VisitAberdeenshire update 11 November 2022

Autumn is very much upon us which means that VisitAberdeeenshire’s annual industry development programme is gathering momentum with a series of workshops, seminars and training initiatives that will run through to Easter, including the ever popular Tourism Business Game Changer programme. This years’ programme is enhanced by the addition of the innovative ‘Know your Destination’ online training modules that have been developed to help frontline tourism and hospitality staff improve their destination knowledge, and by extension enhance the welcome offered to our visitors.   

 

Details of this initiative and forthcoming development sessions are listed in this edition, alongside details of the welcome return of VisitAberdeenshire’s local industry networking events, with the first two dates in Buchan and Deeside scheduled for late November and early December. I look forward to seeing many of you at these events.

 

Chris Foy

 

Get to ‘Know your Destination’ in our new online training modules

We are delighted to launch a suite of five new online training modules designed to help frontline tourism and hospitality staff enhance their knowledge of the destination and all it has to offer. Helping visitors get the most from their stay and connecting them to experiences across the destination can impact positively on the visitor experience and lead to an increased length of stay or spend in the destination.

 

The modules are free to use and can be completed at the learners’ own pace using a PC, tablet or mobile phone. There is no limit to the number of learners you can sign up to work through the modules, and each learner will receive a certificate for each module on completion.

 

To find out more and sign up to receive access for you and/or your team, visit ‘Know Your Destination’ Online Training Modules.

 

VisitAberdeenshire Industry Development Programme | Upcoming workshops & webinars

Below you will find details of the training and development opportunities we are offering through our industry development programme during November. All are offered exclusively for tourism and hospitality businesses in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

 

Customer and Market Insights

Webinar: Scottish visitors – from Covid to the cost-of-living crisis – what does this mean for 2023?

 

In this webinar we welcome back Jim Eccleston and Duncan Stewart of 56 Degree Insight who instigated the Scottish Tourism Index, which tracks Scottish consumer opinion and behaviours when it comes to holidays. Now undertaken on a quarterly basis, it also has a wider focus. The session looks at the results of the latest wave, to be undertaken in late October, and includes answers to questions around how Scottish tourism has performed in 2022 and what the prospects are for 2023. With the current cost of living crisis, a major focus will be on how rising costs are impacting on Scottish residents' holiday intentions for the rest of 2022 and looking forward to 2023.

 

Date: 15 November

Time: 11am – 12noon

 

Register for the webinar

 

Workshop: What’s shaping tourism demand and what does it mean for your business?

 

Tourism does not take place in a vacuum. It is continually buffeted by events, something that has been especially true in the past couple of years. This workshop will delve into the underlying factors that shape tourism demand, illustrating many of these through data and trends covering issues as diverse as demographics, economics, consumer behaviour and sustainability. We'll focus on hot topics, providing essential insights for you, and there will be an opportunity to discuss these hot topics and see how they relate to your business and your business planning.

 

Date: 22 November

Time: 10.30am – 1.30pm (including light lunch)

Venue: Hilton Aberdeen TECA

 

Register for the workshop

 

Digital Marketing

Managing your online reputation

 

Visitors will talk about your business online, but do you listen to all your digital feedback? We don't just mean checking TripAdvisor reviews. Do you know what they are saying about your business on Twitter and other social media platforms without necessarily tagging you in their posts? Today, it's easier than ever to 'listen' to your visitors and actually do something about it!

 

Delivered in partnership with Business Gateway, presenter Stephen Whitelaw will cover:     

  • How to manage your business reputation online
  • An overview of a range of tools and tactics, including simple and practical ones, that can help you 'listen'
  • How to use listening tools to offer a more personalised experience for your visitors and help you manage numerous online review platforms

 

There are two options to attend - an in-person workshop or an online webinar. To help you apply the learnings in your business, one to one tailored advice sessions are also available on a first come, first served basis. Once you register to attend the workshop or webinar, further information will be sent about the one-to-one advice sessions.

 

Workshop

Date: 17 November

Time: 1.30pm – 5pm

Venue: Thainstone House Hotel, Inverurie

Read more & register

 

Webinar

Date: 30 November

Time: 10am – 1pm

Venue: Zoom

Read more & register

 

Sustainability

With increasing customer focus and expectations on enjoying destinations in a sustainable way, we are offering a sustainability review of your business at no cost to you.

 

The review is designed to help you start or make further progress on your sustainability journey and you will receive a prioritised action plan tailored to your business outlining the steps you can take to become more sustainable.

 

Places are available on a first come, first served basis and the deadline to register to receive a sustainability review is Wednesday 30 November.

 

Read more and register

 

More workshops and webinars will be announced in due course. To keep up-to-date with what’s on, see our industry website for regular updates.

 

Game Changer Programme for Tourism Businesses – applications now open!

Applications are now open for the 2023 Game Changer Programme for Tourism Businesses. Developed and offered in partnership by VisitAberdeenshire, Opportunity North East and Scottish Enterprise, it's designed to help you grow your business. You will be supported to identify target markets, define consumer and customer demands and refine your offering to provide the services and experiences that visitors are looking for. You will be exposed to a range of management techniques and tools and will leave the programme with a growth plan to implement in your business.

 

It's relevant for all types of tourism and hospitality businesses in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, targeted at business owners or senior managers with authority to implement change. Highly rated by previous participants, the programme has been described as intense, challenging and fun. Your commitment will be to attend eight full-day sessions on Wednesdays over four months (mid-January - end April).

