Moray Tourism Destination Development.

Archiestown Hotel by Aberlour and Trochelhill B&B in Fochabers are the latest Moray businesses to come out shining, each receiving gold star awards under VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance (QA) scheme which recognises exceptional hospitality and service.

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.

Latest: Our joint event with Moray College, on 17 November, has been postponed until February 2011 due to the current uncertainty amongst local tourism businesses as a result of the closure of RAF Kinloss and the threatened closure of RAF Lossiemouth. We will let you know the revised date as soon as possible.

Moray Tourism Development in partnership with Moray College

Sponsored by Highland Employer Coalition

are delighted to be hosting

‘Recruiting, Retaining and Developing the Right Staff for your Business’

• Do you have difficulty finding and keeping skilled staff?
• Do you need support to access the right skills training for your business?
• Do you want to find out more about the organisations who can help you with these issues?
• Do you want to meet other businesses, to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for joint working?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then this is a must attend event for you. We would like you to join us on:-

Wednesday 17th November 10.30am in the Conference Room in Moray College

The event will finish at 12.30pm with a networking lunch and the opportunity to network with a range of partner organisations. For more information please see the information sheet.

The focus of the day will be the Scottish Tourism Framework for Change and more specifically the national Skills Strategy 2010-2015 which has the potential to be applied to great effect in Moray.

Attending will be a panel of prominent speakers from local businesses, education and hospitality bodies.

• Promotion and Retention of New Talent – Jenifer Cameron, Regional Manager Springboard Scotland
• Customer Service – Jonathan Ross, General Manager of Boath House
• Leadership and Management – Neil Simco, Dean of Business and Leisure,
• UHI Millennium Institute Improving Skills – Garry Rendall, Assistant Director of Construction, Science, Sport and Hospitality, Moray College

With the pressures faced by businesses today, this event offers an opportunity to work together, learn from each other and share knowledge which will encourage economic growth within the Hospitality and Tourism sector in Moray.

In addition the event provides an opportunity realise the potential of our area and nurture home grown talent through a combined and focussed vision. Students from Moray College will be assisting in the planning and organisation of the event. They will also be showcasing their skills in food preparation and service with a two course lunch served to you in Moray College’s Beechtree Restaurant.

Please be our guest for the day at Moray College. Please note that there is no charge for this event and as there are a limited number of places, applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, numbers limited to 40.

Johnstons of Elgin has it, Walkers Shortbread has it, Forsyth Group has it, Gordon & MacPhail has it and Hunted Cow Studios has it.

Do you have SCOTTISH EXPORT POTENTIAL?

Moray Chamber of Commerce is launching Scottish Export Potential. This group will provide an opportunity for all types of business from manufacturers to service providers from Moray and the north east to get together to discuss export issues, network and share learning to help their business grow in a global market.

The first event will also launch Smart Exporter locally. This initiative is supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) to help businesses export out of the recession. SMART EXPORTER Smart Exporter is a range of support and training that is available largely free of charge from Scottish Chambers International (SCI) and Scottish Development International (SDI) and will be launched in Moray at Johnstons Heritage Centre & Courtyard on Wednesday 10th November at 5.30pm so do come along whether you are already exporting or whether you are just starting to think about it.

James Dracup managing director of Johnstons of Elgin will give an inspirational talk about their global experiences and some taster training sessions will be run on the evening by SDI and SCI.

Private and exclusive Christmas shopping with 10% off on the evening for attendees will take place at 7.15pm when drinks and canapés will be available and art enthusiast Mark Gask of Gallery I will use this opportunity to show the beautiful painting “Union Jack” by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano and talk about how this image inspired the photograph to promote our networking platform. This original and valuable painting will be on display for one evening only. Shopping will finish at 9.30pm.

For the opportunity to meet with an export expert to discuss any immediate issues that you might have then book a free place by phoning 0844 344 0000 or e mail info@scottishchambersinternational.co.uk

Best Regards

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

Tuesday 9th november 2010, 6.30pm for 6.45pm

Whether you yourself are in need of a treat or know someone who deserves something special, we have the
answer!

With an exclusive insight into Cocoa Ooze luxury handmade chocolates and rejuvenating beauty treatments from Cloud Nine Beauty Salon, this is the ultimate night of relaxation for all you ladies out there. We will also showcase a range of wines from Gordon & MacPhail’s extensive selection.

