Visit Lincolnshire Corporate

A Message from Marc Etches

2010-04-29T14:56:00.002+01:00

Welcome, this is my first appearance as interim Chief Executive on Visit Lincolnshire’s e-newsletter.

I’m approaching my first full month in the role and during this time I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of you who share my ambition to grow tourism in Lincolnshire.

My primary focus is to identify how we can best facilitate effective partnership working, for the benefit of those with an interest in growing and enhancing tourism within the context of Lincolnshire's visitor economy.

My past roles, managing and developing national and international tourism and entertainment businesses, have shown me firsthand the important contribution tourism makes to the English economy; it’s worth nearly £100 billion and supports two million jobs. In Lincolnshire, tourism is second only to food production generating £958 million and supporting over 16,000 jobs.

In the current economic environment, tourism offers real opportunities for meeting some of the difficult challenges ahead. Attracting more international tourism and encouraging more Britons to holiday in England would make a positive and lasting impact on the economy.

Tourism brings very real economic benefits to local communities, supplying direct jobs and supporting supplier businesses. It is an industry that lends itself to entrepreneurship and although dominated by SMEs offers opportunities for investment in various types of business of all sizes, from international brands to local family-run concerns.

Without doubt, tourism is economically important nationally, regionally and locally. However, it is also important to recognise that the traditional concept of tourism associated with 'bucket and spade' holidays, caravans and tents, ice-creams and post-cards, hotels and guest houses is but a part of a much broader concept.

The concept of the 'visitor economy' includes traditional holiday-related tourism but also incorporates business tourism, conferences and exhibitions, shopping, special events, eating and drinking, sports and leisure, and cultural and heritage activities. And, vitally, it is a concept that embraces residents and visitors alike.

Understanding how to successfully grow the visitor economy as an integrated whole requires an understanding of the fundamental importance of successful 'place-making'. In essence, a place that is attractive to live and work in is consequentially more likely to attract visitors and inward investment. The collective challenge for our communities is to recognise that this virtuous circle is achievable and sustainable only on the basis of effective partnership working between the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Marc Etches

Interim Chief Executive, Visit Lincolnshire

Win Awards & Win Visitors – entering is easy

2010-04-29T14:54:00.001+01:00

Winning awards can give your business the edge in what is a very competitive world, and ultimately generate you more visitors and income. As a result we’d like to invite you to enter this year’s regional tourism awards.

As well as possibly scooping an award and attracting visitors there are other reasons why we would recommend that you enter.

You will:
• Receive free constructive professional feedback on your business
• Raise the profile of your business in the media
• Reward your team for all their hard work
• Attract new customers

The regional tourism awards, know as the East Midlands Tourism EnjoyEngland Excellence Awards 2010, have categories for all businesses; they include hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, food and drink and large and small visitor attractions.

The aim of the awards is to recognise businesses that are committed to delivering a high quality memorable experience that leaves visitors with a positive lasting impression of the region, which will inspire them to make repeat visits in the future.

How to apply
We’re here to help you every step of the way when applying for awards. The first step is to register your interest by contacting Sharon at Visit Lincolnshire on 01522 561661 or sharon@visitlincolnshire.com.

Once registered we’ll send you a ‘Q&A’ booklet, helpful information and one-to-one telephone advice. The deadline for returning your application to us is 3pm Friday 28 May 2010.

New Membership Packages – Same price but more benefits!

2010-04-29T14:49:00.004+01:00

Great news for existing members of Visit Lincolnshire - our annual membership fees are staying the same for 2010-11, but we’ve added lots of new benefits so you actually get more for your money!

Membership is tailored to suit your business type and size, and added benefits include:

• Enhanced profile on our website visitlincolnshire.com including up to seven images, and the opportunity to supply additional information like downloadable brochure and a video.

• Save £200 on Eviivo Frontdesk - a Property Management System which gives you a whole suite of facilities to manage your bookings, on and offline.

• Membership Toolkit including sticker to display at your business and branding guidelines to enhance your marketing materials.

• Networking opportunities with likeminded businesses.

• Access to the Linked in members lounge - request your invitation here.

• Member to Member benefits – special deals offered between Members

If you want to check you’re are getting value for money or want to join as a new member we’re here to help, just contact Dan on 01522 561674 or dan@visitlincolnshrie.com

A facelift for visitlincolnshire.com

2010-04-29T14:48:00.002+01:00

If you haven’t seen it already, have a look at our new visitlincolnshire.com website. It’s the official site for attracting visitors to Lincolnshire and we’d like your feedback.

Visitlincolnshire.com now has improved searches; online book-ability that feeds through to over 40 other commercial websites such as lastminute.com; a practical visitor planning tool; a what’s new page; links to your trip advisor reviews and an option to include video links for businesses.

Please have a look and tell us what you think – and double check all the information we have for your business is correct.

We’d love to hear your feedback. If you have suggested changes and constructive feedback please contact Celia on 01522 561668 or celia@visitlincolnshire.com. If you want to include your business or update current information on the website please contact Gillian on 01522 561667 or gillin@visitlincolnshire.com.

Lincolnshire wins best quirky event in the UK

2010-04-29T14:42:00.001+01:00

Lincolnshire has scooped a national award in the EnjoyEngland Awards for Excellence 2010 for the best quirky event in the UK – the World Egg Throwing Competition.

Scooping gold in this unusual category has caught national media attention and projected Lincolnshire into the spotlight. We’re using it to raise people’s awareness of the county as a great place to visit. And we urge you to take advantage of the national attention the award has attracted by mentioning it on your website.

The World Egg Throwing Competition, held every June near Sleaford, scooped gold against Sussex’s Bird Man Festival, Dorset’s World Nettle Eating Contest and Worcestershire’s Asparagus Festival. The winner was decided by a public vote. In the weeks leading up to the final Visit Lincolnshire and the event’s organiser, Andy Dunlop, worked together to rally local support.

