VisitScotland eUpdate - september 2005
Photo: Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris
Welcome to the latest VisitScotland eUpdate, giving you an overview of VisitScotland's current activities.
This month:
Overseas marketing opportunities
Would you like to target overseas markets and increase the number of international visitors for your business?
VisitScotland has a number of overseas marketing opportunities, including space to promote your business in sales guides for tour operators and travel agencies for Polish, Czech, Hungarian and Russian markets.
Opportunities are also available to get involved in VisitScotland's latest Pan European Cities and Pan European Touring campaigns. Marketing activities include inserts in relevant magazines and papers, direct mailings and online advertising.
For further information on any of these marketing opportunities, please visit www.scotexchange.net/promote_your_business/marketing_opportunities.htm?action=search
Wanted - self-caterers to work with European tour operators
VisitScotland is receiving requests from tour operators for more self-catering operators who would be keen to work with them on developing more packages.
If you run a self catering business and are willing to work with the travel trade; that is, offer commission and provide flexible arrangements, please get in touch and we will pass on your contact details to relevant operators in the Benelux and German markets.
For further advice and to register your interest,
contact Alison Rankin, assistant marketing manager Benelux and Scandinavia
on tel: 0131 472 2325 or email: alison.rankin@visitscotland.com.
Tourist Board Training - autumn events
Tourist Board Training is running a number of courses
with a local slant during October and November. The include courses on:
- Wildlife tourism training - one day course
- Ancestral tourism training - one day course
- Cairngorms connections - half day course
For further information on these and other courses
offered by Tourist Board Training, please visit www.scotexchange.net/training
and click on Tourist Board Training 'Autumn Training Programme' or tel:
01294 313 006 or email: tbt@tbt.visitscotland.com.
New marketing opportunities guide for business tourism
Want to raise your profile in the business tourism market? VisitScotland's Business Tourism Unit (BTU) has recently launched its 2006-2008 Marketing Opportunities guide for venues and services in the business tourism sector.
With a full description of target audience, objectives and format, as well as information on 33 sales and marketing platforms available for Scottish partners, the new guide will provide all the information you need to help you choose the right opportunities for your business.
To get your copy of the BTU's Marketing Opportunities guide email Scott Robertson, marketing manager - UK, on email: scott.robertson@visitscotland.com or tel: 0131 472 2357.
Tourism Cares for Tomorrow
The Tourism Cares For Tomorrow (TCFT) summit meeting will be taking place from 19-23 October 2005, bringing to Scotland around 50 major tour operators and 30 incentive buyers from the US for a workshop, golf tournament and gala dinner.
Suppliers have the opportunity to attend a networking dinner on the 19 October, then on 20 a general session with industry updates, networking breakfast and a one to one business workshop from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
For more information and an application form, please
contact Melanie Angus on tel: 0131 472 2336 or e-mail: melanie.angus@visitscotland.com
World Travel Market
World Travel Market - the premier, global event for the travel industry will be held at ExCel, London from 14-17 Nov 2005. Now in its 26th year, the 4 day event brings together around 47,000 of the world's leading travel and tourism operators from over 190 countries.
VisitScotland will again be taking space at this event, giving space for up to 16 Scottish Suppliers. This Exhibition is suitable for anyone in the hotel and visitor attraction sector.
For further information regarding this event, please contact Sarah Kirkpatrick on tel: 0131 247 2431, e-mail: sarah.kirkpatrick@visitscotland.com or Chris Welch on tel: 0131 472 2396, e-mail: chris.welch@visitscotland.com
VisitScotland Open Meeting - the chance to air your views
Have the chance to air your views on tourism issues and the new tourism network at VisitScotland's Open Meeting on Thursday 20 October at the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa in Dundee.
Registration for the event will begin at 1.30pm with presentations at 2.00pm. The afternoon will end with a question and answer session. If you have any questions that you would like to ask in advance for answer at the meeting, please email them to openmeeting@visitscotland.com.
For further information or to register your interest in attending this event, please contact Tracy Logan, corporate affairs co-ordinator on 0131 472 2215 or email openmeeting@visitscotland.com
Talking tourism
VisitScotland kicked off its Talking Tourism tour around Scotland on Wednesday 21 September with its first stop in Dumfries and Galloway.
