Moray Tourism Destination Development.

An exciting programme of Golf Tourism Workshops are taking place next week around Scotland. The workshops have been organised by Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with Golf Tourism Scotland, VisitScotland, the Scottish Golf Union, SDI and Tourism Intelligence Scotland.

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

To all accommodation providers in Moray:

Please take a few minutes of your valuable time to help us by completing this quick 5 question accommodation survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2010-Moray-survey

This survey has been developed to measure the state of the Moray tourism sector over the year 2010.

This survey is completely anonymous and will only show the total results per Moray Ward area but will be very important to measure the state of tourism in Moray.

The outcome of this accommodation survey will be available to the different stake holders in Moray Tourism like the different area community groups, Moray Council, HIE, and the Moray Task force to enable them to emphasise the importance of tourism investment and promotion of the Moray area.

Hope you will be able to help to make this the biggest and most reliable Moray accommodation survey ever!

Your help is much appreciated!

on behalf of the Moray Tourism Development Group

Rene Looper

Thank you!

ScotHot is looking to recognise and award the industry’s future talent. If you are a talented, ambitious young manager the FREE to enter ScotHot Young Restaurateur and ScotHot Young Hotelier Awards are a unique opportunity to be recognised by the whole industry.

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.

You are warmly invited to a public consultation meeting of the Moray Way Association to be held on Monday 24th. January at 7 pm. in the Lounge of Elgin Town Hall.

This will be the third such meeting of local business and community groups. The first registered enthusiasm for the concept of a Moray Way, the second set out some objectives, many of which have been or are about to be achieved with financial help from Walkers and LEADER.

For example the Walkers map has been published and widely distributed throughout the county, the Dava Way signage has been updated thanks to volunteer work parties form the Dava Way Association, new signposts and waymarkers for the Coast Trail have been made and are currently in store ready to be put in place.

In November two guides to the route were published, namely the Rucksack Reader “The Moray Coast Trail with the Dava Way”, and the updated Cicerone Press Guide to the Speyside Way which covers the entire Moray Way. The Association is in contact with similarly involved groups around Scotland and there is every expectation that each of the three constituent paths, viz. the Dava Way, the Moray Coast Trail and the Speyside Way will be among the twenty or so paths to be nominated as “Scotland’s Great Trails” in forthcoming Scottish Natural Heritage and Visit Scotland publicity.

At the 24 Jan meeting we aim to press forward by having your help and input to address a number of specific questions, viz.

1. The Moray Way is an undoubted tourist asset. How can this be translated into revenue generation for businesses and communities in Moray?

2. How can the activities of MW Association best relate to other organisations with contingent goals such as the Moray Tourism Executive and the Moray Task Force?

3. Can volunteer structure or structures for reporting and maintenance be instituted on the MCT and Speyside Way sections in conjunction with the Moray Countryside Service as happens on the Dava Way?

4. How can income be generated for maintenance and promotion? Specific ideas are video promotions and semi-national or national events, possibly with further LEADER funding.

5. How best to promote development and improvement (as opposed to maintenance), specifically matters like Lynemore rerouting, access at Lossiemouth/Kingston midpoint, formal parking at Dava.

6. What should be the future of the Moray Way Association itself? I hope you will be able to come along to the meeting.

Moray Chamber of Commerce events:

FRIDAY 28 JANUARY

HOT TOPIC & AFTERNOON TEA AT BAXTERS WITH ANGUS ROBERTSON MP

RESPONDING TO CHANGE

In the US where decisions are taken to close or realign military bases then an agency of the US Department of Defence steps in and assists the local community. The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) has a long standing and successful record in managing economic transition in defence dependent areas. By contrast, in the UK, the MoD announces a base closure and then provides no assistance. Angus Robertson will discuss this topic and look at ways how the business community can look to manage any transition required when we know the future of both our air bases. 3pm Start – Members £8.00/Friends £10.00

WEDNESDAY 16 FEBRUARY

VISIT BY JIM MATHER MSP, MINISTER FOR ENTERPRISE, ENERGY AND TOURISM

Moray Chamber of Commerce facilitated a meeting in January with Jim Mather MSP giving local businesses the opportunity to discuss issues that affected them. In addition he endorsed the Counting Carbon Award a joint initiative with the Chamber and CIFAL Findhorn. At this session he will assist us in devising a strategy to respond to our concerns and ideas generated at the original meeting. This opportunity of bringing business people and local regulators together again will allow us to consider how to move quickly to create more jobs and economic activity. The session at Horizon Business Centre, Forres will be FREE and registration will begin at 10.30am.

A networking lunch will follow at the Ramnee Hotel at 12.30pm.

