VisitScotland eUpdate - January 2008
Welcome to the first eUpdate of the year which features a wide range of articles which we hope you will find of interest.
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15/01/2008
Loganair has announced an increase in the number of low cost flights to residents in the Northern Isles. More...17/01/2008
Homecoming Scotland, a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland in partnership with VisitScotland, will be a year-long celebration in 2009 of Scotland's culture and heritage. More...16/01/2008
Aberdeen Airport holds 'Open Air' sessions, giving the public a chance to share their ideas for improving facilities with Managing Director, Kevin Brown. More...16/01/2008
Aberdeen Convention Bureau has become one of the founding partners of the global Energy Cities Alliance, alongside the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and Perth (Australia) Convention Bureau. More...16/01/2008
18 companies are taking a ‘Taste of Grampian’ to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 23rd January. The companies who have taken up the opportunity to showcase their products at an evening reception to MSP’s, invited journalists and guests at Holyrood in Edinburgh. More...16/01/2008
Dean’s of Huntly recently took a step in a new direction by opening the nation’s first visitor attraction dedicated to our national biscuit. The company has grown to become the No.1 Scottish retail brand of shortbread, employing more than 140 people and has a turnover approaching £7million – with ambitious plans for future growth. More...16/01/2008
Two of Scotland's most popular female folk singers will perform at the Stonehaven Folk Festival this summer, to celebrate the event's 20th anniversary and organisers are offering local businesses to take part through sponsorship. More...16/01/2008
Grampian Food Forum will be hosting an open meeting that will focus on supplying the speciality sector on Tuesday 26th February at the Holiday Inn Aberdeen West, Westhill. More...16/01/2008
The Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce has unveiled a list of networking events coming up in the next couple of months. To book your place at any of the following events visit www.agcc.co.uk/events or call the events team on 01224 343900. More...16/01/2008
The 18th annual food and drink Innovation Awards organised by the Grampian food Forum will take place on Wednesday 12th March. More...15/01/2008
Golf in Aberdeen City and Shire was showcased to an international audience last week as Business Relationship and Marketing Manager for VisitScotland Aberdeen and Grampian, Dennis McFarlane, headed for Orlando, USA, to the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show – the biggest golf trade show in the world. More...16/01/2008
Would you like your events to appear in the April/May/June 2008 edition of the Aberdeen City and Shire quarterly events magazine 'The Source'? More...17/01/2008
Quality will be at the forefront of the first VisitScotland Perthshire and Angus & Dundee networking event of 2008. More...17/01/2008
A one day conference will be held on Friday 29 February, 10.30 am – 3.30pm at Perth Racecourse, Scone, By Perth. The event will give businesses the opportunity to hear from experts in the tourism industry and put their questions to the various speakers from throughout the day. More...17/01/2008
Following a successful lottery bid and public TV vote in December 2007, Perth will receive £1.25 million from the People’s Lottery Giveaway towards the Sustrans Connect2 bridge over the River Tay. More...17/01/2008
Fortingall Hotel, in the beautiful Arts and Crafts village of Fortingall at the foot of Glen Lyon, is delighted to announce this week that it has obtained the top ‘Gold’ award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, becoming only the second hotel in Perthshire to achieve such status, the first being Gleneagles. More...17/01/2008
Perthshire, Angus & Dundee Accommodation Guides; Perthshire Visitor Guides; and Angus & Dundee Visitor Guides are now in circulation. This is the first time the two areas have combined the accommodation guides and will enable VisitScotland to expand the target market of potential visitors to both Perthshire and Angus & Dundee. More...16/01/2008
Loganair has announced it is to become the first franchise partner of FlyBE, in a move that will deliver more UK and European flight connections to Scots air passengers. More...17/01/2008
If you want your message to reach visitors, there’s no more direct way of doing it than through your local TIC. A variety of poster and other advertising opportunities are now available in TICs throughout Argyll, Loch Lomond and Forth Valley. More...17/01/2008
A comprehensive range of one-day IT and business skills training courses are on offer throughout February and beyond from Stirling Enterprise. More...21/01/2008
As part of the Fire Authority duties an Officer may contact you to carry out an audit of your Fire Risk Assessment and inspect the relevant premises. More...16/01/2008
Calling Bute businesses! A new year is upon us, and it’s time to check you’re doing everything you can to get the most out of the 2008 season. Come along to this free event in Rothesay for a timely one-to-one with your local relationship manager and meet with a representative from visitscotland.com More...15/01/2008
The Talking Tourism conference on the 26 February is aimed at everyone with an interest in tourism in Ayrshire & Arran and will highlight the progress of the Tourism Partnership - get yourself signed up now. More...15/01/2008
Anniversary couples like Madonna and Guy Ritchie – who recently celebrated their copper wedding anniversary – are being encouraged to celebrate their special day in style with a themed visit to Scotland including rekindling their passion in our very own wildly romantic Robert Burns Country. More...15/01/2008
Plans to build the first Scottish sustainable homes in zero carbon standard under pioneering new innovations provided by leading Scottish sustainable homes company have been unveiled. More...16/01/2008
At a meeting of East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet a decision was taken to provide funding for two major exhibitions to mark Homecoming 2009. More...16/01/2008
The dates for the 2008 festival have been announced. The dates for your diary are Saturday 17th to Monday 26th May 2008. More...16/01/2008
Baltersan Castle, one mile south of Maybole is set to receive a Building Repair Grant of £492,406 from Historic Scotland. This is subject to the owners securing £2 million of investment cash and negotiating the services of an established hospitality management company to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the castle. More...16/01/2008
