LET’S make some more noise about Southampton.

That was the message from a special Question Time session at the Daily Echo-backed South Coast Business Works exhibition.

Although the city had much to offer it needed to do more to make it a visitor destination was the theme of a discussion which led on from a question to expert panel about what Southampton could do to make itself a “southern powerhouse”.

Elaine Holt, executive vice president of one of the city’s biggest employers Carnival Cruises, said: “I hear more than I care to about the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ . It would be really great to hear more about what Southampton and the south coast is doing.

“The business community must do more to push what is a fantastic region.”

However, Elaine admitted that Carnival had not been doing as much it could with the local business community and that they sent their passengers on trips to London, Stonehenge and Portsmouth's Gunwharf Quays rather than Southampton.

Annalise Hughes, marketing and business development director of the Delicious Dining group, said that it was difficult to exploit the city’s attractions when there was no tourist information centre.

“Local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry, are acting as independent tourist information providers,” she said.

Annalise said the city had to provide something more for the people brought to the city by the cruise industry.

“They can have a great day here, she proclaimed, “There is lots of history and what about our links to the Titanic?”

Rebecca Paterson, co-founder of All Star Marketing Club and a former marketing director for the Ordnance Survey, said cities Glasgow and Manchester had found a brand.

“I’m not sure that Southampton has a brand – if we can create that, we can grow,” she said.

“We have visitor attractions, we have the traffic brought by the cruise liners and we are close to the New Forest.”

Stewart Dunne, chairman of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, that Southampton city centre had the opportunity to become a Business Improvement District (BID).

If it became a BID, there would be a pot of money available for promoting Southampton outside the region and funding extra events in the city to attract visitors.

Earlier panel member Simon Rhodes, senior partner at Trethowans Solicitors, said that Southampton would thrive if Hampshire and Isle of Wight were given devolved powers by Westminster.

which in turn would give the area greater control over spending the revenue from business rates.

Question time chairman, Lee Peck of Lee Peck Communications, asked if the area could do with a “Boris-style mayor” .

Tim Walker, managing director of Taylor Made Computer Solutions would like a mayor or an executive body to provide some “joined up leadership” for the region.