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Wishing all of our tourism and hospitality trade good luck with re-opening and very best wishes for a busy season ahead! x
Welcome to the Tourism Newsletter!
What's new this week.....
As always please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team for further advice and support.
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Re-opening of Tourism & Hospitality
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Tourism NI have published an updated version of their ‘Working Safely’ guidelines for Tourism & Hospitality Businesses reopening. CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for example risk assessment template which shows the kind of approach HSENI expects a small business or workplace to take when carrying out a risk assessment for COVID-19 in the workplace.
Business operators must ensure they are familiar with Coronavirus legislation HERE and Covid-19 guidance HERE and HERE, including social distancing. All relevant health and safety legislation must be adhered to for the protection of customers and employees.
For further information contact a member of the Health and Safety team
T 028 2766 0257 or E healthandsafety@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
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Experience Development Workshop -
Register Your Interest!
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Do you want to be involved in creating new, memorable tourism experiences in the Binevenagh and The Glens areas of the Causeway Coast and Glens?
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Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has been successful in securing funding under the DAERA Rural Tourism Collaborative Experiences Programme.
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We are now calling on tourism businesses that are willing to collaborate, to showcase the unique culture and heritage associated with the Binevenagh and The Glens areas, to attend an ‘Experience Development Workshop’ to hear more about the programme.
The programme will support tourism businesses such as outdoor activities, health and wellbeing, storytelling, music, craft, local food and drink and accommodation.
In order to be eligible for the programme, you must be:
- Resident or your experience based or operational within either location.
- Be willing to create bookable, saleable visitor experiences that give visitors a reason to travel and explore Binevenagh and The Glens, thereby generating economic benefits for your business and the wider destination.
- Be willing to share your story relating to Binevenagh or The Glens area through your visitor experience.
- Be willing to collaborate with other tourism businesses.
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The workshops for the programme will take place virtually on:
- Monday 14th June 10am-12noon
- for those businesses based within The Glens
- Tuesday 15th June 10am-12noon
- for those businesses based within the Binevenagh area.
To register your interest, please complete the form below and tick the GDPR box, allowing us to share your details with the Facilitator, by Friday 4th June 2021 at 12 noon.
For further information contact:
Zoe Bratton, Product Development Officer zoe.bratton@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
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Visitor Guide 2021 now Available
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The 2021 Causeway Coast and Glens Visitor Guide is now available from your local Visitor Information Centre and on our website. Packed with lots of information on what you can see and do in the Causeway Coast and Glens, it is a handy resource for you and your staff, as well as visitors who want to explore the destination. In these Covid conscious times, we have reduced the print run and would encourage you to share the guide with your customers and prompt them to plan their trip and pre-book activities to avoid disappointment.
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Visitor Information Centres Re-opening - Keep in Touch with your Availability
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We are delighted that Bushmills and Limavady Visitor Information Centres re-opened this week. The Bushmills Centre will have the same opening hours as Portrush and Ballycastle Visitor Information Centres:
9.30am-4.30pm Monday-Saturday
(closed 1-1.30pm).
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Opening times for Limavady Visitor Information Centre:
Wednesday & Thursday: 10am - 4pm & 7pm - 9pm
Friday 10am – 3pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm
Cushendall Local Information Office is open part-time until the end of June, September & October (Monday - Saturday 10am - 2pm).
This office will open full-time during July and August
(Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm ; Sunday 12noon - 4pm).
Accommodation providers - please keep in touch with our Visitor Information Centres and let them know if you have availability by emailing visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk with the word ‘Availability’ in the Subject Heading. Accommodation Commission for any direct bookings made by our team this year is reduced to 5%.
If you have an experience / tour to offer we can sell this through our Visitor Information Centres. If you have not already signed up please contact caroline.carey@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk or T 07751 400278.
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FREE PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY
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With over 50,000 followers across our social platforms we are offering you a FREE opportunity to get your reopening message and offers in front of our audience. We'll also set up a dedicated web page showing your business that will be linked to our paid promotional activity in May.
All you have to do is complete the form on the link below with your details and any accompanying images and videos and we'll do the rest. |
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Keep your entry on DiscoverNI Up-to-date!
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Did you know that the content that you supply to DiscoverNI will also populate the VisitCausewayCoastandGlens.com site, as well as Ireland.com?
