Date: Wednesday 20th April 2011
Venue: Knockomie Hotel, Forres.
Time: 10:30am – 3.00pm

The event will include:

· Insights into Scotland and Moray’s key visitor markets and how you can align you’re marketing to     get maximum return.

· Background to the Moray Speyside brand and Moray’s target markets

· Recently gathered local intelligence

· Insights into some of Moray’s product niches: Food, Wildlife/Nature and Golf.

· A creative session to generate ideas for new products and collaborations

Book now to secure one of the last two remaining places by contacting Susan Catto, Highlands and Islands Enterprise,

t: 01463 244 450 or e: susan.catto@hient.co.uk

Full details available here: Intelligence and Innovation Workshop

Great opportunity for B&B owners to promote their business and the MoraySpeyside area:

Channel 4 is back to make a second series of Four In a Bed and you could be a part of it.

• Do you think you have a great B&B?
• Would you like to show the nation why they should book in?
• Do you think your business knowledge would make you a good judge of other peoples B&Bs?

They would like to talk to passionate and out-going Bed and Breakfast owners for the second series of Channel Four’s popular Four In a Bed.

They are looking for B&B owners who feel they have something special to offer their customers – and are willing to put their businesses to the test. They’re looking for a wide range of B&Bs, but they’ll all be run by proud B&B owners.

For more information please contact Studio Lambert ASAP on fourinabed@studiolambert.com Please state the name of the B&B that you run, your contact details and tell us why you are so proud of your business.

The theme of the workshops is how to use market intelligence to improve your bottom line. As well as three key-note presentations, the workshops will also include a Q&A session, creative innovation and a networking buffet lunch.

The workshops will be held on 8th February at Meldrum House Country Hotel, Aberdeenshire,10th February at Longniddry Golf Club, East Lothian,15th February at Panmure Golf Club, Tayside and 17th February at South Ayrshire Council County Buildings, Ayrshire, 22nd February Nairn Golf Club, Highlands.

Bookings can be made by contacting Elaine Townsend on 0131 225 5734 or admin@golftourismscotland.com.

Free of charge for GTS members or £25 + vat for non members

For further details please contact please visit www.golftourismscotland.com

Sponsored by Caterer.com, the Awards celebrate the very best of Scotland’s new talent, recognising young Scottish restaurant and hotel managers who are 30 or under, are achieving success for their business and have clearly demonstrated the key attributes of being a successful manager.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the very best professionals in the industry, judges of the competition are looking for individuals who have already helped to make a significant difference to their establishment, demonstrating strong, inspirational leadership skills and commitment to exceptional customer care.

To register see the links below:

ScotHot Young Scottish Restaurateur of the Year Award

ScotHot Young Scottish Hotelier of the Year Award

If this does not apply to you and you would like to nominate someone in MoraySpeyside please email Elise MacDonald or call her on 0131-557-5767.

We’ve loved receiving comments such as:

“I have just read the Food & Drink Experience in Scotland guide – it’s brilliant! There are some very simple and practical ideas inside”. “I am reeling from the fabulous content in the At Your Service guide – FANTASTIC AND THOUGHT PROVOKING!!”

Registered businesses can access all the guides in the series- including Adventure Travel, Golf, Scottish Tourism in the Future and Knowing our Markets – online now at www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk

The latest edition of TIS’s Ear to the Ground newsletter, out this week, will provide you with all the information you need to make the most of the business opportunities around the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games, plus the Scottish Government’s ‘Homecoming Legacy Years’.

The London 2012 Olympics are forecast to generate over £2.1 billion in tourism gains for the whole of the UK, with the ‘post-Games’ legacy alone worth some £1.27 billion for areas outside London. Ear to the Ground will signpost you to a range of resources to help you make the most of the commercial opportunities.

The Commonwealth Games in 2014 will showcase Glasgow and Scotland to a global audience. Find out about the practical steps which you can start to take now to maximise the benefits the Games will bring.