For more information about the event visit their website or contact Charlotte on 01522 561670 or charlotte@visitlincolnshire.com

Help shape the future of tourism – workshop

2010-04-29T14:41:00.001+01:00

Have your say on the future of tourism in the East Midlands by attending a series of workshops through the county. Visit Lincolnshire is working in partnership with East Midlands Tourism to ensure Lincolnshire businesses have their say.

Workshop dates:
• Friday 7 May - Oak House, Waterside South, Lincoln.
• Thursday 13 May – Alford Manor House, Alford.
• Tuesday 18 May – Grimsthorpe Castle, Bourne.

For more information or to register your attendance at one of the workshops please contact sharon@visitlincolnshire.com or 01522 561661.

Visit Lincolnshire’s Roadshow – Tuesday 11 May at Burghley House

2010-04-29T14:39:00.001+01:00

In May we are inviting businesses who want to learn more about Visit Lincolnshire to a roadshow at Burghley House.

Non-members, or existing members who want to work more closely with us are invited to meet our team, and the Board of Directors, to explore opportunities around working with Visit Lincolnshire. Visitors will be treated to a special tour of the house, which is one of the grandest Elizabethan buildings in the UK.

Venue – Burghley House, Stamford, 11.30am – 1.30pm. For more information or to confirm attendance please contact sharon@visitlincolnshire.com or call 01522 561661.

Advertising opportunities 2010 & 11 – Increase your enquiries and bookings

2010-04-29T14:35:00.002+01:00

Visit Lincolnshire 2011:
This is the annual county visitor guide, sent out in response to enquiries from Visit Lincolnshire marketing campaigns. Featuring where to stay, things to see and do, places to shop and eat, this is your opportunity to reach people who have expressed an interest in to coming in to Lincolnshire for a short break or longer holiday. Supported by a £250,000 marketing campaign involving press advertising, direct marketing and work with the travel trade and PR.

To find out how you can benefit click here.

NEW – Welcome to Lincoln
This guide is produced in partnership with Lincoln BIG, this is a city focused guide which will reach visitors who are staying in Lincoln and the surrounding areas. It is also designed to inspire local residents to explore and sample the great things available on their doorstep including ideas on where to eat, great places to shop, and things to see and do. A quality lifestyle magazine supported by a £100,000 city marketing campaign including on-line promotion via visitlincoln.com, e-newsletters, regional and national PR and press advertising. It will also be converted in to an e-brochure and hosted on visitlincolnshire.com.

If you would like to discuss these opportunities please call Fiona on 01522 561676 – fiona@visitlincolnshire.com, or Dan on 01522 561674 – dan@visitlincolnshire.com

VisitEngland Update

2010-04-29T14:34:00.001+01:00

VisitEngland has launched the Strategic Framework for Tourism 2010-2020 outlining the basis for future development in England’s tourism industry. Included in the framework are initial plans for promoting the 2012 Olympics, plus an overview of the entire tourism economy.

VisitEngland also plan to boost business tourism and are leading a new project focused entirely on growing business tourism in the UK. Business tourism was identified as an area of potential growth and as a result tourism experts have created a plan that will kick start it in the UK. Business tourism can help increase mid-week occupancy at accommodation providers, and also repeat visits when people return to a destination with friends and family.

Nominate Lincolnshire for Gordon Ramsey’s new show

2010-04-29T14:31:00.001+01:00

‘Ramsay’s best restaurant’ an exciting new TV series are looking for recruits. If you own or want to nominate a restaurant in Lincolnshire click here for more information.

Lincolnshire’s Quirky Events could be the best in the UK!

2010-04-06T11:46:00.006+01:00

Echoing those famous words of the 1914 recruitment poster I’d like to say….LINCOLNSHIRE NEEDS YOU!

The county’s been nominated for a national Enjoy England Award for Excellence 2010 and with your vote we can scoop gold!

A bit of background on how this came about: Two of Lincolnshire’s most unusual events, the Haxey Hood and the World Egg Throwing Competition have been nominated for … (drum roll please)… the new “Where Else but England” award which celebrates the quirkiest events in the UK.

The category is brand new for 2010 and celebrates English eccentricity (because that’s what we do best!). Whoever wins will be on the receiving end of some fantastic national media attention – which should result in more visitors flocking to these events or visit the host destination.

Thanks to local press coverage in the Lincolnshire Echo and also BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire’s two shortlisted events; the World Egg Throwing Competition and Haxey Hood won places in the national final.

The county now needs as many people as possible to vote for Lincolnshire’s quirky events to give us a chance to scoop gold in the national awards.

Vote here, it only takes 2 mins.

The winner will be announced on St Georges Day, April 2010.

A Message from the Chief Executive

2010-03-25T11:04:00.004Z

Welcome to the last newsletter I will introduce as Chief Executive for Visit Lincolnshire.

After 12 years in the post I have decided to pass over the reins, but looking back it’s been an honour and a pleasure working with tourism businesses throughout the years.

I have met some wonderful characters and truly inspirational people on my journey, and enjoyed leading the Visit Lincolnshire team in raising the profile of Lincolnshire as a quality visitor destination.

Looking back we’ve seen nearly £200 million of investment towards new and fabulous tourism facilities in Lincolnshire over the last 10 years, and together we’ve helped boost the overall value of the industry to £958 million – this is a massive achievement and something we should celebrate together.

However, the time has come for me to pass over the baton and let the company get a fresh perspective for future growth. And I feel this is just the beginning, the Directors have appointed my replacement who has the experience and passion to built on Lincolnshire’s already impressive growth in the visitor economy. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Marc Etches, the newly appointed interim Chief Executive for Visit Lincolnshire. I am sure Marc will be writing to you soon.

