VisitAberdeenshire update 2 February 2023
3 February 2023
Events, events, events! We have really missed the serendipity of live workshops, seminars and networking sessions in recent years so it’s great to have a range of opportunities to gather and to learn in the lead up to Easter. We are however taking a balanced approach so some sessions within our industry development programme will have a dedicated online option as well as in-person. The programme is gathering pace with high demand, and alongside events delivered by North East Adventure Tourism and Business Gateway, there are plenty of options to suit your business priorities. Our team look forward to seeing you around the City and Shire.
Chris Foy
VisitAberdeenshire Industry Development Programme – upcoming workshops and webinars
We are delighted to share a range of in-person workshops and webinars over the next few months, delivered exclusively for tourism and hospitality businesses in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
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Delivered in partnership with Business Gateway, the webinars and workshops below each come with the option of a one-to-one advice session to help you apply the learnings to your own business.
Social media and website analytics
How much do you really know about how your social media activity and website are performing? Often it takes just a few simple changes to improve engagement across social media and your website, but if you don’t know what’s happening, you can’t fix it. During this 3-hour workshop with interactive sessions, you’ll learn how to develop a smart approach to online marketing that’s informed by your data. Topics covered include how to know what, where, and when your audience wants to hear from you, who’s active on which platforms, and how to use and gain the right insights from your social media platforms.
Workshop
Date: Tuesday 21 February
Time: 10am – 1pm (registration and a chance to network from 9:30am, light lunch at 1pm)
Venue: Maryculter House Hotel
Webinar
Date: Thursday 23 February
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Venue: Zoom
Creating engaging video content
Do you know your Reels from your TikToks and your Stories from your Shorts? In 2023, video will be even more at the heart of marketing than it was in 2022. From capturing what makes your brand special, to showcasing your location and processes and sharing the people behind the brand, video is key to getting your messages out there. This 3-hour practical workshop will cover the different types of video content and when to use them, how different platforms use video, how to capture great video and turn it into engaging content, plus free editing tools that will help make you look like a pro.
Workshop
Date: Tuesday 7 March
Time: 10am – 1pm (registration and a chance to network from 9:30am, light lunch at 1pm)
Venue: The Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen
Workshop
Date: Thursday 9 March
Time: 2pm – 5pm (registration, light lunch and a chance to network from 1:30pm)
Venue: The Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen
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Digital Marketing Masterclass
In response to popular demand, we are offering another opportunity to take part in our Digital Marketing Masterclass with digital marketing expert Stephen Whitelaw.
The masterclass will cover the principles of digital marketing, including visitor persona analysis, social media, internationalisation and website discovery through search engine optimisation (SEO).
Prior to the masterclass, Stephen will review your online presence, including your website. After the masterclass, we will schedule a 45-minute one-to-one advice session, where Stephen will provide useful tips and recommendations on your digital presence, including how to get your website found, increase the speed and improve overall user experience.
Date: Thursday 9 February
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm (registration and a chance to network from 9am, light lunch at 12.30pm)
Venue: The Aberdeen Altens Hotel
Followed by One-to-One Session: 45-minute slots will be available on the afternoon of 9 February and all day on 10 February and will take place virtually at a time to suit you.
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Travel Trade Masterclass
Are you interested in working with the travel trade and not sure where to start? Or are you already working with the travel trade and would like to better understand this market and how to develop travel trade bookable products?
This Travel Trade Masterclass is designed to help you understand how to develop and sell your products through travel trade intermediaries, including cruise trade and online travel agents (OTAs). You will learn about:
- The travel trade distribution network and how your product can be sold to the end consumer through travel trade intermediaries, including cruise operators
- What the travel trade needs from you
- Developing ‘travel trade bookable’ products
- How to take your product to market
- Pitching to the travel trade
Date: Friday 17 February
Time: 9.30am – 3pm
Venue: Hilton Aberdeen TECA
Register for the Travel Trade Masterclass
Please note that spaces are limited. If the workshop is fully booked, or you can’t attend on the 17th, please let us know by emailing industry@visitabdn.com so we can add you to the mailing list for a future masterclass.
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Webinar: What will UK traveller attitudes and behaviours look like in 2023?
What does the ideal UK holiday look like for the domestic traveller? Where do visitors source inspiration once in destination? Hot off the press, we share new insights based on research commissioned by VisitAberdeenshire late last year. This 1-hour webinar will answer the burning questions on the motivators and driving factors for domestic travellers in 2023.
David Edwards from Scattered Clouds turns data into practical insights, helping to inform your messaging and target the right markets. Join us for this illuminating hour to hear these latest insights on market behaviours and attitudes to UK travel for the year ahead, and what they mean for your business and the wider region.
Date: Monday 20 February 2023
Time: 11am – 12pm
Location: Virtual, Zoom
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Working with online travel agents (OTAs)
It is increasingly important for tourism businesses to be visible and bookable online and online travel agents (OTAs) can play an important role in helping your tourism product reach potential customers. As well as providing a booking platform, many travellers use OTAs during the inspiration and planning stages, and they can provide a platform for you to get your product in front of a customer in their own language and using familiar payment methods that provide them with the reassurance to book.
