When the merged BTA and ETC decided on its new name, VisitBritain, they had to buy it from another company who had used the name for over 25 years.
The original VisitBritain was an incoming ground handling agent based in Tonbridge, Kent. It has now changed its name, at the expense of the new VisitBritain, to VB International Ltd.
VB International Ltd director, Michael Robinson, told TravelMole that although his company had held the name for over 25 years, the name change was amicable, and all costs were covered by VisitBritain. Mr Robinson added: “It is causing us a bit of grief because people trying to reach VisitBritain via directory enquiries are still coming to us, but they are a larger organisation and I am sure this will be remedied soon.”
A spokesperson for VisitBritain told TravelMole they couldn’t disclose the amount paid for the name, only that it was a “nominal sum”.
Read our previous stories:
26-Mar-2003 ‘VisitBritain’ – new name for British tourism
19-Feb-2003 Tackling bad attitudes towards Britain