Once again I would like to thank you all for your continued support throughout my years at Visit Lincolnshire and to wish you every success for the future.

I’m now looking forward to my new found leisure time and plan to visit the wonderful attractions I have been working alongside for over 10 years. So perhaps our paths will cross again sometime soon…

All good wishes,

Penny Baker,
Chief Executive, Visit Lincolnshire

Useful Link:
- Press release announcing Penny Baker leaving Visit Lincolnshire
- Bio for Marc Etches

Visit Lincolnshire’s new interim Chief Executive

2010-03-25T10:52:00.006Z

After a competitive recruitment process the Board of Directors and Visit Lincolnshire are pleased to announce that Marc Etches has been appointed interim Chief Executive for Visit Lincolnshire.

Marc brings a wealth of experience to the role. He has spent much of his career managing and developing national and international tourism and entertainment businesses, including five years as the managing director of Windsor Safari Park followed by six years with Center Parcs; a company that set new standards for domestic tourism in the UK during the 1990s.

Having accepted a move to join the Walt Disney Company in Paris in the summer of 1998, he was persuaded to instead take up the role of managing director of Leisure Parcs Limited, owners of Blackpool Tower, and to lead the campaign for resort casino development as a catalyst for the economic regeneration of Blackpool.

In 2004, Marc left Leisure Parcs to set up his own international consultancy Insight, which provides public affairs, advocacy and strategic advice to public and private sector clients with an interest in leisure, hospitality, tourism, gambling and the creative industries.

Marc’s strong strategic background has grown from his experience of being a board member to Culture Northwest (2003-09), a body jointly responsible to the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA). Its objective was to champion England’s Northwest with a special focus on tourism, heritage, sport, performing art and leisure.

In 2005-06, Marc chaired the management board of a research project investigating ‘Climate Change and its Impact on Tourism’ managed by Sustainability Northwest and funded by the UK Government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

When asked about his new post Marc said, “I am looking forward to working with Visit Lincolnshire and contributing to the team’s skills, knowledge and determination to highlight the county as a leading visitor destination against stiff competition elsewhere in the UK. The quality of the staff at Visit Lincolnshire, combined with the expertise of the Board of Directors was one of many things that attracted me to the role.”

Marc’s first task as Chief Executive will be introducing himself to Visit Lincolnshire’s members and tourism businesses. However, if in the meantime you have any questions please email Sharon@visitlincolnshire.com.

Visit England’s Chairman comes to Lincolnshire

2010-03-25T10:47:00.003Z

Lady Cobham, Chairman of VisitEngland, visited Lincolnshire on Wednesday 24 March for VisitEngland’s Board of Directors meeting at De Vere Belton Woods Hotel.

VisitEngland's newly launched Strategic Framework for Tourism 2010-2020 was the main topic for the meeting. The strategy outlines the work to be done by public and private sectors to grow the UK’s £97 billion visitor economy.

Hosting such an influential person is a great achievement for Lincolnshire. We arranged a mini tour of the county for Lady Cobham so she could see what great visitor assets we have to offer. In the long run this first-hand experience of Lincolnshire could help reap rewards for the county and place Lincolnshire in the fore mind of our national partners.

A spring clean for visitlincolnshire.com

2010-03-25T10:30:00.002Z

Our website, visitlincolnshire.com, attracts thousands of local people and visitors looking for day trips and short break ideas. Visitlincolnshire.com, along with our visitor guides, is the first point of call for people looking for places to stay, things to do and places to eat in the county.

Help us ensure your business information is up-to-date; share with us your opening times or seasonal activities and we’ll put them on the website – this is open to Visit Lincolnshire members and non-members. For more information please contact Gillian Richardson on 01522 561667 or gillian@visitlincolnshire.com.

Lincolnshire’s tourism businesses also have access to our new online booking system, this allows visitors to pre-book and pay for tickets / accommodation online. This can help boost sales for your business as 80% of visitors choose to look and book online. For more information please contact Clare Fryer on 01522 561666 or email clare@visitlincolnshire.com.

Lincolnshire’s BOBI success

2010-03-25T10:26:00.002Z

A special thanks to all our businesses that supported our Lincolnshire stand at the UK’s largest travel exhibition, Best of Britain and Ireland, last week. The event, in London, placed Lincolnshire side by side with leading destinations all over the UK.

In total five businesses and partners joined us, they included Waddington Air Show, The Olde Barn, Spalding Flower Parade, the Coast and De Vere Belton Woods Hotel.

Ben Callaghan, Sales & Marketing Manager from the Olde Barn in Grantham said “I was unsure of what to expect from the event, but thanks to Visit Lincolnshire, who invited us to take part in BOBI, it provided us with the opportunity to meet contacts we would never have had the chance to meet face to face otherwise. There was a steady stream of visitors representing quality business opportunities over the four day event, some of whom have already been converted into customers. I’d like to thank Visit Lincolnshire for enabling us to be a part of this national event and hope we can be there again next year.”

BOBI is an annual event, if you want to know more about future events and exhibition opportunities email keren@visitlincolnshire.com.

EnjoyEngland Excellence Awards 2010 – celebrate success in Lincolnshire

2010-03-25T10:16:00.003Z

We’d like to invite you to enter this year’s regional awards and to join the elite of Lincolnshire’s tourism businesses. So, how do you go about taking part?

Why should you enter?
Do you want to build your business and attract new customers?
Do you want to raise the profile of your business with the media?
Do you want to receive FREE constructive professional feedback on your operation?
Do you want to stand out from the crowd?

Who is eligible?
All tourism businesses, no matter how large or small – from the smallest tea shop to attractions welcoming over 100,000 visitors each year.

What do you have to do?Decide which category you would like to enter (you may enter as many as you like).
Please check the eligibility criteria which will be available shortly.
If you are not eligible for one, you may be for another!

