Hello <<First Name>>
An Update From VisitWiltshire
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Latest Grants Available
There are number of grants available for businesses who have been forced to close. The applications are made through your local authority and are now open.
The Chancellor has announced additional support for businesses during the national lockdown from 5 January 2021. Find our more at GOV.UK. The one-off grants (Closed Business Lockdown Payments) announced are for businesses who are eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant - businesses who have a rates account and their premises is closed by national restrictions. This week in Parliament the Tourism Minister indicated that Local Authorities are being instructed to use their discretion to help tourism businesses that might not meet all the eligibility criteria but who can demonstrate impact and are not eligible for other grant schemes. Continue to check Local Authority guidance on these schemes as it may change.
If you are located in Wiltshire the best place to find out if your eligible and apply for the support currently available is the Coronavirus business support grants page. They have a dedicated email address for business support queries at covid-19businesssupport@wiltshire.gov.uk and you Sign up to their newsletter to find out about future funding opportunities as they are launched.
For our partners who fall under Swindon Borough Council you can check your eligibility and apply for both of the above grants here.
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Valentines Day
We are looking for any suitable content for Valentines Day. This could be in the form of valentines takeaway options, online events & suitable gift vouchers. We have set up a live Valentines Day blog and will be posting about it regularly on Social Media
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Keep Us Up to Date
If you are running an alternative offering during the new lockdown, please let Helen or Billy know so that we can promote this via social media and the website. This could be takeaway/delivery food and drink, click-and-collect shopping, virtual events or online activities, community support schemes, accommodation for key workers, outdoor spaces remaining open or similar.
We are beginning to put together some new content on the growing ‘workcations’ trend, in advance of restrictions being eased. If you have a strong offering for visitors looking to work remotely during their trip, please let Helen know.
As always, please let Helen know if you have any messaging you would like us to push on the VisitWiltshire social media channels. This could be news and updates, special offers or just fresh imagery you want to share.
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2021 Digital Publications
There is still a chance to advertise in our 2021 digital Wiltshire publications. We will be including new digital content including virtual tours, videos and reassurance messaging for visitors, please contact Fiona if you have any relevant digital content that we can include. If you placed an advert last year Billy has been in touch with details for this year. If you didn’t place an advert last year but would like to place an advert this year, you can see the prices here and please contact Billy as soon as possible.
Calling all attraction and town partners - submit your 2021 events
We are currently looking for information on events for our publications and website. Ideally, we would like both the name of the event and the exact 2021 date(s) but failing that please send Billy the name of the event and the month in which it takes place or complete our events form for the website.
The aim of this is for keeping Wiltshire in the front of the minds of potential visitors, and we will be promoting events for travel only once restrictions are lifted.
We will be regularly updating these digital publications, so can add events as they are confirmed and things start to open up again.
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Check Your Product Page
Now is a great time to check your product page to make sure that all the content including opening times and prices are up to date. If you would like to refresh the photography on your page, remember you can have 6 photos for a silver partner and 10 for a gold and all photos must be landscape. If you would like to make additions or changes to your page please contact Billy or Helen.
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Email Marketing Online Training
Andrew Eberlin from Brighter Side will be hosting an online training session for us on Thursday 11 February at 2-4pm. The course is an introduction to Email Marketing and will cover everything form why to use email as a marketing tool, building and growing a community, to writing headlines & content. If you would like to join the online course please let Billy know. This course is FREE to VisitWiltshire partners and there is a cost of £45+VAT for non-partners.
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WAVA Meeting
Our next Wiltshire Association of Visitor Attractions Online Meeting is taking place on Tuesday 9 February 2020 at 2pm
We are fortunate enough to be joined by Bernard Donoghue who will be sharing advice and discussing challenges and forecasts looking ahead and future plans for recovery. Bernard is the director of Association of Leading Visitor Attractions and is instrumental in lobbying Government on behalf of attractions and he has a wealth of knowledge and experience. There will be the opportunity for questions during the session.
There will also be the usual updates on VisitWiltshire and Great West way activity. If you want to attend the meeting, please let Billy know by Friday 5 February. We will send the link to join the meeting and the agenda in due course.