At the event you will have the chance to taste and purchase the wines, watch a chocolate making demonstration whilst tasting some delicious handmade chocolates, and learn more about the latest beauty treatments available from Cloud Nine, including the revolutionary Minx Nails and Hollywood Lashes.

Cloud Nine are also offering the opportunity to receive a huge 50% discount on beauty treatments (applies to treatments booked on the night). From high quality wines to glamorous beauty treatments and luxury chocolates – you’re sure to find your ultimate indulgence!

Tickets for this exclusive event are priced at £10. On the evening, you will have the chance to taste and purchase various products and benefit from a number of exclusive discounted offers only available on the night, including a 5% discount on all purchases (excluding special offers).

If you would like to join us for what promises to be a delightful, educational and enticing evening, please contact Gordon & MacPhail, Retail Shop, South Street, Elgin. Tel: 01343 545110.

Tickets are priced at £10 each. Tickets very limited, so please hurry!

T: 01343 545110
E: marka@gordonandmacphail.com
W: www.gordonandmacphail.com

The New Workshop is nearly completed

Hugh and his team are about to move into the Conservation Training Workshop where they will refurbish the historic Woolmill textile machinery. This is a beautiful building constructed of wood with a metal roof and timber cladding. It is heated by a wood pellet boiler and the walls insulated with sheep’s wool.

See full story and more news here.

Exclusively available to all members of the Moray Tourism Development group we offer this opportunity to promote your Autumn offer via the new portal promoting the Moray and Speyside area.

This web portal will be promoted via a high profile PR and social media campaign starting soon.

Make sure you don’t miss this opportunity to promote your business for FREE!

Open to all MEMBERS, if you’re not a member yet, make sure you register here first.

Register your Autumn offer here.

Can you help us?

The next Dava Way working party will be Saturday 16th October to install finger posts and waymarkers between the Half Davoch road at Cowgreens and the Woodside diversion near the Rafford Bridge. The finger posts and waymarkers will be dropped off at their installation points where we will need to postcrete them in to a depth of about 1 metre.

There will also be some survey work at Peathillock to determine the drainage and surface improvement requirements for this flooded section.

We will be meeting at the Orchard Road car park opposite Applegrove School, at 9am.

Please let me know if you are available to help so that we can plan the working party tasks according to the number of volunteers we get!

ALSO – Many thanks to all the volunteers who braved the Dava midges to helped out at the last working party on 11th September (see photos).

Regards Pete Mitchell Dava Way Working Party Co-ordinator

Email: dwfriends@tiscali.co.uk

Tel: 01343 890273

Mob: 07881462217

The latest ear to the Ground newsletter from the Tourism Intelligence Scotland team. Full of useful info and tips. Click the picture to download it. Enjoy!

Date: Friday 8th October 2010
Time: 11.30am for 12.00pm – 2pm
Venue: Horizon Scotland, Forres
Cost: This is a free of charge event
Speakers: Lesley Ann Parker, Chief Executive, Moray Chamber of Commerce (Chair); Jim Maxwell, Co-operative Development Scotland; Chris Kerr, Harper Macleod; Jamie Waugh, Johnston Carmichael Co-operating for Growth

The Moray economy depends on small businesses but many of these businesses would benefit from working collaboratively, pooling their strengths and sharing resources to help them grow.

Consortia co-operatives bring together businesses, partnerships or individuals to work in collaboration for any purpose which supports its members – typically buying, selling, marketing or sharing facilities or services, or joint bidding for contracts. They work well in any industry where businesses can benefit by pooling resources and buying power, particularly Food and Drink, Tourism, Forestry, Creative Industries and Renewable Energy.

Come along to this event to find out how you can grow your business through collaboration.

Jim Maxwell from Co-operative Development Scotland will describe the consortium co-operative model and how it can be used by a variety of business types. He will also outline the free support which is available to businesses considering this as a way forward.

Chris Kerr from Harper Macleod and Jamie Waugh of Johnston Carmichael will steer you through some of the legal and financial aspects you will need to consider if you are to successfully collaborate.

Also hear and share the experiences of companies already working as part of successful consortia.

Co-operative Development Scotland is a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise with a specialist role to advise new and growing co-operatives and employee owned businesses across Scotland, complementing the mainstream support provided by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Business Gateway.

Harper Macleod is a locally based law firm with substantial experience in advising family and employee owned businesses and co-operatives.

Johnston Carmichael is one of the leading firms of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in Scotland and has offices across the North East and the Highlands.

To book please contact me at info@moraychamber.co.uk

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