VisitScotland's chief executive Philip Riddle and local area director Delia Holland met with businesses in Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart over the course of three days.
The next Talking Tourism visit will take place
in the Highlands at the beginning of October. Businesses in this area
will be invited to attend a meeting near them by their area network office
in due course.
Scotland United, 20-21 November 2005
Venue St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa
Scotland United 2005 provides the platform for vibrant, passionate and stimulating engagement between the tourism industry and policy makers over the key issues that need to be addressed to ensure the sustainable growth of the industry in Scotland.
The conference is about how we grow the industry sustainably by creating the right circumstances for growth. Our Pride and Passion movement is inspiring us to surprise and delight our visitors and we must continue to improve skills to support this. These are the key areas that Scotland United 2005 will focus on.
If you would like further information or would
lke to get involved in Scotland United, please visit www.scotexchange.net/event
Perthshire, Angus and Dundee network events
Watch out for more information on Perthshire, Angus and Dundee's autumn/ winter programme of network evenings and events.
Events will cover a range of topics including 'What's on your plate', looking at the new trend in 'slow food'; 'Reach for the Stars', including tips from a VisitScotland quality advisor; 'E Business', with a presentation from visitscotland.com; area familiarisation trips; and leaflet swap events.
For more information contact Jennifer Moran, business
relationship and marketing manager on email: Jennifer.moran@visitscotland.com
or tel: 01738 450 611.
'Big Tree Country' fam trip
Want to explore the great outdoors and learn more
about Perthshire's 'Big Tree Country'? VisitScotland Perthshire is running
two familiarisation trips in October for tourism businesses. If you would
like to book on one of these trips, please contact Fiona Meikle, environmental
tourism manager, on email: Fiona.meikle@visitscotland.com
or tel: 01738 450 613
Smart businesses go 'Green in the Park'
Would you like to learn about the environmental and financial advantages that arise from adopting green business practices?
Scottish Enterprise and the Argyll and Islands Enterprise are inviting businesses within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park to attend 'Green in the Park', a green business tourism event.
Some of the UK's leading authorities on green tourism and green business will speak at the event, including:
- Muriel Gray, a well-known TV personality
and ambassador for going green and protecting Scotland's natural beauty,
and
- Nick Nairn, one of Scotland's most famous chefs who runs a successful eco-friendly cookery school within the National Park
The day will also involve a range of practical 'how to' workshops, designed to explore ways of developing a business.
The event takes place at Cameron House Hotel, Argyll
on Monday 7 November from 9.30am - 15.30pm. To register, please contact
Ursula on tel: 0141 331 2991 or email: utaylor@strategem.co.uk.
Making progress with Making Tracks
The 'Making Tracks' conference is taking place at the MacDonald Hotel, Peebles on Wednesday 16 November.
The conference will present the outcomes of the 'Making Tracks' project, which encouraged rural tourism businesses and agricultural businesses in the south of Scotland to get involved in natured-based tourism.
To register for the event, please contact Claire
Wager on tel: 07771 932 521 or email: Claire.wager@visitscotland.com.
For more information on the Making Tracks project, visit www.greentourism.org.uk/makingtracks.
Great Scottish Links Collection
VisitScotland has joined forces with some of Scotland's finest links courses to develop an exciting new venture aimed at promoting links golf in Scotland.
The Great Scottish Links Collection website was launched to help raise awareness of the lesser known as well as the more famous links courses of the golfing world that lie in wait for players visiting Scotland.
For further information on the Great Scottish Links
Collection visit www.visitscotland.com/golf
Launch of the mountain bike guide
VisitScotland launched its Mountain Bike Guide at the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup this September, providing biking enthusiasts with all they need to know about the sport in Scotland.
This ultimate guide for bikers provides a detailed run down of all the top trails in Scotland, including information on the difficulty of trails on offer. Whether just starting out or looking to find their biggest challenge yet, the guide aims to help every rider choose the right course for them.