Register your interest by emailing sharon@lincolnshiretourism.com and the application form and guidance notes will be sent by return for completion.

When do you have to complete by?
Completed hard copy application forms need to be with the Sarah Gravelle or Sally Porter at Visit Lincolnshire, Beech House, Waterside South, Lincoln LN5 7JH by 3.00 pm on Friday 28 May 2010.

2010 Categories include:
Access for All
Bed & Breakfast/ Guest Accommodation
Best Tourism Experience
Business Tourism
Caravan Holiday Park
Large Hotel
Outstanding Customer Service
Pub Experience
Self Catering
Small Hotel
Small Visitor Attraction
Sustainable Tourism
Taste of the Region
Think Family
Tourism Event of the Year
Tourist Information Centre

Award Diary Dates

Monday 19 April - Win Awards, Win Visitors! Workshop @ The Petwood Hotel - get help with your application!
Friday 28 May 2010- Completed applications to be received by Visit Lincolnshire
June 2010- Short Listing
July/August 2010- Mystery Shop
September 2010 - Final Judging
Thursday 7 October 2010 - Regional awards
April 2011- National awards

The Celebrating Excellence Booklet is available on Monday 5 April 2010 if you want one please contact sharon@visitlincolnshire.com.

‘Harness the Power of Web Marketing’ with Susan Hallam

2010-03-24T16:24:00.005Z

Members and non-members have been invited to attend Susan Hallam’s latest Web Marketing conference on Friday 14 May with discounted ticket prices.

Visit Lincolnshire members can receive a half price ticket (£175 instead of £350) until Wednesday 31 March. Contact susan@hallam.biz and quote your membership reference number, if you need reminding of your number please speak to fiona@visitlincolnshire.com or ring 01522 561676.

Grant funding may also be available, as long as you have five or more employees who need to learn more about internet marketing. If this applies to your business you can claim 100% funding for the first £500, and a further £500 is available at a 50% match. To apply for grant funding please email Susan directly (susan@hallam.biz)

VisitBritian invites you to ‘Get involved with the 2012 Olympic Games’

2010-03-24T16:17:00.001Z

VisitBritain have launched a new tourism website, in partnership with London 2012’s Nations and Regions Group. Its aim is to help tourism businesses get involved in the Olympic Games.

If you work in tourism and want to know more about the London Olympic Games and Paralympics Tourism2012Games.org is the website for you.

Get an insight into the UK’s preparation to host the biggest event in the world and find out how your business can make the most of the Games. You can even sign up to the Tourism 2012 Games free e-newsletter.

Coming soon – We’re working with Lincolnshire Sports Partnership to hold a county based conference specifically for tourism businesses, the aim will be to explain how to get involved and reap the benefit of working with Sports Associations to maximize the potential of 2012.

Free Business Workshops throughout April

2010-03-24T16:16:00.000Z

Have a look at these free business workshops run by the NE Group based in Boston.

If you’re interested in learning more about team work; speed networking or managing effective teams we think you’ll find this website useful.

Calling all heritage & cultural attractions

2010-03-24T16:13:00.002Z

The BBC has launched a new History Campaign for the summer holiday and needs help from cultural and heritage businesses to get as many children and families involved as possible.

History is a major theme for the BBC this year and many programmes will be shown on TV as a result. To compliment the programmes the BBC wants to work with local businesses to help inspire families across the UK get ‘hands on’ with their past to help them discover history in their local area. As a result they want to provide businesses with Holiday History Packs bursting with ideas that will inspire heritage and cultural attractions to run family activities. In return any activities provided will feature on their website.

For more information email helen.sykes@bbc.co.uk.

Lincoln Book Festival – become a friend & attract visitors

2010-03-24T15:47:00.007Z

Events act as a hook for attracting visitors and we need your help to promote the Lincoln Book Festival on 12th – 16th May. The programme has just been launched and can be viewed on the Book Festival’s Website from 25 March onwards.

If you want to support the festival please contact Sara Bullimore (sara.bullimore@googlemail.com). You can become a ‘Friend of the Festival’ by paying a small subscription fee, this will give you priority access to the headline events; or you can just request festival brochures, posters and other promotional material to display in your business.

Useful links
- Follow the festival on Twitter! /lincolnbookfest
- Become a Book Festival Fan on Facebook
- For the box office call (01522) 873894 or http://www.lincolndrillhall.com/

Did you know Lincolnshire has Robin Hood connection?

2010-03-05T14:15:00.004Z

It’s not long now until the release of the new Robin Hood movie starring Russell Crowe (sorry, but I can’t get the vision of Robin Hood, Men in tights out my head).

In anticipation on this, (the movie, not Russell in tights) we have been researching any connections Robin Hood had to Lincolnshire.

We’re doing this because when the movie is launched it will get global promotion and Lincolnshire could get a little slice of the cake– like we did for The Da Vinci Code and The Young Victoria.

Although none of the movie was filmed in Lincolnshire, people following the Robin Hood Movie Trail or story of the man himself will want to visit places that have connections to him…. and Lincolnshire is one of them!

Work is been done by us, VisitEngland and Experience Nottinghamshire to develop movie trail maps. But in the meantime have a little read of these….

To get a sense of how big Sherwood Forest really was go on a Lincoln Cathedral roof top tour and see the boundaries where the forest use to border Lincolnshire. Sherwood Forest came within 6 miles of the Cathedral!

Lincoln Castle is the only place in the world where you can see the Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forrest together.

The material that his clothes were made of was from Lincolnshire, it was called “Lincoln Green”.

