Experience Oxfordshire announces the Bodleian Libraries as Ambassador Partner

19 August 2025 – The Bodleian Libraries, arguably the heart of the University of Oxford, have long been a draw for visitors to the city. Experience Oxfordshire therefore is delighted to announce that this venerable institution, a remarkable group of spectacular venues which includes the historic Bodleian Library and the Divinity School, are now publicly demonstrating their ongoing support for the county’s broader visitor economy by becoming an Experience Oxfordshire Ambassador Partner.

Experience Oxfordshire, the destination management organisation and official Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for the county, works with businesses and local influencers across the public and private sector to grow the value and productivity of the visitor economy for the benefit of all who live, work, visit and do business within Oxfordshire. By supporting the organisation, Experience Oxfordshire Ambassador Partners are investing in Oxfordshire’s future as a thriving visitor destination.

A long-standing Experience Oxfordshire partner, the Bodleian Libraries has recently participated in the organisation’s international travel trade missions to New York, Toronto and Japan, activity designed to raise the institution’s profile amongst influential travel planners.

Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO of Experience Oxfordshire commented: “The Bodleian Libraries are an example of Oxfordshire at its best, able to deliver a unique experience with the highest level of quality and care. From a leisure visitor perspective, the institution encapsulates everything they expect to find in Oxford: history, heritage, stunning architecture and welcoming people. For business travel or for conference and event organisers, the Bodleian Libraries offer the best of modern amenities and customer service delivered within a unique environment.

Business and leisure tourism together contribute some £2.3 billion to our local economy and as the government has pledged to grow the value of inbound tourism, it’s even more important that as a sector we come together to work to ensure business and institutions within Oxford and the wider county benefit from any growth. We are delighted to welcome the Bodleian Libraries as an Ambassador Partner and look forward to a productive relationship delivering against our common objectives.”

Perry Bushell, Commercial Director of the Bodleian Libraries responded: “We have recently been awarded Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best as well as being voted the number two attraction in the whole of the UK by TripAdvisor users, confirmation that we offer a world-class service to our tour visitors. In addition, no other venues in the county or beyond compare with the spaces we offer. Thanks to many film and television projects, the image of the Divinity School has been embedded in the memory of at least one generation.

We particularly value Experience Oxfordshire’s marketing reach, their work with the international travel trade and their focus on growing the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions markets. As our county’s LVEP, they have an excellent relationship with VisitBritain/VisitEngland, and therefore we benefit from access to their resources.

In partnership with Experience Oxfordshire, we look forward to building on our joint reputations and highlighting our offer within the Oxford, Oxfordshire and UK context.”

The Experience Oxfordshire Ambassador Partnership is now in its tenth year and has grown from two founding Ambassador Partners in 2015 (Blenheim Palace and Oxford Bus Company) to a current collective of thirteen leading organisations active in the county’s visitor economy.

Experience Oxfordshire would welcome conversations with other businesses in the county who would like to be part of ensuring Oxfordshire has a thriving and sustainably productive visitor economy. Contact [email protected]

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images available via the following link.

About Experience Oxfordshire

Experience Oxfordshire is the official Destination Management Organisation (DMO) and Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Oxfordshire. It is the trading arm of the parent charity, Experience Oxfordshire Charitable Trust, and is a not-for-profit partnership organisation that is committed to the promotion, management, and development of Oxfordshire as a great destination to live, work, visit and do business. The DMO seeks to improve growth and productivity across Oxfordshire’s visitor economy through the provision of essential business advice and support.

Experience Oxfordshire was one of the first destinations in England to gain LVEP status from national tourist board, VisitEngland. As an LVEP, Experience Oxfordshire is recognised as a high-performing organisation, supporting collaborative working both locally, through its network of partners and those with interest in the visitor economy, and nationally on shared priorities.

Read our Experience Oxfordshire Impact 2024/25 publication here which showcases the impact and reach of the work that Experience Oxfordshire undertakes.

For more information on Experience Oxfordshire go to experienceoxfordshire.org/partner or contact [email protected]

To work with Experience Oxfordshire on marketing campaigns, contact [email protected]

To find out more about Experience Oxfordshire organised events go to the 2025 events calendar Experience Oxfordshire events – Experience Oxfordshire

Media contact: Lesley Wright at [email protected] Tel: 01865 686433

Experience Oxfordshire Ambassadors collectively bring valuable insight, support and strategic direction to the work Experience Oxfordshire does as the Destination Management Organisation for the County. For more information go to: experienceoxfordshire.org/partner/about-us/experience-oxfordshire-ambassadors

Current Ambassadors include Activate Learning, Bicester Village, Blenheim Palace, the Bodleian Libraries, Cherwell District Council, Great Western Railway, Heythrop Park, Oxford Bus Company, Oxfordshire County Council, Pye Homes, Stagecoach, The Store Oxford, Westgate Oxford

You can keep up to date with Experience Oxfordshire’s activity by following:

Facebook – Experience Oxfordshire
Instagram – @experienceoxfordshire
X – @ExperienceOx and @ExperienceOxBiz and @ExOxVenues
Bluesky – @experienceox
LinkedIn – Experience Oxfordshire

About the Bodleian Libraries

The Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford is the largest university library system in the United Kingdom. It includes the principal University library – the Bodleian Library – which has been a legal deposit library for 400 years; as well as 26 libraries across Oxford including major research libraries and faculty, department, and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million items, including outstanding special collections holding rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art, and printed ephemera. Members of the public can explore the collections via the Bodleian’s online image portal at digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk or by visiting the exhibition galleries in the Bodleian’s Weston Library. For more information, visit bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

In addition to a diverse range of public programming, including daily tours and family-friendly events, the Bodleian Libraries contains five unique meeting rooms, catering for up to 400, and provides a spectacular setting for all corporate and private events, including lectures and presentations (in the modern purpose-built lecture theatre), drinks receptions, dinners, weddings and awards ceremonies. With an experienced events team on hand offering advice and help with planning, an event at the Bodleian Libraries is guaranteed to impress. For more information, visit visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Bodleian Libraries Press Office

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