VisitScotland eUpdate - September 2009
Welcome to the latest issue of our eUpdate, which features a wide range of articles which we hope you will find of interest.
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Let us know what you think of the eUpdate or any stories in it by emailing us at eupdate@visitscotland.com.
Enjoy the read!
Aberdeen & Grampian
With underutilised capacity on two direct flights to Aberdeen from Norway a direct marketing campaign to 20,000 Norwegians should build awareness and highlight the benefits of Aberdeen as a short break destination.
More...General
Launched on 29 July 2009, the homepage of www.visitscotland.com has been redesigned to give a more comprehensive shop window for Scottish tourism with dynamic and exciting content visible from the first click of the mouse. We're interested to know what you think of it.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian
The North East Clan Fortnight took place between July 18 and August 3 and showcased clan ancestral homelands, history and tradition as part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian
Glendavan House has made it through to the final of this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian
Huntly Hairst, now in its third year, has ambitious plans to expand.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian
The Scottish Family Business Association is running a series of workshops to help ensure businesses are passed on successfully from one generation to the next and that generations can work together.
More...Angus & Dundee | Fife
This Saturday (12 September) sees a variety of aircraft taking to the skies for the annual airshow at RAF Leuchars, including the world-famous Red Arrows, the hi-tech Typhoon fighter jet and the legendary Avro Vulcan V-bomber.
More...Angus & Dundee
The Scottish Family Business Association is running a series of workshops to help ensure different generations can work successfully together in family-run businesses.
More...Angus & Dundee
The new logo design is based on the Borromean Link. This symbolises strength in unity, something which is very important to Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau
More...Angus & Dundee
Despite cancellation on Friday because of bad weather, Dundee Flower and Food Festival had a bumper weekend for visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
More...Argyll, Loch Lomond & Forth Valley
The summer may be winding down but the packed Homecoming Scotland programme has is as strong as ever. Here’s a rundown of some of the highlight events in the coming weeks across Argyll, Loch Lomond and Forth Valley.
More...Argyll, Loch Lomond & Forth Valley | Outer Hebrides
If so, then the Scottish Government wants to hear from you. Make sure you get your voice heard by completing the government’s online survey into the success of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot scheme by this Friday 11 September.
More...Argyll, Loch Lomond & Forth Valley
Three businesses in Argyll and Stirling have made it through to the final of this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards.
More...Ayrshire & Arran
Two of Ayrshire’s top tourism businesses have made it through to the final of this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards. A total of 36 tourism related businesses and events spanning the length and breadth of Scotland have been shortlisted in ten different categories including Innovation, Events and Festivals and Sustainable Tourism.
More...Ayrshire & Arran
The peaceful country estate of Dumfries House came alive to sounds of the South Sea Islands as Tonga’s Royal Corps of Musicians and a top multi-national cast from the Scottish Capital’s showpiece military event presented a taster performance from the Edinburgh Tattoo.
More...Ayrshire & Arran
Stay ahead of what’s happening in Ayrshire & Arran and pass on information to your visitors about the events they can experience. While there are many ways for visitors and locals to entertain themselves, there are events throughout the year to add charm and interest to time spent here. Sign up for info...
More...Ayrshire & Arran
KIT-OUT is hosting the Ayrshire & Arran Food Clinic in conjunction with the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce. It is an informal free drop-in event being held on Thursday 8th October at The Gailes Hotel, Irvine. Come along and meet food experts from Glasgow Caledonian University.
More...Ayrshire & Arran
Have you got a great idea? The main aim of leader is to support rural development at local level through projects identified by local people as priorities for their communities. If you have a new project idea that could provide real benefits come along and tell Leader about it.
More...Borders
Little Autumn Doring, a fan of the Borders countryside, is helping encourage more Scots to holiday at home during her favourite time of the year by telling them what she loves about autumn. The two year old is the new face of VisitScotland’s latest seasonal campaign, ‘Capture an Autumn Moment’.
More...Borders
If you are not regularly updating your listing via the self management tool - Extranet - it's time to check your entry is working effectively... Is your welcome page appealing? Are images ‘selling’? Are directions correct? And most importantly - for accommodation - is your availability and pricing up to date?