The library in the Cathedral has one of the very first hand written rhymes of Robin Hood. Dr Nicholas Bennett resident at the cathedral said “Lincoln Cathedral’s Library is of major importance in Robin Hood studies. It has the first hand written rhyme / verse which refers to Robin Hood.
The verse reads (In modernised form), ‘Robin Hood in Sherwood stood, hooded and hated, hosèd and shod’. This is the earliest surviving written rhyme of Robin Hood in existence anywhere. We display this in the Library exhibition every year.” See the copy on a visit to Lincolnshire.

Robin Hood was known as ‘robbing the rich to feed the poor’ and it would have been Lincoln’s ‘rich’ he robbed at city events as it was the closest most affluent city to him.

The Sheriff (or Shire Reive) of Nottingham administered Lincolnshire as part of his area of jurisdiction.

Fingers crossed for the Oscars

2010-03-05T10:00:00.001Z

When we heard ‘The Young Victoria’ movie (partly filmed in Lincolnshire) had been nominated for several Oscars we excitedly dusted off our posh frocks and waited with starry-eyed hope…

Alas, our golden invitations failed to drop through the letter box. But if the Young Victoria were to scoop a little gold man this weekend it would, once again, put the movie and it’s filming locations into the global spotlight.

This would be fantastic news for Lincolnshire! We’ve already had one bite of the cherry when the movie was released, because people wanted to visit the set locations and follow the footsteps of their favourite stars - like Emily Blunt (who played Victoria in the movie).

Keren from our office spoke to Rod Whiting at BBC Radio Lincolnshire this morning on the subject - if you missed what was said you can hear it here on the stations ‘listen again’ weblink.

Useful links

BBC Radio Lincolnshire ‘Listen again’
Film locations in Lincolnshire

A Message from the Chief Executive

2010-02-26T16:58:00.004Z

Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter.

On Tuesday 23 February we held Lincolnshire’s Annual Tourism Conference 'Success through Quality' at Woodhall Spa; the event was a huge success and I’d like to thank everyone who supported it by attending.

Information from the conference is available online, through a clever program called SlideShare. Have a look by clicking on slideshare.net/VisitLincolnshire and you’ll see my presentation, plus the workshop notes and hand outs. You can even leave us feedback and comment on the event.

Also, in the next couple of weeks we’ll be flying the county flag during the UK’s largest tourism campaign – British Tourism Week (BTW), which runs from 15 - 21 March 2010.

British Tourism Week was launched to raise awareness of the size, value and importance of Britain’s £114 billion visitor economy; we will be raising awareness of Lincolnshire’s role in contributing to the national picture.

The most significant events taking place during BTW include Discover Lincolnshire Weekend, Saturday 13 to Sunday 14 March and a Lincolnshire stand at the largest domestic trade and consumer exhibition of the year BOBI, Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 March.

Get in touch with us to find out how you can be part of BTW, and how we can work together to raise the profile of Lincolnshire as a short break destination.

Penny Baker

Chief Executive, Visit Lincolnshire

Save £295 with our new online booking opportunity – ends 31st March

2010-02-25T10:48:00.005Z

We’ve negotiated a deal for all Lincolnshire based tourism businesses to receive free online booking software and training that saves you a massive set up charge of £295 (based on the RRP).

The system, called Eviivo Front desk, is suitable for all attractions, event organisers and quality assured accommodation providers. It allows you to publish your availability to potential visitors, allowing them to book online through your own website or other online channels. This can help boost sales for your business.

For more information or an informal chat please contact Clare Fryer on 01522 561666 or email Clare@lincolnshiretourism.com.

More information and Q&A can be found on our corporate website.

Business Opportunities for London 2012

2010-02-25T10:43:00.001Z

Business Link is hosting a free event to outline what the opportunities around London 2012 will be, particularly for medium and smaller sized businesses.

The workshop sessions are hands on, practical and jargon free. So far over 100 East Midland businesses have won contracts to support the London 2012 games.

For more information please call the Business Link Team on 0845 058 6644. Booking forms are available for the morning session or for the afternoon session.

Date - Thursday 11 March, 9.30am or 1.30pm, Lincoln.

British Tourism Week (BTW) - Opportunities & Dates for your diary

2010-02-25T09:41:00.014Z

To kick start the 2010 season Visit Lincolnshire is inviting businesses to a series of events and workshops led by industry experts, including internet marketing guru Susan Hallam (pictured).

How to Save Money and Increase Market Share Workshop – Wednesday 10 March (10am for 10.30am start)

Join us for this one day workshop, run by Andy Clegg and Sandra Barnes-Keywood of the Green Training Company. Intended for businesses with little experience or knowledge of sustainable tourism, this introductory course provides a background to the whole concept of green and sustainable tourism, and an introduction to Green Start and The Green Tourism Business Scheme. For more information contact sharon@lincolnshiretourism.com or call 01522 561661. Venue – Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground.

Discover Lincolnshire Weekend – Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 March

Join tourism businesses over the county for a weekend celebration which inspires visitors and local residents to Discover Lincolnshire! Over one weekend a host of attractions will be throwing open their doors for free, encouraging residents to explore what’s on their door step, whilst also attracting visitors from outside the county. The aim is to raise the profile of Lincolnshire’s visitor attractions and encourage repeat visits. We’d like to invite your business to join us. If you are interested in participating or want further information read our press release and then contact Sharon for an application form at sharon@lincolnshiretourism.com or 01522 561661.

Leaflet Swap & Social Media Marketing: A Successful Tool for Tourism - Monday 15 March (10.15am – 3.30pm)

Join us for the Leaflet Swap and learn about the benefits of Social Media for your business in this fascinating session by internet marketing expert Susan Hallam. For more information contact sharon@lincolnshiretourism.com or call 01522 561661. Venue - Bainland Country Park, Woodhall Spa.