The Ear to the Ground newsletter and ‘Opportunities for Growth’ guides are ONLY available to businesses that have registered on the TIS website, so please register your details today at www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk

Tourism Intelligence Scotland is a joint venture developed by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and VisitScotland, in partnership with the tourism industry, to stimulate growth and innovation in tourism. Register now!

Local food producers, retailers, community organisations and activity businesses, from the Borders to the Highlands have been selected for detailed judges’ visits for the awards by the Scottish Countryside Alliance.

Mither Tongue, a Scots language speciality shop in Keith, is through to the finals of the Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards 2010 in the “Best Village Shop” category.

Another Moray business, MacBeth the butchers in Forres is shortlisted for the “Best rural enterprise” award.

Both businesses have been invited to the Awards Ceremony at the Holyrood Parliament on 26 January, and we wish them both well, good luck!

Tourism Intelligence Scotland’s latest guide, ‘Food and Drink Experience in Scotland’, outlines a host of practical ideas and suggestions which will help you improve your bottom line and could generate an additional £1 more per visitor simply by using quality, fresh, local produce.

The guide will provide you with facts and figures about the market, an understanding of what visitors want from our food, ideas for adding local flavour to menus, tips on sourcing locally and collaborating with Scottish food suppliers and lots more!

Download the guide here: E blast – launch of food guide

The Moray Firth Coast has been voted one of the most breathtaking coasts in the world in a survey by National Geographic Traveller magazine.

A panel at the international magazine made up of 340 experts in sustainable tourism, was asked to rate different locations using criteria such as environmental quality, social and cultural integrity, the condition of historic sites, aesthetic appeal and outlook for the future. “Outstanding cliff scenery” and “a strong community feeling.” impressed the judges and they cited the role of tourism in “helping keep pretty coastal villages afloat.”

The stunning stretch of seafront from Inverness to Peterhead was one of only two UK spots to secure the accolade, with Pembrokeshire in Wales also being credited.

On the day this accolade was announced VisitScotland Chairman, Dr Mike Cantlay was in Moray to discuss tourism opportunities with local representatives. He met with the Moray Tourism Development Group and Moray Task Force to hear their feedback at grassroots level, and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration and growth throughout the region.

The Chairman’s visit comes hot on the heels of VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead’s meeting with local stakeholder groups in Moray alongside representatives from the Scottish Government and others from across the Public Sector in the wake of the announcement to close the RAF Kinloss base and the possibility of the RAF Lossiemouth base closure. Here, Mr Roughead pledged VisitScotland’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Moray economy.

See the article in National Geographic Traveller Magazine here.

The Archiestown Hotel, with its characteristic walled garden, has been the focal point of the historic village of Archieston for over 200 years, and is situated right in the heart of Scotland’s Whisky Trail. Further east, Trochelhill B&B just outside Fochabers, is a large Victorian country house set in expansive mature gardens and enjoys unspoiled views of surrounding Speyside.

The coveted ‘Gold Star’ accolade was launched by VisitScotland to highlight establishments within the QA scheme who have gone the extra mile to exceed customer expectations. Often seen as front line ambassadors for Scotland’s tourism industry, the recipients display genuine enthusiasm for the hospitality they offer. These establishments show a real commitment to service and customer care in everything they do from the welcome and friendliness on arrival, to the quality of the food, and the final farewell.

The gold award winners are selected from those currently participating within VisitScotland’s QA schemes for Hotels, B&Bs, Inns and Restaurants with Rooms, covering a range of star rated properties. Gold awards are discretionary and take into account current QA scores (particularly hospitality and service), QA scoring history, and customer feedback record where appropriate. The awards are limited to a select few establishments and are reviewed each year during an assessment visit.

Text from VisitScotland

Great coverage of Moray Coast in BBC Life  ”N” Deadly program, see:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vlt29/Live_n_Deadly_Scotland/

Some positive coverage after all the coverage of RAF closure(s) We have to show Moray as an exciting and active tourism destination so let us know of any more press releases, tv coverage that you know of that shows MoraySpeyside as an “open for business” destination.