Press release -
Businesses urged to capitalise on Clackmannanshire tourism opportunities
A special event aimed at helping Clackmannanshire businesses capitalise on the opportunities offered by the growing tourism sector will be held next week.
Taking place in the evening of Tuesday 23 February at the splendid Inglewood House & Spa – one of the newest and most impressive tourism businesses in the area – the free event is being organised by VisitScotland on behalf of the partners in the Discover Clackmannanshire group.
It’s one of the first events in the country for tourism businesses following the launch of VisitScotland’s new ‘Spirit of Scotland’ brand, website and #ScotSpirit social media movement last week.
VisitScotland’s Head of Customer Experience, Vicki Miller will speak at the event to provide insight into the Spirit of Scotland campaign, which will involve TV, radio, print and digital advertising and social media.
She will be encouraging Clackmannanshire businesses such as accommodation providers, attractions, restaurants and bars to so ensure they benefit from the campaign’s profile by taking full advantage of a free listing on the new visitscotland.com website.
Attendees will also find out about the key projects in a new tourism strategy for Clackmannanshire to 2020 designed to drive business growth in the area.
They will hear from tourism industry expert Kim Proven, chair of the Loch Earn Tourism Information group, who will speak to attendees about the successes that can be achieved for an area through partnership working.
They will also have the chance to browse a Business Support Marketplace, comprising stands by Ceteris/Business Gateway, Clackmannanshire Works, Digital Tourism Scotland, Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER and VisitScotland.
VisitScotland Regional Partnerships Director, Liz Buchanan MBE, who will host the event, said:
“The launch of our Spirit of Scotland campaign presents a huge opportunity for businesses and areas to increase their profile. Our website, visitscotland.com, is seen by 20 million unique visitors a year, so making the most of a free listing is good sense for businesses and the area as a whole. More Clackmannanshire businesses on the website means richer content on Clackmannanshire, making the area more attractive to visitors.”
“We have designed this event around business support, setting out as many free opportunities as possible, so it really is not to be missed by retailers, cafes, bars, accommodation providers or anyone else in the local tourism industry.”
Cllr Donald Basillie, Convener of Enterprise & Environment at Clackmannanshire Council said:
"I am very pleased to see this event taking place in Clackmannanshire. There are exciting opportunities ahead for the tourism industry in Clackmannanshire, new businesses have opened, and others have grown. In addition, we are well placed to take advantage of Scotland's theme years, having much to contribute to the 2016 Year of Architecture, Design and Innovation, and the 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. This is an excellent opportunity to work in partnership to showcase our vibrant heritage, and we look forward to finding out how our local businesses would like to get involved."
The event will run from 5.30pm to 8.00pm. It will include the opportunity for networking over drinks and canapes as well as a tour of Inglewood House.
Businesses need to register their free place online at:
https://clackmannanshire2016.eventbrite.co.uk
ENDS
For further information contact:
Ellen Drummond Ferroni
VisitScotland Corporate Press Officer
T: 0141 566 4019; M: 07801 820757;
E: ellen.drummondferroni@visitscotland.com
Please note, I do not work on Fridays - when queries should be directed to Corporate Press Manager Kate Turnbull on 0131 472 2324 or kate.turnbull@visitscotland.com
Out of hours enquiries all week: 07699 766986
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- business events
- corporate communications
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
- Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
- Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business events in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 - 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design begins on 1 January 2016 and ends on 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the current 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- Join the conversation at #IAD2016
- Events can join the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design Partner Programme throughout the year by visiting http://www.eventscotland.org/YIAD_partner_programme