Best of Britain and Ireland (BOBI) Olympia - 17 to 20 March 2010

As part of British Tourism Week (BTW) Visit Lincolnshire will be exhibiting at Best of Britain and Ireland (BOBI), the largest trade and consumer travel event of the year. The show takes place at Olympia in London and over 400 exhibitors from destinations, hotels, attractions and tourism suppliers will be attending. Visit Lincolnshire will be part of the brand new East Midlands area and will be supported by a number of Lincolnshire businesses who took advantage of our invitation to take part.

Entry for the exhibition is now closed but Visit Lincolnshire will be flying the county flag throughout the event – or if you’re in London come and see us and help us celebrate the best of British tourism.

Members Meeting & Getting your Business into the Media – Thursday 18 March (10am for 10.30am start)

At our members meeting we will also be running a workshop by Jon Grubb, our Chairman and current Editor of the Lincolnshire Echo, about how to get your business into the media. For more information contact sharon@lincolnshiretourism.com or call 01522 561661.

One Step Ahead Workshop – Thursday 25 March (10am for 10.30am start)

Join us for this one day One Step Ahead workshop, run by Jude Sefton MBE of Access Unlimited. This workshop is designed to provide delegates with the relevant knowledge on how to successfully achieve NAS 1 (Mobility) using the ‘One Step Ahead’ framework as an effective tool. This will also embrace issues relating to accessible information provision ensuring that the messages you are giving to visitors are accessible ones. For more information contact sharon@lincolnshiretourism.com or call 01522 561661. Venue – Petwood hotel, Woodhall Spa.

Visit Lincolnshire's 'Success Through Quality' Conference

2010-02-24T11:19:00.004Z

There's a big tidy up afoot today - and no, we're not doing an early office spring clean...(yet)

Sharon Stone, Executive Assistant to the CEO organised a fantastic day for over 100 delegates set within the sprawling and luxurious facilities of the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. Our annual 'Success Through Quality' Conference is always a chance for Lincolnshire's tourism businesses, valuable stakeholders and partners to enjoy a day of inspiring presentations, workshops and speeches celebrating Lincolnshire as a visitor destination.

Highlights included an enlightening keynote speech from Phillippa Forrester, of 'Tomorrow's World' fame and more recently a champion for environment and sustainability. We were amazed how Phillippa had travelled the world and seen so many fascinating creatures and sights...all with 3 small children in tow, and in some pretty remote locations.

We were then given a great insight into the lives of Paul and Flora Bennett from Brackenborough Hall Coach House Holidays. The couple have won awards for their committment to family holidays, making their 5* converted coach house accommodation (sleeps up to 24, in case you're interested in making a visit) into a haven for families. Everyone was delighted with Flora's idea to assemble a dressing up box and put it in the cottage for kids (and adults, so we heard!) to act out merry pirate and cowboy adventures.

After a spot of Lincoln Red Beef & all the trimmings for lunch, followed by yummy Plum Bread Pudding (I feel full just thinking about it again) we dived off into a selection of workshops to learn something for the afternoon. I ran the social media/online arm of the Top Marketing Tips - altogether a very useful session, if not a little like speed-dating for our delegates, who had to swap rooms every 20 minutes.

So we're all having a bit of a sort out here...(Sharon particularly - she's certainly clocking up the recommended 10,000 steps)...clearing up the aftermath of display banners, goodie bags and feedback forms...

If you'd like to view some of the documents and presentations from the day, we're happily loading them onto our SlideShare account http://www.slideshare.net/VisitLincolnshire

Useful links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippa_Forrester

http://www.brackenboroughhall.com/

More good news from our Press Office

2010-01-14T15:19:00.000Z

Great news from our press office – I’ve just received the latest coverage about Lincolnshire from one of the UK’s top travel writers, Christopher Somerville.

Chris is a trail blazer in his profession. He writes for many national newspapers and has a faithful following of readers who avidly read his reviews and follow in his footsteps by visiting the same accommodation and attractions and he does.

Before Christmas I spent a couple of days helping Chris plan his Lincolnshire visit – giving him contacts, suggesting accommodation, supplying a press pack and meeting him to make sure his stay here ticked all the boxes.

The final article in the Financial Times is a huge success and takes us one step closer to raising Lincolnshire’s profile as a place to visit.

Read it here for yourself http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/eee3eadc-ef63-11de-86c4-00144feab49a.html

Scam Reservation Enquiries to Tourism Businesses

2009-11-20T11:26:00.000Z

It's an all too common problem these days: many of us received unwanted emails from people we've never heard of, whether it's a dodgy pharmecutical message or a plea for money from an unfortunate individual from half way round the world.

We're growing ever wise to such scams and thankfully, most of our email boxes are armed with junk mail filters and spam boxes. Indeed, if something does slip through to the inbox most of us will simply hit 'delete' and forget about it. However sometimes the crooks need to be pretty clever to avoid arousing our suspicions - see this one from Wendy Breeds at Old Mill House B&B, Maltby le Marsh.

Good Morning folks in Lincoln,

Just wanted to chat about the increasing number of scam reservation emails we are picking up. We have had odd curious emails all the while we have been in business, just over two years now. We tend to ignore them but were not certain of their purpose until today. We picked up one this morning and I gave it more thought than usual. I gave it more consideration because a couple of months back, our son advertised his motor bike at on-line auction and he became involved in a scam whereby, the purchaser, from abroad of course, sent more money than was necessary, paid by bank draft on an Eire bank in Euros. Of course before the draft could be cleared, the purchaser was requesting the excess to be returned. Quite farcical but we observed the whole process with common sense and no money changed hands. We heard no more from the potential purchaser.

This affair has naturally sat in the back of my mind and when an email turned up this morning, the penny actually dropped. The request is usually for three or more double rooms, for seven or more nights...which could be a substantial amount. (The email is pasted to the bottom of this.) I can imagine that the procedure would be that upon the request for a deposit, they would pay up front, then before the payment clears, request a refund. The payment would then bounce and I would be out of pocket.