This webinar is designed to help you understand how to promote and sell your product through OTAs, and we will be joined by Rosie Boosey, Senior Account Manager at Viator, who will talk about the benefits of working with OTAs and how you can maximise your presence on an OTA platform.
During the webinar you will hear about:
- The latest trends in customer behaviour
- How an OTA operates and why you should consider them as a route to market
- The benefits of working with OTAs
- How you can work with OTAs
The webinar is open to visitor attractions, experiences and activity providers based in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who would like to find out more about using OTAs as a route to market.
Date: Tuesday 14 March
Time: 10am - 11.15am
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Look out for more information coming soon on the following workshops and webinars in March:
Sustainability webinars
Getting started on your sustainability journey: Thursday 2 March, 11am - 12pm
Calculating your businesses' carbon footprint: Thursday 16 March, 2pm - 3pm
Inclusive tourism workshops
Inclusive tourism - market values & opportunities: Wednesday 29 March, AM
Welcoming all customers training course: Friday 31 March, full day workshop
Join us at our upcoming local networking meetings
Our upcoming local networking meetings are an opportunity 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. They are also an opportunity for us to hear your views on tourism in the North-east. You can also book a one-to-one session with one of the VisitAberdeenshire team following the meeting.
Our next two meetings will cover the Fraserburgh and Peterhead area and the Stonehaven and the Mearns area. The meetings are relevant for all types of tourism and hospitality businesses and we also welcome registrations from businesses located outside these areas.
Fraserburgh & Peterhead area local networking meeting
Date: Tuesday 7 February
Time: Registration 10.30am, meeting 11am – 12.30pm, followed by a light lunch and the opportunity to network
Location: Ban-Car Hotel, Lonmay
Registration link:Click here to register
Stonehaven & Mearns area local networking meeting
Date: Tuesday 28 February
Time: Registration 10.30am, meeting 11am –12.30pm, followed by a light lunch and the opportunity to network
Location: TBC
Registration link: Registration details will be shared on our website soon
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.
North East Adventure Tourism (NEAT): Annual industry event 2023
Join NEAT at its annual industry event designed to support the adventure tourism sector in the region; inform the sector about NEAT project activity and future ambition; inspire and energise ahead of the 2023 season and a chance for contributors from tourism, retail, coaching, guiding, facilities, education and support agencies to connect.
The event will take place on Thursday 9 February, 9.30am – 2pm at Maryculter House. Click here for more details and to register
Meet the Advisers Breakfast Event
Tourism, hospitality, retail and service businesses are invited to Business Gateway’s Re-Ignition Programme ‘Meet the Advisers’ breakfast event which takes place on Thursday 9 February, 8am - 10am at the Marine Hotel, Stonehaven.
The Re-Ignition programme is funded by the Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery (LACER) Fund through Aberdeenshire Council, and aims to support businesses operating in tourism, hospitality, retail and services, helping them to plan, adapt and grow, ultimately strengthening local businesses and town centres. A team of specialists has been brought together to deliver support through networking opportunities, 1:1 sessions and digital & innovation support, and businesses can receive up to 2 days of free support.
Still time to take part in VisitScotland’s Great Days Out campaign
VisitScotland’s campaign encouraging people across Scotland to experience a ‘Great Day Out’ this autumn and winter is still available for businesses to sign up until mid-March.
The campaign encourages people to take advantage of discounted rates and enjoy a day out at one of the many fantastic attractions and experiences on offer across the country. If you already have a special offer or would like to introduce a new special offer for the ‘Great Days Out’ campaign, you can get involved by simply updating your listing on visitscotland.com.
To find out more about the campaign and how to update your VisitScotland listing, click here
Could you be our next Digital Marketing Executive?
We are recruiting for a Digital Marketing Executive to support our Marketing & Communications team across all of our promotional activity, including our website, and to lead on our social media.
To find out more about this exciting role, visit https://www.visitabdn.com/about-us/vacancies/. For informal enquiries please contact our HR & Business Services Manager, Fiona Douglas, at jobs@visitabdn.com.
The closing date for application is Wednesday 8 February 2023.
Coastal Communities Challenge Fund - new application round launched
A new application round for Aberdeenshire Council's Coastal Communities Challenge Fund has just been launched.
The fund will provide grants of between £10k and £50k to projects in Aberdeenshire which support the following priorities:
- Supporting the development of active travel routes along, to, and from the coastline
- Developing the coastal economy and sustainable tourism
- Creating or enhancing community, leisure and recreational facilities
- Safeguarding, restoring or enhancing the coastal environment
Applications can be made by businesses, charities or community groups. Applicants must make a minimum 10% match funding contribution to projects, and business or commercial projects must provide a minimum of 50% match funding.
The deadline for submission of applications is midnight on Monday 6 February and potential applicants can access the application form and guidance at nesflag.org.uk/CCCF
All information is correct at the time of publishing, we recommend that you check opening times and information for individual places before visiting.