The Big Weekend

A ready-made campaign to boost local engagement, drive footfall, and showcase the best of your destination - all without breaking the bank?

The Big Weekend is your ready-to-launch, cost-effective campaign that puts communities at the heart of tourism.

Built to support the UK’s visitor economy, this replicable competition is a proven way to turn residents into advocates and attractions into must-visits.

Low-cost. High-impact. Resident-powered.

A powerful, place-based campaign where local residents win free tickets and experiences to local attractions and businesses.

The result? Communities rediscover hidden gems, attractions gain new audiences, and the whole destination gets a fresh buzz of energy - especially effective in the shoulder season.

Born in Kent and now rolled out across the UK, from Essex to Hertfordshire, Suffolk to Jersey - The Big Weekend drives real results.

Delivering increased awareness, media coverage, secondary spend, and stakeholder buy-in.

Why it works

Ignites the VFR Market – Residents become tourism ambassadors, ready to welcome and wow their guests
Builds Local Pride – Celebrates what’s on the doorstep, strengthening civic identity and connection
Broadens Appeal – Showcases more than the ‘usual suspects’, elevating lesser-known attractions
Delivers Real ROI – High-value data capture, increased footfall, and long-term brand loyalty
Extends the Season – Perfect for injecting life into shoulder months with a feel-good, high-impact initiative

Core Campaign Package & License Fee for 2026: £12,325 + VAT

Includes all essential elements to successfully launch and run your Big Weekend:

Branded ‘Big Weekend’ website, with ballot functionality
Access to ticketing admin and user-friendly CMS
Training for up to 4 users on CMS and campaign delivery
Business onboarding toolkit, FAQs and templates
Consumer-facing PR & social media campaign templates
Post-campaign digital performance report
8 hours of dedicated project support from the GTP / Big Weekend team
GDPR-compliant data handling and opt-in options
Post campaign business and consumer surveys with report

“The Big Weekend has helped to raise awareness of Visit Essex as a leading destination management organisation…offering us a way to connect directly with our businesses, as well as the general public.”
Carol Jolly, Marketing & PR Manager, Visit Essex

Work with us

We offer a full-service Big Weekend package including: a branded website, CMS training and support, a full communication toolkit, and expert advice on how to secure partner buy-in. We'll help you tailor the campaign to your place, and make sure it delivers maximum impact.

Ready to run your own Big Weekend? Let’s talk →