The reservation request often has a nice little story wrapped up in it, such as they are a bible study group from Central America, or they will be travelling with a linguist etc.

It didn’t take two minutes to find the following website www.tourismnortheast.co.uk/.../watch-out-for-this-email-scam-says-ne-accommodation-provider-a721
And my suspicions were confirmed!

Sadly for tourism, I am reluctant to take bookings by email from abroad, and always decline a deposit when I do. As yet, I have taken no bogus bookings. I would also feel sad for any small business that falls for a scam, easy to do now that it is the low season and businesses would appreciate the income.

I have not heard of or been warned by any source of this fraud activity and thought it might be wise to circulate some sort of info in the email circular you distribute on a regular basis.

Hope you can give this matter your attention and bring it to the attention of other businesses,

Regards
Wendy Breeds
Old Mill House

So, if you receive anything like this that you think other tourism businesses should be aware of, let us know. CL

To Tweet or Not to Tweet...

2009-09-21T09:25:00.005+01:00

One of my to-do's this week is compiling a newsletter on the latest developments from the digital news desk. Aside from the cold cup of coffee, Nutri-Grain bar (for elevensies) and various notes to self, there's lots of exciting stuff to talk about from my corner of the room.

I've just been sketching out the headlines for my newsletter, as I often do. One particular point relating to Social Media - and why we should all be embracing it's popularity - got me thinking... what if my readership don't have the foggiest what I'm on about? What if they need a bit more persuasion on the merits of the social media whirlwind? I know it took me a while to appreciate the value of these websites, setting aside my pre-conceptions of it being a pointless fad for teenagers. And if you think that FaceTube is another social media channel I think you'll benefit from some detail on the subject.

So, allow me to enlighten you a little more.

Twitter is just one example of an effective social media channel.There are others out there that produce results of a similar nature, but Twitter is the most popular, most talked about social media site of the moment - in the period Feb 2008 to Feb 2009, the number of visitors to the site grew by over 1000%. Not to mention the fact that every high-profile man and his dog are using it - Barack Obama, Jonathan Ross, and Richard Branson to name a few.

Here at LT we began using Twitter a few months ago. So far, it's been nothing but a hugely positive experience. Not only are we able to keep up to speed with our competitors, our industry partners, suppliers and visitors but we can quickly and easily post updates on what we're doing too. We've talked about everything from award-winning donkeys to the Lincolnshire sausage petition - and it's a great way to flag up articles posted on our blogs.

Part of the purpose of using Twitter as a business is related to crucial online brand-building. Your brand is essential, it's what sets you apart from the crowd, right? Your company logo, your ethos, your way of doing things - all of these attributes make up your identity as a business, and without a brand...well to coin a phrase from an esteemed colleague, it's a bit like forgetting to put the bacon in the breakfast.

Ok, so we've established that Twitter a) helps you nosy at what other people are doing - which we all love and enjoy, lets face it b) allows you to update others on what you're doing c) is a solid online platform for brand-building.

So why Twitter? Surely it's just a faddy gimmick that will fade into nothing come 2012? Perhaps. But right now it's hot property. It's free to use, and setting up your business on Twitter takes all of about five minutes. You can even place a background on your page with your logo/pictures on - keep pushing that brand wherever you can.

Using Twitter takes a bit of practice, but won't steal hours of your day away from you like a needy relative. In fact, about ten minutes of your day is all you need to spare to keep your profile of updates and news fresh, plus catch up on what everyone else has to say, if you like. And of course you can take it a bit further if you have more time - post links to pictures, things that you like, things from your local area, things you've seen other people post...it goes on and on.

From a tourism business point of view a really important benefit of having a Twitter profile is that you'll gradually accumulate a population of 'followers'. These might be other tourism businesses, people who've visited you and people like us.

Now there's no reason to give it a whirl either (even if you just trial it, there's nothing to lose, right?) - Visit England's new Social Media Wizard tool will get you up and running in no time, perfect for anyone who might be a bit overwhelmed by any jargon or technology struggles. CL

Useful links

Visit England's Social Media Wizard tool:
www.eewizard.co.uk

Loads of advice if you're new to Twitter:
www.twitip.com/13-twitter-tips-and-tutorials-for-beginners

Visit Lincolnshire's Twitter Page:
www.twitter.com/visitlincolnshr

Get down to Mablethorpe to see some Bathing Beauties

2009-09-10T14:50:00.002+01:00

Do you want to see Lincolnshire’s Bathing Beauties…?

Are you curious what they look like…?

Well, wonder no more, just head down to Mablethorpe's Beach on 18 – 20 September and see Lincolnshire glorious Bathing Beauties Beach Huts for yourself.

The three day Bathing Beauties festival is the only beach hut festival in the UK and Europe’s longest linear event. They were born out of a designs competition to’re-imagine the beach hut for the 21st century'.

Designs include a giant gin and tonic complete with straw and another called Jabba the Hut.
And for beach hut lovers a new one will be revealed at the festival. www.bathingbeauties.org.uk. CG

Lincolnshire Day celebrations - it's not all about the sausage!

2009-09-04T18:12:00.001+01:00

Lincolnshire Day will celebrate everything Lincolnshire throughout October 2009.

We want businesses to get involved and celebrate our county. Your support can be as big or as small as you want.

Cafés and restaurants are serving dedicated Lincolnshire menus where all the ingredients are grown in the county – even down to the sugar in the coffee!

Tastes of Lincolnshire is running a food fair with House of Fraser on Lincoln High Street and local attractions are throwing their doors open for free.

Smaller businesses can ask their staff to wear yellow for the day in honor of the county’s Yellow Belly historical roots, or fly the Lincolnshire Flag. What you do is entirely up to you – we just want to inspire you to join us and your business peers to celebrate Lincolnshire Day.

