The Scottish Snowsports Marketing Group (SSMG), a group of winter snowsports businesses including Scotland’s five ski centres, have been successful in their bid for funding to help attract new visitors to the area.

The group have been awarded £18,000 from VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund to develop a TV advertising campaign in the north of England and an SMS text messaging service.

This latest cash will complement marketing activity already undertaken by SSMG. A previous Challenge Fund award of £24,000 resulted in a successful Scottish TV ad campaign and sponsored snow report broadcasts on two of Scotland’s largest radio stations, as well as direct mailing of promotional material to schools and UK travel agents.

Following this latest success, tourism businesses across Aberdeen and Grampian are being reminded they have the opportunity to take advantage of Challenge Funding.

The deadline for round eight applications is 28 February 2007 for activities taking place between 1 May 2007 and 31 April 2008. If you have any queries or want to discuss a potential Challenge Fund project please do not hesitate to contact your Challenge Fund Advisor Laura Philip on tel: 01224 288811, email Laura.Philip@visitscotland.com or visit the website www.visitscotland.org/challenge_fund.