For more information on mountain biking in Scotland
visit adventure.visitscotland.com/activities/earth/mountainbiking/
or find out more about some of Scotland's top mountain biking venues at
www.7stanes.gov.uk/
European city breaks campaign
A new £1 million VisitScotland marketing campaign launched on 13 September aims to give Scottish cities a competitive edge over their European rivals.
In raising the profile of Edinburgh and Glasgow
in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and France, it will also encourage
short break visitors to get out and sample Scotland's wonderful countryside.
Sponsorship deals to attract rugby fans to Scotland
VisitScotland has announced sponsorship of the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Borders professional rugby teams with the long term aim of increasing Scotland's chances of hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup event and boosting tourism to Scotland.
Through linking up with professional Celtic League
teams VisitScotland is looking to promote visitscotland.com,
the national information and booking website, and generate more visits
to Scotland by rugby fans.
VisitScotland tees off with US TV golf channel
VisitScotland has hailed a televised golf team challenge - which was filmed at Carnoustie and St Andrews - will be shown across the USA and Europe as a fantastic showcase for Scotland - the "Home of Golf.''
Working in partnership with producers The Golf Channel, VisitScotland has sponsored one of the programmes in the series, which will see players battle it out to win the "VisitScotland Challenge.'' The sponsored show will include a VisitScotland themed voiceover stating: "Brought to you by VisitScotland - Welcome to our life.''
Coverage of the show on Sky Television across Europe
started on 20 September, a week after the show started its 15 week run
in the States.
EatScotland launch
VisitScotland's food quality scheme will be launched to consumers on 29 September following a successful pilot scheme that has seen 240 food businesses sign-up for grading.
From October this year, consumers will be able to log on to the visitscotland.com website to see all of the businesses registered and their grading. Whatever their taste, consumers will be sure to have a quality dining experience from food outlets that have earned the EatScotland award.
If you would like to find out more about the EatScotland
scheme or how your business could benefit from it, please visit www.sfqc.co.uk/Welcome.html
and click on 'EatScotland'.
Aberdeen and Grampian
Shell boosts Aberdeen charity's fundraising efforts
Transition Extreme Sports, a local charity established to deliver an exciting, adrenalin packed extreme sports centre for the community of Aberdeen, in particular the area's youth population, has received a major funding boost from oil giant Shell.
The news comes only days after the announcement of another major pledge by Glasgow based charitable Trust, The Robertson Trust, and brings the total funds committed to the project to £2.13m out of the required total of £2.67m, with a number of other applications in progress.
For further information on the Transition project,
visit www.transition-extreme.com/
Angus and Dundee
Flowers, food and festivals welcome journalists
VisitScotland Dundee hosted a press trip for journalists earlier around the theme of flowers, food and festivals this month to generate press coverage of the area and raise awareness of the area's finest attractions, events and facilities.
Itinerary highlights included the Dundee Flower
& Food Festival and Scotland's Countryside Festival, two of the area's
major events. Visits to Glamis Castle, Dundee Rep Theatre and Discovery
Point were also arranged for the journalists.
New autumn campaign brings business boost
Local businesses are seeing the benefits of VisitScotland Angus and Dundee's autumn campaign just weeks after it was launched.
As part of the national Autumn Gold campaign, which features the theme Every picture paints a thousand words, VisitScotland Angus and Dundee produced a mailer that was sent to more than 100,000 contacts throughout specific targeted areas.
Since its launch on 19 August, local businesses
have taken in thousands of pounds of additional business as a result of
the campaign.
Food at fifteen
Dundee & Angus Hoteliers and Restaurant Association have organised an initiative based on VisitScotland's Dine Around scheme, which will take place throughout October.
Aiming to encourage the local population to eat out and nurture a public pride in the quality restaurants in the Dundee area, the initiative will see 15 of the region's top restaurants offering diners a promotional menu for only £15.
For further information on the promotion, please
contact Rosie Butler on email: newsdesk@rosiebutlerpr.com
or tel: 01382 225829.
Borders
Tweeddale Tourist Consortium bags £3,000 from tourism marketing fund
Borders tourism group, the Tweeddale Tourist Consortium, has received a £3,000 cash boost from the VisitScotland Challenge Fund to help launch their latest project.
