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Eat Out to Help Out - Still Active?
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This Monday saw the official last day of the successful Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, however many businesses are choosing to continue to offer this promotion to their customers. If you are a restaurant or cafe in the Causeway Coast & Glens area and you are you extending the scheme, or promoting an alternative offer during September, please let us know by emailing us at engagement@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk |
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Promote your Business via our Social Networks
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It has been a busy few months for the tourism team on social media. We were delighted to partner with 57 local tourism and hospitality businesses who provided content for our daily Facebook and Instagram #OpenForBusiness features. Overall, these posts accounted for 7,883 engagements on Visit Causeway’s Facebook page between July and August, reaching an average of 8,500 viewers per post, delivering 138 engagements per post and and average of 490 click throughs. Participating business with Instagram accounts were also included in an #OpenForBusiness series with 500-700 accounts viewing each Instagram Story.
These activities have played a crucial part in building our online audience. At the beginning of April we reached the milestone of 10,000 Instagram followers, which has since grown to 12,700 Facebook has increased from 2 5,500 followers at the end of March to 28,200 followers at the end of August. We are delighted with the support from the local tourism businesses and we would encourage all of you who are active on social media to continue to tag us @VisitCauseway and use the hashtag #VisitCauseway which makes it easier to share your content on our channels.
We would love to feature your business offers for autumn on our pages. Simply send details, accompanied by photos and/or video, your website and social media handles to marketing@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.
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Our Visitor Information Centres are here to help!
If you are an accommodation provider with availability please call our Portrush office on T 028 7082 3333.
If you have an activity/experience and would like our Visitor Information Centres to sell your tickets / tours please call our offices in:
Ballycastle T 028 2076 2024 or Bushmills T 028 2073 0390.
Open Monday-Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm (closed 1.00-1.30pm).
Cushendall Information Office is also open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm.
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Promote your business to 7,000 new students via Ulster University
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Ulster University is getting ready to welcome 7,000 new students this September across their four campuses Belfast, Jordanstown, Coleraine and Magee.
To help students settle in and get to know their campus and surrounding areas, the University would like to provide them with some bespoke offers and discounts from local businesses. The offers provided will not only be for students on the Coleraine campus, but will also encourage students from other campuses to make a visit to the Causeway Coast and Glens area.
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This is a great opportunity for you to target 7,000 brand new customers. If you’d like your business to be included in this promotion, please send your bespoke offer, along with T&Cs, to Sharon Hickie s.hickie@ulster.ac.uk by Friday 4th September.
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Discounts/offers must be valid for 4 weeks, beginning on Mon 21 September. Redemption could be made by a promotional code or upon presentation of a UU student ID card. The T&Cs are up to you. The discounts/offers will be promoted on Ulster’s website, social media channels and student guide.
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As ‘mass gatherings’ and outdoor events are not currently possible, in line with Government guidance Council will be adopting a very different approach to the delivery of this year's Halloween programme.
Our events team have planned a 10 day programme of events, from 24th October to 2nd November, comprising of some live events (with restricted numbers) - including story-telling, arts and crafts, walking tours and food tours - alongside a virtual Halloween, which includes a spell-binding look at cultural myths and legends from within the borough.
We would love to hear from you if you have any plans or promotions which you think could be included in our Halloween programme. Please respond with details by 25 September E engagement@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.
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Travellers' Choice Awards Success
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Ballycastle, Bushmills and Rathlin Boathouse Visitors Centre have all received a 'Travellers' Choice' Award from Trip Advisor for first class customer service, with consistently excellent reviews in 2019. The Ballycastle facility received the award last year for the first time and we are thrilled that Bushmills and Rathlin have joined the awards list this year.
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We are equally delighted that a number of our tourism trade from the Causeway Coast and Glens area, including Bushmills Inn, Shola B&B and Giant Tours Ireland, also received the 'Travellers' Choice' award. Congratulations to all our award winners, it is great credit to our industry particularly during these challenging times.
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NI Prestige Awards 2020/21 Nominate Now
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The Corporate Livewire Northern Ireland Prestige Awards 2020/21 recognise small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their market over the past 12 months. CLICK HERE for info and to nominate. |
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Government Funding Updates
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Apprenticeship Recovery Plan Announced
Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, has announced plans for an apprenticeship recovery package, with an additional £17.2million funding from the Executive to help bolster our local Apprenticeship system. The package will include financial support to incentivise businesses to return apprentices from furlough, retain them through this period of unprecedented uncertainty and continue their employment until they achieve their apprenticeship result. Full details of the package is yet to be announced.
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The Role of Food & Drink Tourism Webinar (TNI)
Tue 9 September @ 11am-12.30pm
Register and info HERE
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Cyber Security Webinar
Wed 9 September @ 10am
Protect your business from cyber attacks. Register and info HERE
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Social Media Savvy Online Conference
Thur 17 & Fri 18 Sept 9.30am-12.30pm
Social media marketing for businesses 2-day conference
Register and info HERE
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Funding Webinars with InterchangeIreland
Register for this trilogy of webinars and get more info HERE
Part 1 - Government and bank support
Thur 3 September @ 10:00-11:30am
Part 2 - Alternative funders and bank supports
Tue 20 October @ 10:00-11:30am
Part 3 - Navigating economic recovery, private equity & other supports
Tue1 December @ 10:00-11:30am
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Invest NI Webinars
Food Sector Efficiencies: Reduce Waste & Costs
Tue 15 September @ 11-12
Register and info HERE
Recovery Webinar Series:
Workforce Planning - Managing Restructure & Redundancy
Wed 23 Sept @ 11am-12pm
Register and info HERE
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HMRC Webinars
Register HERE for webinars from HMRC including:
- Extensions to Job Retention Scheme and flexible furloughing
- Self-Employment Income Support Scheme - claiming the second grant
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Rebate Scheme
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Previous Tourism NI Webinars
CLICK HERE to link and watch back all recent TNI Webinars, including:
- Re-opening NI - Insurance for Tourism & Hospitality Providers
- NI Domestic Market Workshop
- Sectorial Guidelines for each sector
- Risk Assessments
- NI Domestic Market Review
- A range of digital marketing webinars.
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Apply Here for Business Support & Mentoring
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Need help to plan restarting your business?
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Alchemy programme is offering a package of support which can be tailored specifically for your tourism and hospitality business, with recovery mentoring (up to 3 days). CLICK HERE to fll in the short form.
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Could your business benefit from Digital Support Marketing?
The Digital Causeway Programme will support 350 businesses located within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area to embrace digital technology and incorporate digital platforms into their business operations and procedures. CLICK HERE for details and to apply.
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Opportunities from Tourism NI
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Experience Development Programme - Could your experience get financial support?
Calling all tourism providers who have plans to develop new and compelling visitor experiences or enhance their current experiences, which will entice people to explore what Northern Ireland has to offer.
CLICK HERE for info and find out if your experience could get support. Closing date 24 September.
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Golf Updates
A new Golf Marketing Toolkit has been launched along with a NI Made for Golf campaign video. CLICK HERE.
If you have any new golf deals please email golf@tourismni.com.
The International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) have created a virtual platform this year ‘IGTM Link’. Details can be found here on how to register.
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Latest Consumer Sentiments Survey
TNI’s Consumer Sentiment Survey for 18th August gives in depth analysis on consumer confidence, propensity to travel and consumer concerns.
CLICK HERE.
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