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Michelin Restaurants
Michelin have recently published their latest lists of restaurants who have been awarded or retained their Stars and Plates for 2021. We would like to congratulate the following partners who have made the list;
2 Stars plus the Green Star for sustainability
The Dining Room at Whatley Manor
1 Star
Restaurant Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park
Bybrook at Manor House Hotel
Michelin Plate
The Bath Arms at Horningsham
Pythouse Kitchen Garden
Grey's Brasserie at Whatley Manor
The Beckford Arms
Red Lion Freehouse
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Parliament Debate
Recently there was a debate on tourism in parliament, covering a number of issues which include the importance of DMOs, Government actions and how the Government are moving forward on a national tourism recovery plan. You can see the full debate here.
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National Self Catering Survey
We have been asked to circulate details of a National Self-Catering survey, being launched by PASC UK (Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK) in conjunction with the ASSC (Association of Scotland’s Self -Caterers). This is the first stage in preparing the most substantive national report ever undertaken for the sector. Resulting data will be available on a UK, Country, Region and County level and will be freely available. This report has been made possible by Sponsorship from SuperControl Online Booking Systems.
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Industry Research
The latest Consumer Sentiment Tracker from VisitBritain is available
Here is latest ‘COVID-19: From Survival to Recovery’ update from Hotel Solutions, providing the latest information that we have compiled on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the UK hotel and visitor accommodation industry.
ONS have produced the results of another survey on the social impacts of Coronavirus. You can see the full results here.
Brexit Update
Following the change to rules for doing business with Europe, the Cabinet Office released a checklist of ‘top things to do now’ for businesses. Businesses can use the Brexit checker tool at www.gov.uk/transition for a personalised list of actions.
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Travel Trade Meeting
Thank you to everyone who attended our recent Travel Trade meeting on 21 January 2021. You can find the meeting notes and additional information below:
Meeting Notes
Travel Trade Activity Update
Meeting Recording Passcode: R4A.Ddjm
A new tactical activity plan (running from 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022) plus trade investment opportunities will be available soon. Please contact Flo if interested.
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Virtual Exhibitions & Events
VisitWiltshire has recently attended a number of virtual Travel Trade exhibitions and events to promote Wiltshire for future trade visits. These include:
Excursions 2021 – 25 - 30 January 2021. We delivered a 'Wiltshire on the Great West Way' presentation on Thursday 28 January to approx. 60 group travel organisers, tour operators and trade professionals. Included in this presentation was Marlborough Town, Iford Manor Gardens, The Old Bell Hotel and The Bridge Tea Rooms. A Wiltshire newsletter was distributed to 2,530 subscribers.
Britain and Ireland Marketplace – Tuesday 26 January 2021. We attended this virtual ETOA event and had one-to-one meeting with 26 international/domestic tour operators/wholesalers to discuss how we can work in partnership to influence their programmes to include Wiltshire product.
Forthcoming Exhibitions and events include:
Explore GB - 1- 5 March 2021 – We have registered to attend this new virtual event which will include VisitBritain International Business Exchange (VIBE) featuring one-to-one appointments with VisitBritain in-market specialists and three days of one-to-one appointments with international buyers.
ITB Berlin - 9-12 March 2021 - We have registered to attend this event with VisitBritain.
If you are interested in promoting your product to the travel trade and would like to get involved in future trade activity please contact Flo.
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Britain Magazine Competition
Great West Way is currently running a competition with Britain Magazine to win 4-night canal boat break on the Kennet & Avon Canal with a chance to explore Wiltshire. You can see the details of the competition here.
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Great West Way Podcasts
Great West Way has partnered with an American company, Travel Research Online, to produce 5 x 30 minutes podcasts on the Great West Way. A selection of guests representing destinations and tourism & hospitality businesses on the route have been interviewed. The content will be distributed to over 1,000 travel agencies in America, to use on their websites. The series of Great West Way podcasts will be available in the coming weeks.
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Great West Way Advisory Board
We are looking for new members to our Great West Way Advisory Board. The industry led board currently comprises of industry representatives, all of whom bring a specialist expertise which in turn helps guide the strategic development and growth of Great West Way. If you are interested in joining the board, please contact David.
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There is a COVID-19 advice page on the VisitWiltshire website for businesses. The page details the latest government guidance, information from travel authorities and some useful resources. We are regularly updating this page with the latest information.
VisitWiltshire Advice Page
The page also includes the latest research carried out by VisitEngland/VisitBritain and the details of the various grants, loans and support for businesses being provided by the government. You can also follow us on our @VisitWiltsBiz account for more updates.
If you are still unclear on what support you are entitled to, please don’t hesitate to contact Billy and he will ensure it reaches the relevant channels.
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