The funding will support the 'Taste of Tweeddale' project, which aims to attract more visitors to the area during autumn and winter months through value added offers. Offers will feature in a leaflet offering three 'menus' themed around culture; adventure and activity; and tranquillity.
Find out more about the project at www.visittweeddale.com
Borders Reaps benefits of 2CV event
Businesses in Kelso in the Scottish Borders saw an average increase in trade of 69 per cent during the Citroen 2CV World Meeting held in the town from 26 - 31 July.
Floors Castle in Kelso provided the backdrop for the estimated 7,000 visitors and 3,0002CV vehicles that attended the event that contributed around £1.4 million to the local economy.
Taking advantage of this fantastic opportunity to promote Scotland and the Borders to a global audience, VisitScotland's Borders Office generated local, national, and international media coverage stretching as far as Serbia, the Netherlands and Germany.
Meanwhile, staff at the Borders' trade and information stand geared themselves up to deal with a mass of enquires and sales of gifts that equalled that of all centres put together for a week in July.
For further information please contact Karen Leithead,
external relations executive on email: karen.leithead@visitscotland.com
or tel: 01750 23818.
Edinburgh and Lothians
Edinburgh and Lothians' tourism looking strong
Figures for the first eight months of 2005 have shown that the numbers of visitors to Edinburgh and the Lothians are up and that the tourism industry is showing strong signs of growth.
Accommodation occupancy in hotels and self catering are up on last year; with self catering properties seeing a 14 per cent rise in their unit occupancy to 63 per cent.
Tourist Information Centres (TICs) across the area
also saw healthy numbers of visitors with over 90,500 visitors using the
Edinburgh and Scotland TIC in August alone and 41,500 visitors through
Lothian TICs.
Norwegian tourism team gives VisitScotland structure the thumbs up
VisitScotland Edinburgh recently played host to a group of representatives from VisitOSLO, City of Oslo Council, Oslo Sporveier and three of the city's visitor attractions, who wanted to learn about how we promote our cities.
The group, who see Edinburgh as leading the way in city smart card technology and festival planning, were given a three day itinerary of meetings with VisitScotland Edinburgh, the City of Edinburgh Council, local attractions and festival organisers.
Tor Sanneud, managing director of VisitOSLO, said during his visit: "The current exciting developments in the management and marketing of tourism in Edinburgh and Scotland are showing a lead in tourism for Europe and its cities. There is a lot we can learn from each other…".
For further information please contact Karen Leithead,
external relations executive on email: karen.leithead@visitscotland.com
or tel: 01750 23818.
Edinburgh tops travel awards for sixth year
Edinburgh has been named the favourite UK city in the Guardian Travel awards for the sixth consecutive year. The capital city received 2,225 votes and a score of 90.1 per cent, based on the quality which visitors felt they received.
Other Scottish cities to make the top 30 were Glasgow (5th), Inverness (16th) and Aberdeen (26th). Edinburgh's Balmoral was named as best hotel in Scotland and third best UK hotel.
The results of the awards was based on 27,000 responses from readers of the Guardian, the Observer and Guardian Unlimited, in a number of categories including favourite UK city, best travel agent, best UK hotel and favourite overseas city.
Full results of the survey can be found at adinfo-guardian.co.uk/
Edinburgh's Hogmanay 06 tickets
Plans are well underway for Edinburgh's Hogmanay 06, with four days of spectacular events running from Thursday 29 December 2005 until Sunday 1 January 2006. The organisers have announced early ticket details for this year's festival.
There are four ways to join the party:
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay Club Festival Membership
- available from 1 September
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay Club Party Pack - available
1 September
- Royal Bank Street Party Passes - available 1
October
- Concert in the Gardens - on sale date to be confirmed
For full details of each option, including prices, please visit www.edinburghshogmanay.org/tickets
Full four day programme details of both free and ticketed events will be announced mid-November. Meanwhile, details of Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations are available now at www.capitalchristmas.co.uk
Fife
'Establishing a local fresh food supply chain' conference
A conference on the establishment of local fresh food supply chain has been organised following a successful pilot scheme in the Fife area. The conference will take place on 5 October at St Andrews Bay Resort and will give local food producers, hoteliers, suppliers and restaurants the opportunity to find out more about the scheme.
