Behind the scenes, we as a board are busy mapping out the T&R sector in the municipalities of Gilze and Rijen and Alphen-Chaam and their surroundings, both the supply and opportunities, as well as the demand side. With a good picture of both our customer potential and their wishes and our possibilities. We will carry out this research in cooperation with BUAS (Breda University of Applied Sciences) from July to October.
The data that comes out of this, and is processed anonymously in reporting and recommendations, is going to help us as an industry serve both our visitor flows and your business and economy even better.
Cooperation government
And, not unimportantly, to encourage maximum and well-founded support from involved government - local as well as provincial. In light of the approaching municipal elections, for which party manifestos will be filled in next autumn and lobbying is at full speed, a clear understanding with solid substantiation of opportunities and possibilities of the T&R sector, as one of the most important and powerful economies of our region, is a must.
Will you help?
In this research, which is being conducted from BUAS with final-year students, led by Professor Jeroen Klijs and his team, we desperately need your help. This announcement is therefore also an appeal for your cooperation.
We fully realise that our members are not waiting for more work during the season and all attention should go to the customers. Therefore, rest assured that 90% of the work will be done by the students and the BUAS team. The demand on your time will be minimal, with a clear set-up and questions and an alignment that fits into your busy schedules. The students involved, who will have their profession in the T&R sector after their training, are aware of this and are trained accordingly.
We count on you to also see this survey as a step towards expansion, professionalism and appreciation of the Tourist Recreational Offering in our region. An offer distinguished by timeliness, resilience and cooperation; leading and proudly respected both from the community and by our customers.
For the coming summer months, we wish you every success. Gradually, we will inform you about the progress and approach of this study and look forward to our cooperation in this.
With hospitable greetings,
Gerard Berkelmans
Member of the TDB Marcom working group and project leader of the TDB-BUAS cooperation
Lammert Westra
chairman TDB
Originally the founder of Intratuin, Gerard Berkelmans is currently setting up De Groene Kamer estate, an estate where sustainable business and responsible access to the surrounding nature go hand in hand. In 2017 during the Garden Retail Experience in Nieuwegein, he won the Karel Verdonschot Award, the awards for the garden centre industry. Read the full article here.
Gerard during the award ceremony of the Garden Retail Experience in Nieuwegein (2017). On the right, you can see his daughters Nicole and Suzanne, who run the project, with Gerard helping and coaching them. Nicole is also a board member at the Stadsbos 013 Entrepreneurs' Association.