 

To find our more, hear what previous participants say about the programme, and complete an application form, please visit our website.

 

Applications close on Monday 28 November 2022.

 

Join us at our upcoming local networking meetings

We are planning a programme of local networking meetings which will be held over the next few months. These meetings provide an opportunity for you to hear more about the new Destination Strategy ‘Framework for Growth’, our marketing activity, as well as how to get the most out of working with VisitAberdeenshire. We would also like to use the meeting to hear your views on tourism in the North-east. The meetings will be followed by the option of a one-to-one session with one of the team.

 

The first two meetings will cover the Banff & Macduff and Ballater & Aboyne areas, and we are also planning further meetings in the new year covering Stonehaven & The Mearns and Peterhead & Fraserburgh areas. The meetings are relevant for all types of tourism and hospitality businesses and we welcome registrations from businesses located outside these general areas.

 

Ballater & Aboyne area local networking meeting

Date: Tuesday 29 November 2022

Time: Registration 10.30am, meeting 11am – 1pm followed by a light lunch and the opportunity to network

Location: Aboyne Golf Club

Registration link:Click here to register

 

Banff & Macduff area local networking meeting

Date: Thursday 1 December 2022

Time: Registration 10.30am, meeting 11am –1pm followed by a light lunch and the opportunity to network

Location: The Knowes Hotel, Macduff

Registration link:Click here to register

 

Book a one-to-one session: 20 minute slots are available between 1.30pm – 3.30pm. To book a time, please email Kayleigh McLeish (industry@visitabdn.com) indicating your preferred time.

 

PR update

It’s been a busy and productive period with travel and consumer media making the trip north to sample the best of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

 

Last month we welcomed three freelance journalists who write for national newspapers including The Sunday Times, The i and The Daily Telegraph as well as food and drink magazine, Delicious.

 

Journalists enjoyed packed itineraries featuring food and drink, city culture including street art and galleries, as well as foraging experiences, wildlife spotting and other visitor attractions across the region.

 

The media gathered material for features, which will drip feed over the winter months and into the spring next year. We’ll share news coverage when published.

 

Following press trips earlier in the year, the region was mentioned in the December issue of Good Housekeeping which is available now, and click here for an Aberdeenshire feature in The Herald, where the journalist experienced paddleboarding in Stonehaven, coastal visits to Portsoy, Gardenstown, Crovie, Pennan, Macduff and Fraserburgh.

 

Aberdeen City and Shire Visitor Attraction Forum – January meeting

The next ‘City and Shire Visitor Attraction Forum’ meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 January 2023 at 2pm at Crathes Castle.

 

The Forum provides an opportunity to discuss joint issues, share best practice, give feedback and act as a sounding board for VisitAberdeenshire, ensuring that built heritage visitor attractions can capitalise on opportunities in tourism in the North-east.

 

Following input and discussion at the first meeting in September , this next meeting will look at how the Forum can start to implement some of the ideas that were developed as well as confirming a chair and secretary of the group.

 

All built heritage visitor attractions across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire are welcome to attend and the Forum would be delighted to welcome new organisations  who couldn’t make the last meeting.

 

If you are interested in attending, please contact Karen McDonald (karen.mcdonald@asc.scot) with your name, organisation and number in attendance, so an agenda can be sent out nearer the time.

 

Business Gateway invites you to attend ‘Business Breakfast with the Dolphins’

Join Business Gateway for a breakfast networking event at Greyhope Bay, where founder, Fiona McIntyre, will give a brief history of her business success and of the Greyhope Bay development – a local dolphin watching centre and café designed to act as a focal point to connect and engage communities with the marine wildlife, environment and heritage on Aberdeen’s doorstep.

 

The stunning venue overlooks the sea, so hopefully dolphins will be in attendance. Breakfast will also be provided at no extra cost. There will be opportunities for a Q&A with Fiona, to meet like-minded business people, plus network and engage with the Business Gateway advisers in attendance.

 

Register here

 

VisitScotland: Promoting Great Days Out in Scotland

VisitScotland is inviting visitor attractions and outdoor operators across Scotland to provide an offer and get involved in a new campaign encouraging people across Scotland to experience a Great Day Out this autumn and winter.

 

The campaign, launched in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) and ScotRail, will encourage people to take advantage of discounted rates and experience a day out at one of the many fantastic attractions and experiences on offer across the country.

 

To read more and submit an offer visit Promoting Great Days Out in Scotland

 

VisitScotland: Inclusive Tourism Toolkit

Disabled customers and seniors over 65 have a higher level of brand loyalty than any other customer group and 86% will make a return visit to your business. Nearly one in five people in the UK has a disability or impairment, and over half of all households have a connection to someone with a disability.

 

Their collective spending power is worth £249 billion to the UK economy, but every year businesses miss out from customers who can’t access and enjoy their services.

 

VisitScotland has created an inclusive tourism toolkit designed to help you improve your information provision, customer service and connect with new customers.

 

Read the inclusive tourism toolkit

 

Destination Development and Leadership short course

Edinburgh Napier University is once again offering its 3-day upskilling short course providing an introduction to destination development and leadership. The course is fully funded and will take place on 10 and 11 January and 1 February 2023. Applications close on 16 December. Read more and apply

All information is correct at the time of publishing, we recommend that you check opening times and information for individual places before visiting.