It is therefore vitally important that you review your entry on www.discovernorthernireland.com, reviewing imagery and content for accuracy, in particular to both the domestic and ROI markets. If you need any assistance E engagement@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.
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With health and safety now being at the top of consumers minds, getting YOUR safety message across is paramount in gaining consumer confidence in booking a place to stay, a place to eat, an activity or an attraction. It only takes a few minutes, is free of charge and you can register HERE.
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DOWNLOAD your ‘We’re Good To Go’ Global ‘Safe Travels’ Stamp NOW from the World Travel & Tourism Council
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All UK businesses that have registered for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard are automatically eligible for and able to download the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) international ‘Safe Travels’ stamp. CLICK HERE and follow the instructions to download the stamp.
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Congratulations to the Causeway Hotel who have won Trip Advisor's 2021 Traveller's Choice Award, placing them in the top 10% of hotels worldwide! Wishing them and all our hospitality trade good luck with re-opening this week!
If you have recently won an award please get in touch with the trade engagement team.
E engagement@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
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Tracks and Trails RTE Series featuring the Causeway Coast
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Tracks & Trails is back for a 9th series on RTE 1 from Friday 28th May (7:30pm). Episode 1 explores the Mourne Mountains and the Causeway Coast. The five episodes are aimed at the ever growing group of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who are embracing the routes that Ireland has to offer. CLICK HERE for more info.
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Free online advice and money off business software will be available under the digital strand of the new Help to Grow scheme. Under the digital programme, from Autumn 2021 small businesses will be able to get free impartial advice on how technology can boost their performance through a new online platform.
Eligible businesses will also be able to get a discount of up to 50 per cent on the costs of approved software, worth up to £5,000. The programme isn't open for applications yet, but you can register your interest online now. Full details on the businesses and software eligible for the voucher will be published this summer. CLICK HERE for more info.
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Expert training and mentoring for growth will be available under the management strand of the new Help to Grow scheme. From June 2021, small and medium-sized businesses will be able to access a 12-week executive development programme delivered by leading business schools across the UK.
The programme will combine a practical curriculum, with 1:1 support from a business mentor, peer-learning sessions and an alumni network. Designed to be manageable alongside full-time work, this programme will support small business leaders to develop their strategic skills with key modules covering financial management, innovation and digital adoption. By the end of the programme, participants will develop a tailored business growth plan to lead their business to its full potential.
The programme isn't open for applications yet, but you can register your interest online now. To join the programme, you must be a senior manager or key decision maker in your business. CLICK HERE for more info.
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Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has set out its commitment to unlock the talent of thousands more people across the UK by encouraging people thinking about their career options to start their own business via the Start Up Loans scheme.
CLICK HERE to check if you meet the criteria and to apply.
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TNI recently delivered a series of ‘Getting Ready to Reopen’ webinars which are now available to watch on demand along with supporting materials.
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See the full list of upcoming TNI TED webinars HERE or you can playback all Tourism NI's previous webinars HERE
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Prepare your staff to deliver excellent customer service as you reopen
As we start to build back from the disruption caused by Covid-19, we need to ensure our people have the skills needed to support safe reopening and to emerge stronger from the crisis. WorldHost training is the ideal solution to give your business the much-needed reinforcement to attract customers and encourage repeat business.
Tourism NI is working in partnership with People 1st International to deliver another series of WorldHost Principles of Customer Service training online workshops.
This training takes the form of a one day virtual workshop and is being delivered across a number of dates in June. CLICK HERE for full details and to access the list of available sessions. There are a limited number of FREE places available – don’t miss your chance to REGISTER NOW.
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Other Training Opportunities
For details on other training opportunities which are currently available, including FREE Skills Focus Programmes and Marketing Courses with NRC and NWRC, visit our trade engagement pages HERE.
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CLICK HERE to ensure you are up to date with the latest EU Exit related information sourced via the DAERA EU Exit website.
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Please call or email the tourism team with any queries or concerns and we will do our very best to help you or direct you to those who can.
Email us at engagement@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
Contact Vicky T 07591 837841
Mon & Tues 9am-5pm;
Wed 9am-12.30pm
Contact Siobhan T 07591 837848
Tues & Thurs 9am-5pm;
Wed 9am-12.30pm
Follow us on Twitter @CCAGTourismTeam for updates.
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