Moray Tourism Destination Development.

Submitted by the business via the “Add new event” form

Wednesday 21 July 2010 at 7.00pm

This is an opportunity for business people to come and try Aquaplay Scotland’s inflatable kayaks on the River Spey at Tamdhu Station, Knockando. We provide personal and team development training, safe handling, risk assessment courses, outings and parties for families, stag and hen activities.

This free evening will give you an opportunity to meet us and see some of the exciting challenges we can offer. All you need to bring is your enthusiasm, towel and shoes that can get wet. Numbers limited to 30 so please e mail us to book your place/s info@aquaplayscotland.com Visit our web site at www.aquaplayscotland.com Tamdhu Station, Knockando

News from AncestralScotland.com

Scotland is to stage a second year of Homecoming in 2014, it has been confirmed. The event will coincide with the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup, as well as the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

The 2009 year-long event marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and attracted 95,000 new visitors to Scotland. Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond made the announcement earlier this week: “In 2014 the eyes of the world will be on Scotland as the Commonwealth Games comes to Glasgow and Gleneagles hosts the Ryder Cup and Scots at home and abroad mark the anniversary of Bannockburn. In this year of celebration, repeating the remarkable success and benefits of Homecoming 2009 is an excellent opportunity to attract tourism and investment and showcase the very best of Scotland. More…

For more info on Moray Ancestral Tourism see the excellent Local Heritage Service web site

Moray Chamber of Commerce Press release:

Buckie Lifeboat Station and its crew have been saving lives off the Moray coast for the past 150 years. Throughout that time the lifeboat has been close to the hearts of the people of Buckie who have given freely of their time and money to support this much loved charity.

In order to mark this very special anniversary a week long celebration has been planned, from 12 – 19 June, the main purpose of which is to commemorate and celebrate 150 years of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Buckie. The event will also raise funds to continue to support the Lifeboats and the programme includes the temporary re-opening of the Buckie Drifter especially for the event which will be open from 10am-4pm for teas, coffees and lunches as well as displaying memorabilia for the duration of the week long event.

One of the main events is the Lifeboat Dinner, to be held on Saturday 12 June, in the Fishermen’s Hall, an occasion which will honour current crew and also give people an opportunity to support the RNLI by bidding generously at a charity auction. John Lowrie Morrison (Jolomo) has donated an original oil painting for the auction. The painting “Wee Croft, Isle of Gigha” will be displayed in the newly re-vamped whisky and wine shop at Baxters Highland Village prior to the auction for the purpose of allowing those who are not attending the sold out dinner to offer sealed bids which will be taken into account on the evening.

Baxter’s Highland Village manager Gordon Dutoy said, “Our staff will be on hand to take visitors bids which should include the amount they want to pay for the painting as well as their contact details including name, address and telephone number.” Alison Douglas, Buckie lifeboat station chairwoman commented, “We have recently joined Moray Chamber of Commerce and would like to thank Lesley Ann Parker the chief executive for her help in arranging this auction item.” Miss Parker said “This is a great opportunity to show how working together with member companies and friends can bring benefit to our third sector partners and displaying the painting at Baxters allows us to promote the RNLI anniversary event to a wider audience. Jolomo is one of Scotland’s best loved and well-known living contemporary landscape painters. People all over the world are familiar with Jolomo’s brilliant and highly sought after paintings and we are delighted to be associated with the Jolomo Studio.”

CONTACT LESLEY ANN PARKER 01340 881226/MOBILE 07887 846495

We received the below invitation of Historic Scotland inviting Moray accommodation businesses to a visitor attractions fair on Wednesday 16th June 2010 at Fort George from 11am until 4pm.

To gain entry on that day print the below PDF file

For visitor attractions interested in exhibiting let us know. A great initiative!

Fort george fam trip (PDF file)

In response to feedback that a large number of businesses are going to be unable to attend the event planned for Wednesday 19 May, 2010, the Board of Moray Tourism Development has decided to postpone this event.

In its place a programme of networking and business support events are being organised. This is in response to feedback received from businesses at our launch event that they would value the opportunity to network and meet with other businesses and be able share ideas, knowledge and information.

Our first event will focus on marketing and will take place on Monday 14 June 2010 at the Knockomie Hotel in Forres, from 7:00pm – 9:30pm. The hotel has very kindly offered to sponsor this first event and as a result on this occasion it will be free of charge. Numbers will be limited to 40 so register early to secure your place.

On Wednesday 15 September 2010, a Moray Tourism conference will be held from 11:00am to 4:00pm, with registration and networking from 10:00am.

More networking events are being organised for July, October and November. We will publicise details of our full programme of events for 2010 soon on the www.Moray-tourism.info. We’ll keep you posted.

To register for the networking event in June please fill in the form below.

City&Guilds Hospitality Customer Service (7011)

This introductory, subject specific course provides effective grounding in the principles of Customer Service. It is designed to provide a knowledge base which staff can then convert into practical application.
After a full day’s tuition knowledge is assessed by a short, multiple choice exam.

First Course Date 24/5/10

Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 2 Team Leading Award

This qualification consists of a choice of short units which can be studied independently to achieve the Award. Ideally suited to anyone currently leading a team or looking for promotion within a Hospitality or Tourism business, these units can be studied over a period of time to build up an effective professional development portfolio.

Course dates will be confirmed following receipt of applications.

N.B
ILM Team Leading and City and Guilds Certificate in Hospitality Customer Service are available through Moray College’s “Customers First” project . This project is partly funded by the European Social Fund through the structural funds of the Highlands and Islands Partnership programme. Businesses in the West of Moray catchment area are eligible.

For further details please email or contact me on 01343 576346. See booking form for registering interest below.

Deadline for booking 24/5/10 class is Monday 10th May 2010

Booking form

VisitScotland in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park is delighted to host the 7th Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS), the annual global gathering of adventure tourism professionals, at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort in October 2010. Previous summits have been held in Norway, Brazil and Quebec.

Up to 600 delegates representing nearly 50 countries worldwide are anticipated to attend the summit at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort. Delegates will include outbound and inbound tour operators, destination management organisations, wholesalers, specialty travel agents, accommodation and activity providers with an interest in Adventure Tourism.

To find out how you can get involved visit: http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre/adventure_travel_world_summit.aspx

Date for in the diary: 19 May 2010

As this will be the date for the next Moray Tourism event. From feedback following the Launch event held at Glenfiddich we know that most of you wanted more time to network to make valuable connections.

Place: Elgin
Time: 10:30-3:30
More details to follow…..

A topic-based course for people to improve their English to work in the hotel, (and associated tourism), industry. Students will learn and practise the language skills needed to deal with English speaking guests.
Students will need at least a good basic knowledge of English.

4 hours a week, w/c 19th April by negotiation with employers. Venues to be arranged, in employers premises if required.”

Please contact Christine Dexter for further details:
christine.dexter@moray.uhi.ac.uk
01309 675697

News from Outfit Moray

Outfit Moray is delighted to announce 3 after school clubs running through the Summer Term. The clubs are designed to help young people to develop their skills in rock climbing, kayaking or surfing, and are open to young people aged between 9 and 15. The clubs will run over 4 evenings, and the cost is highly subsidised. For more information or to download a booking form, visit our website at www.outfitmoray.com or call us on 01343 549571.