[A] pioneering app has recently been launched in a bid to drive more visitors to enjoy everything the Lake District has to offer.
The Real Lake District app is the brainchild of the Lake District Hoteliers Association (LDHA) and Staveley-based digital agency, The Creative Branch.
The app is now available to download from the Apple store and Google Play. As soon as new offers and discounts are available from LDHA members and attractions, it will notify users via push notifications.
Joe Cobb, executive commercial manager of LDHA, said: “The idea stems from our winter marketing campaign which we launched last year. We teamed up with local attractions, with the aim of spreading the benefits of extra footfall. This year, we wanted to continue the concept of working closely with local attractions but make it easier for our guests to hear about the great offers and we felt an app holding all of this information would be a modern and user-friendly way to spread the word.”
The LDHA represents some of the biggest hospitality businesses in the Lake District, with an economic impact of £459 million. This helps to support and sustain 8,500 jobs across the county and further afield. Collectively, the association’s hotels offer 2,183 bedrooms a night (nearly 800,000 a year).
Joe added: “We hope the Real Lake District app will enhance our guests’ experiences, especially during potentially quieter periods when there might be less demand to visit the Lake District. By improving our guests’ experiences, we want to send out a clear message that the Lake District is open all year round – come rain or shine.”
The app has been designed and developed by The Creative Branch. Cat Rumney, managing director, said: “We launched the Real Lakes campaign with LDHA last year, with the aim of promoting the Lake District as a destination. A key component of the campaign was the voucher booklet which offered discounts and deals. However, this year we decided to modernise the booklet and create an app so that locals and visitors can make the most of all the incredible things the Lake District has to offer, while enjoying fantastic discounts and offers.
“This app will be the first of its kind in the area. The charm of the app is that it’s completely bespoke to the Lake District – it has been created, designed and developed by the people who know the area best. It’s a modern, convenient and fun way to quickly and easily reach the best discounts and offers directly from real hoteliers and attraction owners, rather than using corporate alternatives. It’s a great development for both visitors and locals.”
