGETHER, we
enhance the inward Tourism investment into Lincolnshire whilst promoting this fantastic County to the
maximum”

For 2010 the Lindum Heritage programme includes the hugely popular ‘Dambusters Experience’
which includes accommodation at the Petwood Hotel, at one time the Officers mess for 617 Squadron
led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, and an opportunity to board the Lancaster Just Jane.

Other experiences include Stonehenge with the renowned archaeologist Julian Richards where we have
private access to the Stones, historical exploration of Northamptonshire, Suffolk and Stamfordshire
and the Churches of the Wye Valley, East Yorkshire and Norfolk alongside Orkney experiences also.

To drive future growth, Bill also intends to diversify into other Heritage related areas “With over 40
operational airfields within Lincolnshire during WW2 and 4 active RAF stations originating from WW1 I
plan to significantly enhance the Aviation Heritage side of our business and further extend into Military
Heritage as well”

For further information please contact Bill Morran or Michael Purvis (Tour and Office Manager) at The
Terrace, Grantham Street, Lincoln LN2 1BD or 01522 845060 or email: bill@lindumheritage.co.uk; mick@lindumheritage.co.uk and visit www.lindumheritage.co.uk