More...Borders
Do you want to capitalise on cycle tourism in order to grow your business? If the answer is yes, then you should attend the Growing Leisure Cycling – Innovation Workshop which provides an opportunity to learn more about leisure cycling in order to inform the development of your business and products.
More...Dumfries & Galloway
A dedicated Dumfries & Galloway Winter White campaign was promoted in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council, tourism businesses and VisitScotland to attract visitors north of the border during the winter.
More...Dumfries & Galloway
Two of Dumfries & Galloway’s top tourism businesses have made it through to the final of this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards.
More...Dumfries & Galloway
For the first time Landmark Press will be introducing a Dumfries & Galloway Bedroom Folders into their regional suite of folders for 2011. Landmark Press have been publishing 14 editions of their own popular folders for well over 20 years and cover the rest of mainland Scotland.
More...Edinburgh & Lothians
Edinburgh has benefitted from the national tourism organisation’s most successful winter tourism campaign with results showing VisitScotland’s Winter White Campaign generated 10 million pounds for the region.
More...Edinburgh & Lothians
One of Scotland's worst mining disasters is to be remembered in words and music at a special event to mark the exact 50th anniversary of the tragedy.
More...Edinburgh & Lothians
The Musselburgh International Hickory Challenge hosts players competing from over fifteen countries and opens the week-long festival.
More...Edinburgh & Lothians
A host of Scotland’s top tourism businesses have made it through to the final of this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards
More...Edinburgh & Lothians
The Zebrafish Information Network has chosen the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) as the venue for its 2011 meeting.
More...Edinburgh & Lothians
Hear tales of marketing success from Andy Mooney, Global Chairman of Walt Disney Products, at VisitScotland’s Ocean Point on Friday, 25th September.
More...Edinburgh & Lothians
The Scottish Family Business Association is running a series of workshops to help ensure businesses are passed on successfully from one generation to the next and that generations can work together.
More...Fife
To tie in with the Norfolkline crossing from Zeebrugge to Rosyth, a VisitScotland direct mail campaign, showcasing the wealth of experiences on offer in Fife, will be sent to 20,000 Belgians to encourage them to consider autumn breaks in Fife and there are still opportunities for Fife businesses to be included.
More...Fife
Kirkcaldy’s Awesome Autumn kick-starts with the Kirkcaldy Comedy Festival, this festival includes 23 shows taking place over 9 days from Saturday 26th September until Sunday 4th October.
More...Fife
Autumn has always been an important time of year for VisitScotland to promote to help extend the season for businesses.
More...Fife
St Andrews VisitScotland Information Centre will be the second in the country to benefit from a state of the art refurbishment.
More...Fife
VisitScotland co-ordinated a joint stand at the 2009 Open in Turnberry working in partnership with Fife Council.
More...Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley
Ordered too many business cards? You can always rely on Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to provide you with excuses to share them. Here are some highlight networking events in the coming weeks.
More...Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley
The Scottish Family Business Association is running a series of workshops to help ensure businesses are passed on successfully from one generation to the next and that generations can work together.
More...Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley
The award of major grant funding to the University of Glasgow is set to transform research into the architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
More...Highlands
Homecoming Scotland has a spectacular calendar of events marking Scotland's first ever Homecoming year.
More...Highlands
The Highland Council's 2009 Tourism Seminar will be held at the Council headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness from 9.30 am until 1.00pm on Wednesday 25th November.
More...Highlands
You are invited to an informative & interactive afternoon as part of the Institute of Hospitality Scotland - 2009 Seminar Programme.
More...Highlands
The Scottish Family Business Association is running a series of workshops to help ensure businesses are passed on successfully from one generation to the next and that generations can work together.
More...Outer Hebrides
Calendar of upcoming events marking Scotland's first ever Homecoming year.
More...Perthshire
Autumn has always been an important time of year for promotion to help extend the season for businesses.
More...Perthshire
Since the Webster Theatre re-opened in January 2008 after a multi-million pound investment, it has proved to be a magnet for a wide variety of performances.
More...Perthshire
One of Scotland’s leading events, Big Tree Country’s The Enchanted Forest, has highlighted the importance of listening to customers.