Members £25.00/Friends£35.00

WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, SUNNINGHILL HOTEL, ELGIN

FRIDAY 29 APRIL

THE MORAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL WHISKY SUPPER – with special guests -

Celebrating Moray Chamber’s 10th Anniversary and the Royal Wedding, with a marriage of whiskies from Macallan Distillery at the Craigellachie Hotel. Cocktails at 7pm – followed by a fine dining experience over 5 courses and a Fireworks Finale. Members £60.00/Friends £70.00

MORAY TASK FORCE NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Save Lossie Action Group has gained the most amazing amount of local and national coverage with their March and People’s Petition. Members and Friends of Moray Chamber of Commerce have given support to their campaign and they would like to say thank you by offering 10 complimentary tickets to their event on Wednesday 19th January. Let me know if you would like to go, tickets cost £5.00 and the first 10 who respond will go free! Do try and support this event which will seat 250 to see the much loved British classic film The Dam Busters. In addition you will get the opportunity to hear the winning campaign song and video. The venue is the Moray Playhouse and 8pm is the start time. Tickets are also on sale from Lossiemouth Post Office, Grampian Furnishers and Buckley’s Newsagents in Lossiemouth as well as the cinema.

DONATIONS ARE STILL NEEDED!

Martin Thomson, manager of the Moray Playhouse will allow proceeds from ticket sales to go to the Moray Task Force Trust Fund. It is critical that our message is heard louder than ever and if you have any ideas for national coverage or would like to donate financially then please get in touch with me or send a cheque made payable to The Moray Task Force Trust Fund to the address below. Alternatively you can pay by BACS – MORAY TASK FORCE TRUST FUND: BANK OF SCOTLAND, ELGIN: SORT CODE 80-06-66: ACCOUNT NO. 06018969.

FLEXIBLE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Susan Chalmers advises me that Skills Development Scotland still have money in the budget for their Flexible Training Opportunities. Information is available on their website http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-for-employers/encourage-employees-to-develop-new-skills.aspx The programme is open to self employed people / sole traders and social enterprises as well as to private sector SMEs with employees.

To book events contact:

Lesley Ann Parker

Chief Executive Moray Chamber of Commerce
17 Victoria Street Craigellachie
Aberlour-on-Spey,
AB38 9SR
Tel: 01340 881226
Mobile: 07887 846495

info@moraychamber.co.uk

Over 2,500 businesses across Scotland have so far registered with Tourism Intelligence Scotland to receive practical insights and inspirational ideas to help their business grow. The latest guides in TIS’s ‘Opportunities for Growth’ series – ‘Food & Drink Experience in Scotland’ and its partner ‘At Your Service’ aimed at customer facing staff – have proved extremely popular, with small and large businesses alike benefiting from the range of case studies, hints and top tips for making the most of local food and drink and improving their culinary offering.

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!

News from Business Gateway:

Are you thinking about self employment? It can sometimes be tricky to take time out during the day to visit Business Gateway so, to ensure more flexible access to our support services, we are now offering half hour appointments on Wednesday evenings between 5 and 8pm in our Elgin office.

These evenings will be held on 19th January, 26th January, 2nd February and 9th February. To book an appointment, or for further information on the practical help, advice and support we provide for new and growing businesses, please call Lynn on 01343 563634.

Visit by Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism

The Scottish Government Minister responsible for business growth will visit Moray on 10 January 2011 to hear at first hand from local businesses about some of the economic challenges facing the region. The Minister – whose portfolio also includes Energy – will also begin the search for the region’s greenest business with the launch of a new ‘Counting Carbon Award’ in recognition of businesses that have set new standards in carbon reduction.

The Ministerial visit comes against the backdrop of rising business costs, a faltering recovery, and with the future of the RAF in Moray still unclear. A question and answer session will be held in Forres, giving Chamber members an opportunity to quiz Jim Mather on these, and other, issues. This is an opportunity to meet one of the most senior members of the Scottish Government and put the issues that affect your business direct to the Minister.

The free event is being held on Monday 10 January at Horizon Business Centre in Forres and will be followed by a networking lunch, at the Ramnee Hotel, Forres priced £25 for Chamber members, and £35 for non members.

Registration begins at 10.30am, with the Q&A following at 11.00am and lunch at 12.30pm. Tickets are available from Moray Chamber of Commerce, priced £25 for members and £35 for non members. Contact Lesley Ann Parker on 01340 881226 or email info@moraychamber.co.uk to reserve your place.

Rural businesses across Scotland received an early Christmas present today when they were announced as finalists in the country’s prestigious Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards.

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!

Latest news from the Moray Task Force:

Ministers have taken decisive action to support Scottish communities suffering from the uncertainty created by the UK Government’s strategic defence and security review.

First Minister Alex Salmond today unveiled a new £300,000 initiative to create training and development opportunities for people facing potential redundancy in Moray as a result of the planned withdrawal of the RAF from Kinloss.

The task force supporting the community campaign to keep the RAF in Moray has asked for assistance to counter the impact of defence cuts on the area. A final decision on RAF Lossiemouth isn’t expected until April.

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