The VisitGuernsey team hosted the third annual Product Development Workshop this month an event that has continued to grow in both scale and popularity. Now firmly established in the industry calendar, the 2026 workshop brought together an even wider range of partners to explore the marketing focus and core themes for the year ahead, while creating valuable opportunities to connect and collaborate.
The workshop remains an important moment each year to pause and look ahead considering how, collectively, we can continue to evolve and strengthen the visitor experience across the Islands.
This year’s discussions centred on future product development and how we can stimulate and support new ideas aligned with the themes VisitGuernsey will be promoting throughout 2026 and beyond. We also explored several emerging travel trends such as ‘Set Jetting’, ‘Micro‑retirement’, and audience segments like ‘Queenagers’ and discussed how we can adapt to and capitalise on changing visitor behaviours.
We are always seeking fresh product stories, updates, and innovations to share with trade partners and PR agencies. These insights help shape our Visiting Journalist Programme and other channels, ensuring visitors discover unique and appealing experiences across the Islands.
Jo Ferguson, Marketing Manager at VisitGuernsey, said:
“We were thrilled to see the workshop grow once again, with more than 60+ trade partners attending this year. The atmosphere was incredibly positive, and it was inspiring to hear the new products already in development as well as those sparked by the conversations happening in the room.
Over the past year, we’ve seen a fantastic range of new experiences launch following ideas shared at previous workshops and through new initiatives like The Big Eat, Guernsey’s new food festival.
Guernsey continues to shine across areas such as wellness, arts and culture, food, nature, and heritage. For 2026, we’ve further aligned our messaging to champion these strengths focusing on the types of experiences that today’s visitors are actively seeking out and willing to travel for.”
Philip Saunders, Chief Commercial Officer at Aurigny Guernsey's Airline
‘Visit Guernsey’s Product Development Workshop unleashes creative thinking for key stakeholders across the hospitality industry to deliver initiatives that make Guernsey’s already inviting tourism offering even more attractive and exciting for the future. A great way to encourage best-in-class thinking, create closer partnerships and discover trends that are changing our industry here and now.’
Fay Boyd, Multi-Department Coordinator/Operations Manager La Grande Mare Golf Performance Centre
'The event provided a perfect networking opportunity, with a chance to interact with different groups of people. It was great to swap ideas with likeminded people.'