More...Perthshire
The Scottish Family Business Association is running a series of workshops to help ensure different generations can work successfully together in family-run businesses.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands
After almost 18 months of construction work, Morrison Construction has handed the keys over to The Highland Council for the new Archive and Registration Centre at the Bught Park, Inverness.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands
The Highland Archaeology Festival is an annual festival celebrating the archaeology of the Highlands.
More...Edinburgh & Lothians | Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley
The German cities campaign launches in October, encouraging Germans to take a city break in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Working in joint partnership with easyJet, the campaign will include targeted online advertising, advertorials and email marketing and will promote the variety of events and festivals that take place in Edinburgh and Glasgow in autumn/winter.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Outer Hebrides
There are a variety of events taking place in the North West Highland Geopark throughout September as part of the Scottish Geology Festival.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
Expert porridge makers from far and wide will be heading for Carrbridge on Sunday October 11 to battle it out for the world championship title and the prestigious Golden Spurtle award.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
Runners entering next month’s Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running are reminded that Monday 14 September is the closing date for all events in the Festival, including the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, Baxters River Ness 10K, the Healthy Working Lives 10K Corporate Challenge, the River Ness 5K Fun Run and the Highland Breakfast Run.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
The Captain’s Galley, an award-winning Scottish seafood restaurant in Caithness, is scaling the heights in its championing of sustainable fishing.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
Living Food is a celebration of organic and local produce in the grounds of this magnificent Castle and will take place on Saturday 26th September.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
The countdown to Highland Homecoming has begun with the launch of the full programme at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
The Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight 2009 from 5 to 20 September. The aim of the fortnight is to celebrate and promote Scotland’s wide range of quality produce.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
North Highland Connections was launch in August, 2008, and is the latest arm of Prince Charles' North Highland Initiative to support economic growth and increased job opportunities in the far north of Scotland.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Highlands | Orkney | Outer Hebrides | Shetland
Doors Open Days (1 - 30 September) give you free access to hundreds of fascinating buildings across Scotland.
More...Aberdeen & Grampian | Angus & Dundee | Argyll, Loch Lomond & Forth Valley | Borders | Dumfries & Galloway | Edinburgh & Lothians | Fife | Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley | Perthshire
Springboard is a national independent charity which has been operational for 11 years and specialises in helping young, unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their prospects in life by preparing them for a career in the leisure, tourism and hospitality industry through the organisations's links in the industry. For details of two charity events coming up in September and October read on.
More...Argyll, Loch Lomond & Forth Valley | Highlands | Outer Hebrides
Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (The Royal National Mod), one of Scotland’s major cultural festivals and the Gaelic community’s most eagerly anticipated celebration of arts, music, culture and language, is set to return home to Oban as a highlight of the national Homecoming celebrations.
More...Research & Insights
New information on the latest published tourism figures can be found on VisitScotland's business website www.visitscotland.org. Every quarter figures will be updated, providing you with the latest details of how the Scottish tourism is performing along with brief analysis of conditions which might be affecting the tourism industry in Scotland.
More...General
VisitScotland's Local Marketing 'Autumn Moments' campaign runs from September to the end of October and has two distinct target markets, both the warm visitor segment and the local market, specifically targeting the day trip market.
More...General
The Scottish Thistle Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner on Friday 23 October 2009 is the highlight of the tourism calendar and you are invited to join the celebrations on the big night.
More...General
The closing celebration of Homecoming Scotland 2009 will take place at the end of November and will be a great opportunity for the Scottish tourism industry.
More...General
On 28th November, Scotland will proudly celebrate St Andrew’s Weekend and the vibrancy and passion of Scotland’s music scene with Homecoming Live – The Final Fling.
More...General
The North American and Australasian e-newsletters are proving more popular than ever and delivering on referrals for our trade partners.
More...General
Nominations have opened for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2010 and organisers are calling for people across the world to celebrate the bard’s memory by making a nomination.
More...General
To tie in with the upcoming Winter White campaign, this year our Consumer PR team are looking at the social aspect of golf, in particular the clubhouses.
More...General
VisitScotland’s Golf Promotion in Canada yields top results and drums up business for Scotland.
More...