The supply chain system has the potential to transform the way food reaches the market place by focusing primarily on goods that are in season and produced locally.
If you would like to find out more about this supply
chain initiative and how it might benefit your own business. Contact Fiona
Robbie on email: fiona.robbie@optimat.co.uk
or tel: 01355 272 800
St Andrew's Week, 23-30 November 2005
A dedicated programme of celebrations, including concerts; exhibitions and activities; and dance and drama, has been developed for the annual St Andrew's week festival, now in its tenth year.
For further information on the festival, including
programme details visit www.standrewsweek.co.uk
Falkland lifts Scotland in Bloom Awards
The outstanding conservation village of Falkland
has won a number of prizes at this year's Beautiful Scotland in Bloom
Awards, including the VisitScotland Awards for Tourism. Falkland was also
named best large village and best overall village while Fife Council received
the IWM Scottish Centre Trophy.
Kingdom of Fife Short Breaks Guide
VisitScotland Fife will soon be publishing its
2005/2006 short breaks guide, which features 28 establishments and their
short break offers. 20,000 copies of the guide are being produced for
distribution through a range of channels, including direct mail.
Highlands of Scotland
Launch of North West Highlands Geopark
The North West Highlands Geopark was officially opened earlier this month at Knockan Crag as part of the Scottish Geology Festival.
North West Highlands was awarded Geopark status, a European accolade recognised by UNESCO, because of the area's special, diverse geology and spectacular landscapes that stretch from Achiltibuie and Knockan in the south to Cape Wrath and Loch Eriboll in the north.
Scottish National Heritage's visitor centre at Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, where the near horizontal sliding movement of older rocks over younger rocks was first identified, was also an important factor in the area becoming Geopark.
Find out more information about the North West
Highlands Geopark at www.northwest-highlands-geopark.org.uk
Highland Feast, 29 September - 9 October
Kicking off in the City of Inverness with a spectacular river light-show starring the River Ness and Inverness Castle, this year's vibrant Highland Feast menu features an abundance of tempting options.
Ranging from dinners served with a side of drama, glitzy ceilidhs and cruises, to porridge making championships, farmers' markets and the family friendly Nairn Fresh Food Fun-day, there is something for everyone. Add to this a generous helping of special accommodation deals and you have all the ingredients for the north of Scotland's premier food and drink event.
For a full list of events visit www.highlandfeast.co.uk
or call the festival hotline on tel: 01463 222915 to order your festival
brochure.
Cawdor Castle gains gold status with VisitScotland
The historic attraction Cawdor Castle has won a gold award in its first season as a participant in VisitScotland's Green Tourism Business Scheme.
Martin Webb of the Green Tourism Business Scheme
said: "This award is a great credit to the efforts of all the staff
at Cawdor Castle and demonstrates that historic buildings and their estates
can be run in a suitable manner which can add ton the experience of the
visitor while reducing their impact on the environment."
Perthshire
Perthshire - perfect for colour and culture this autumn
VisitScotland Perthshire, Perth Concert Hall marketing group Horsecross and Perth City Partnership have joined forces to promote the great outdoors and cultural events taking place throughout the area.
A national marketing campaign will target potential visitors in the central belt of Scotland and northern England, urging visitors to come to Perthshire to experience all that the area has to offer and raising awareness of the area's diverse programme of seasonal events.
Find out more about the events taking place over
the next couple of months at www.perthshire.co.uk
or contact VisitScotland Perthshire's Autumn Colours hotline on tel: 01796
472 215 / 472 751
Perthshire autumn events
A number of great events are taking place throughout Perthshire this autumn, so if your visitors are looking for something to do, why not point them in the direction of one of the area's events. Some of the key events coming up are:
- The legendary Enchanted Forest light and sound extravaganza in Perthshire's Big Tree Country featuring a bold choreographic creation of dramatic light and sound performances inspired by the natural world - October 21 - 6 November, in the beautiful Faskally Wood near Pitlochry.
- The Colin McRae Forest Stages GHI Rally, part of the County SAAB Scottish Rally Championship returns to Perthshire on 1 October with the very best in motorsport action. Competitors again have a chance of tackling some of British rallying's most famous forests such as Craigvinean, Funab, Errochty and Drummond Hill.