Lincolnshire Day is being supported by BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire County Council, Tastes of Lincolnshire, The Coop, Lincolnshire Life Magazine and the Lincolnshire Echo.

Businesses that support the day will be included in press and PR and could be featured in the local, regional and national media. – so let us know what you have planned by emailing you event and support to lincolnshireday@lincolnshiretourism.com.

For more information click onto www.lincolnshireday.co.uk.

A special discount is being offered by Lincolnshire Life Magazine for any business who wants to buy Lincolnshire flags and buntings, please contact Josie 01522 527127. CG

It's a Twitter Revolution…

2009-08-19T13:03:00.003+01:00

It would seem everyone is on Twitter these days: celebs, sports stars – even the US president.

Tweeting? Bird behavior, you say. If you happen to be clued up about Twitter, you might assume it’s a teenage trend - the newest and coolest way to impress their friends, perhaps?

In fact twittering, tweeting, tweet-posting – whatever you prefer to call it - is a fun, fast and effective way to communicate. And yes… even the lesser-spotted, greying-feathered population are joining the revolution.

Here at Lincolnshire Tourism, we’ve embraced its popularity to keep holiday makers, tourism industry professionals and local people up to date with our news.

Plus it allows us to keep in touch with people from all over the world, which is invaluable – we’ve got followers in Canada, Latvia and Australia.

It’s relatively early days - you could say we are still in our ‘tweeting infancy’ – but our experience so far tells us it’s a great way to communicate.

So if you want to follow our business tweets click onto www.twitter.com/lincstourism or see what we are saying to potential holiday makers at www.twitter.com/visitlincolnshr. CG

Move over Hollywood – Lincolnshire is now Film Friendly

2009-08-13T15:05:00.002+01:00

Lincolnshire has joined the red carpet A-list stars by gaining official ‘Film Friendly’ status.

Could this mean (sharp intake of breath) we’ll be bumping into Brad Pitt on Lincoln’s Steep Hill, sharing the Cleethorpes Land Train with George Clooney or asking Jennifer Aniston if she has 20p for the car park in Stamford...?

And the answer is – maybe!

But more importantly, Lincolnshire being film friendly gives reassurance to directors and scouts that when they film in Lincolnshire they will get a certain level of service, help and advice – which is music to their ears.

The knock on effect of Lincolnshire’s film friendly status could potentially mean more movies are made here; which would have a fantastic effect in the local economy, especially tourism, as people love to visit their favorite film locations.

Remember The Da Vinci Code and The Young Victoria at Lincolnshire Cathedral? Pride and Prejudice at Burghley House? Or Atonement starring Keira Knightley and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, with Cate Blanchet. All of them helped shine the spotlight on Lincolnshire.

If you want to know more see the press release www.lincolnshiretourism.com/media-room/press-release/2009.

We’ll let you know when Steven Spielberg is on the phone...CG

Latest Job Opportunties at Lincolnshire Tourism

2009-08-06T16:10:00.006+01:00

We're expanding our team a little more this month with the recruitment of two new posts...the search is on for an Aviation Development Officer and a Learning Outreach Officer. So what on earth does that involve, you might ask?

As part of a budget received by the Heritage Lottery Fund we're flying ahead - pun intended - with our campaign to raise awareness of Lincolnshire's aviation heritage, and the many fantastic aviation sites the county has on offer. These two roles will be vital to the successful delivery of this campaign, working closely with key sites and partners to plant our aviation history firmly on the map.

The closing date is 14th Sept 09, so if you think this might be up your street (or indeed someone you know) check out full details of the posts and how to apply at www.lincolnshiretourism.com CL

Coast Magazine loves Lincolnshire...

2009-08-03T14:39:00.007+01:00

I arrived at my desk this morning to see the latest copy of Coast Magazine – and turned straight to the four page spread dedicated to Lincolnshire’s Festival of Bathing Beauties, which takes place every September in Mablethorpe (18th-20th).

The festival is totally unique, and celebrates traditional seaside fun (something Lincolnshire is very good at!) with a quirky design twist. The article in Coast Magazine focuses on the design concepts of each artist when they sketched out the initial plans for their bespoke hut.

We love getting national coverage like this for Lincolnshire – it’s one of many ways we use to sing about what a great place it is to visit. If you want to know more about Bathing Beauties or attend the festival have a look on www.bathingbeauties.org.uk or pick up a copy of Coast Magazine! CG

Get the edge on Quality

2009-07-23T10:53:00.005+01:00

I've just been passed a glossy mag by our Quality Manager, Sarah Gravelle: no, not the latest issue of Vogue (although we do talk shoes on a regular basis) but VisitEngland's summer edition of Quality Edge. Having had a good thumb-through with my morning coffee, I can see why Sarah raves about this magazine each time it arrives on her desk.

Firstly, there's a range of 'hot topic' articles - such as how to widen your appeal to an overseas audience, embracing the era of the credit card transaction and - for us nosey types - 'a Day in the Life'; this edition spotlights a four-star hostel in the Lake District. Amongst the undeniably useful selection of practical advice you'll find a generous offering of tips and ideas too.

Quality Edge is a bit of a no-brainer: free business advice, industry insight and oodles of handy hints... It easy to get hold of - you can read the Summer 2009 issue and download any back issues, all free of charge at http://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/quality/QualityEdge . Once you've taken a look, do let us know what you think. CL

Latest press coverage: The Times

2009-07-16T13:58:00.006+01:00

Last month our media team were approached by respected walking guru and journalist, Christopher Somerville. After providing Christopher with some routes and ideas it seems our ever persuasive approach did the trick - with an article in last weekends copy of The Times worth c. £25k in press coverage.

Happily for us whilst many of Christopher's friends have 'little love' for our fair county, it seems he was mesmerised by our 'undiscovered walking country'. Jolly good stuff we think.

Read the full article...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/walks/article6681379.ece