- The Crieff & Strathearn Drovers' Tryst Walking Festival, 8 - 15 October - From climbing the local Munros to a children's Creepy Crawly walk, the Drover's Tryst Walking Festival has something for everyone. Other attractions include the Strathearn's live street theatre, live music, ceilidh, pipe bands and the farmers' market. Visitors can also take part in abseiling, weaving, spinning and glassblowing or savour Strathearn's colourful whisky history.
For more information on events and attractions
in Perthshire, visit www.perthshire.co.uk
Virtual Pride & Passion
Pride & Passion has just launched its new website - the virtual Head Quarters of the Pride & Passion movement - to help us all ensure we deliver to our visitors.
The new website, www.prideandpassion.net, tells you all about the Pride & Passion movement and gives practical hints, tips and tools to help your business deliver a fantastic service.
Hint and tips cover every angle:
- Visitors - learning more about and getting
feedback from your visitors
- Business - improving what you do and
how you do it
- Staff - motivating and encouraging your staff
- Community - sharing good ideas within
your community
- You - getting more out of what you do
So take a few minutes to visit www.prideandpassion.net
and see how it can help you and your business.
Wilderness Scotland wins Tourism Business of the Year award
Well done to Wilderness Scotland Ltd, winner of this year's Tourism Business of the Year award, sponsored by VisitScotland as part of the Orange National Business Tourism Awards for Scotland.
The Edinburgh based adventure travel specialists won the award for their excellent sales growth, innovative programme of adventure trips and commitment to responsible tourism.
More information can be found at www.wildernessscotland.com
and www.wild-scotland.co.uk.
Golf Tourism Scotland annual dinner
Following the success of the SIGTOA Awards, the 2005 event will be the first under the new Golf Tourism Scotland banner. Recognised as the premier awards for golf related tourism, this annual event has become a celebration of the best of Scottish golf.
Golf Tourism Scotland is delighted to invite members and guests to the Golf Tourism Scotland Annual Awards Dinner at the Westin Turnberry Resort on Thursday 10 November 2005.
For more information contact Denise McKee, awards
dinner co-ordinator on tel: 01436 657 854 or email: denise.mckee@perrygolf.com.
The TIG map - learning from one another
The Tourism Innovation Group (TIG), which exists for foster innovation and creativity in Scottish tourism and collaboration between operators, is creating an inter-active map to help area action and marketing groups learn from one another.
The map, which will be available through scotexchange.net, aims to encourage groups to get in touch with other groups to find out what they are doing, what has worked well and how similar problems have been overcome.
If you would like to get involved please email: sue.crossman@tourisminnovation.com with details of your group/organisation (name, contact name, email, telephone, website) and 100 words describing your group/organisation.
For further information please contact Sue or Emma at TIG on tel: 0131 220 6338.
EventScotland's main programme is the International Events Programme. It is designed to attract events that will generate significant economic benefits and international media profile for Scotland.
EventScotland's Regional Programme is designed to complement the International Events Programme by showcasing towns and regions across the country and driving domestic tourism. It is a competitive application programme for support of cultural and sporting events held outside the larger metropolitan areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
For further information or to download a copy of
the autumn edition of EventScotland news, visit www.eventscotland.org.
New search and book facility
Visitscotland.com has recently introduced a booking facility direct from the home page which allows users to book available accommodation quickly and easily in fewer than 5 clicks.
This service is in keeping with competitors in the online market place and is in line with the ever-increasing expectations of the online consumer who demand websites to be quick and efficient in their purchasing requests.
The results will show a list of available accommodation which can be booked from the website. In order to appear on this list the accommodation provider will have an established relationship with visitscotland.com.
The new Search facility is open to all accommodation providers, however, we would like to remind providers that if they are to take advantage of this new booking facility they must either:
- Give visitscotland.com rooms on allocation,
- Update their availability to visitscotland.com
regularly, or
- Update their availability through their area network office or local TIC
Provided accommodation providers ensure visitscotland.com
is aware of their availability, and are showing in the database as having
availability on the dates the consumer is searching for, they will show
up in the results of the new Search and Book facility.