Two of the Scottish Borders popular print – the Borders Bedroom pack and the Golf Guide 2008 – will soon be in the hands of visitors. More...16/01/2008
Riders get chance to trial new bikes in Glentress: Cyclists thinking about buying a new bike in 2008 have the chance to try out some of the latest models for free at a demo day been held at Glentress in February More...16/01/2008
Mackay Hannah are hosting a conference entitled “Scottish Tourism: Going for growth” in Edinburgh on 29 January 2008. This One Day Conference will consider how the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and tourism stakeholders can deliver the ambitious tourism growth target over the next 10 years. More...16/01/2008
The Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership would like to remind businesses that the date for the Annual Event/Conference has been set as Tuesday 4 March 08 so please put the date in your diary. More...16/01/2008
There have been lots of developments and successes across the region lately. Did you know we had a visit from Nick Nairn or that we have a business making the best banana ice cream! Make sure your up to speed with this quick update... More...16/01/2008
Several Border’s businesses attended the Web In A Box sessions last year and were quick to sign up for this opportunity. Make sure you keep up and contact us! More...16/01/2008
A new way of working with the wider tourism industry has been introduced by the Dumfries & Galloway Area Tourism Partnership, in conjunction with VisitScotland. More...16/01/2008
The Dumfries & Galloway Industry annual event has been confirmed as Wednesday 27 February at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries. It would be fantastic to see you at the Industry conference which is an excellent opportunity to meet with fellow businesses and members of the Dumfries & Galloway Area Tourism Partnership More...16/01/2008
Scottish Enterprise has organised the following workshops within Dumfries for businesses interested in developing the knowledge and expertise of their staff. More...16/01/2008
VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway, together with Dumfries & Galloway Council, have confirmed that they are in discussion with the Mill on the Fleet to develop a partnership for the provision of visitor information services in Gatehouse of Fleet from March 2008. More...16/01/2008
More than half of hoteliers and B&B owners in the Border TV region are unprepared for next year’s switch to digital television according to research released today by Digital UK. Businesses are being urged plan for switchover now and where possible carry out any upgrading work. More...16/01/2008
Learndirect scotland for business, Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust and Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce are running a joint event to help take your business to the next level. This is an excellent way for you to develop your business, meet other small businesses and have fun! More...16/01/2008
Following its best ever run last August, the ‘Dine Around Glasgow’ £15 menu promotion has returned this month for the duration of the Celtic Connections festival. More...16/01/2008
Businesses from the Inverclyde area will have the opportunity to attend two quality events from the Greenock Chamber of Commerce’s annual programme in January and February 2008. More...16/01/2008
The first event in the Glasgow-Edinburgh collaboration talent search initiative ‘innovation eg’ is an ideas exchange on Monday 25 February at the Glasgow Science Centre. So which are you: mentor or rising star? More...16/01/2008
Fifteen Glasgow restaurants have made the shortlist for this year’s Scottish Restaurant Awards, due to be announced at the end of the month. More...16/01/2008
New Year brings some changes to VisitScotland’s Industry Engagement team in George Square. Read on to meet your Glasgow team for 2008. More...16/01/2008
The Orkney tourism brochure is now available in audio format. More...16/01/2008
VisitOrkney's breakfast bulletins, launched on 7th January, have been heralded a success. More...16/01/2008
Orkney will be showcased to a London audience next week as the VisitOrkney team heads for The Destinations Holiday and Travel Show, in Earls Court in London from 31 Jauary to 3 February. More...16/01/2008
Loganair flights to and from the Northern Isles will be replaced by FlyBe flights from October this year, it was announced last week. The move will deliver more UK and European flight connections to Scottish air passengers. More...16/01/2008
A new DVD and CD promoting Shetland and all there is to see and do in the islands has been produced by VisitShetland. Targeting potential visitors to Shetland, the free DVD is available in French, German, Norwegian, Danish, Italian and Spanish, and is available in the Tourist Information Centre in Lerwick. More...16/01/2008
Scottish airline Loganair last week announced that a new twice weekly summer air service between Sumburgh and Bergen would be introduced as of 7 June. The new service will operate Saturdays and Tuesdays until 30 August, and will be similar to one operated for a number of years by the Norwegian airline Widerøe. More...17/01/2008
VisitScotland has teamed up with luxury retailer Harvey Nichols and VOGUE.COM to host a prestigious celebrity event in London this Burns' night to promote Edinburgh and Glasgow as high quality tourism destinations. More...16/01/2008
The newly produced Edinburgh & Lothians Accommodation and Essential Guides 2008 are available now. More...17/01/2008
The capital’s annual dining offer for some of the city’s top restaurants, Dine Around Edinburgh, is now underway. More...17/01/2008
The National Galleries of Scotland will be looking forward to another great year with some exciting exhibitions secured for 2008. More...17/01/2008
Eighteen restaurants and chefs from Edinburgh and the Lothians have been shortlisted in the 2008 Scottish Restaurant Awards, which take place this year on 28 January at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. More...17/01/2008
The first event in the Glasgow-Edinburgh collaboration talent search initiative ‘innovation eg’ is an ideas exchange on Monday 25 February at the Glasgow Science Centre. So which are you: mentor or rising star? More...17/01/2008
Following last year’s hugely successful conference, Fife tourism businesses will be coming together again in February 2008 to explore how tourism is developing and how each business fits into the overall plan for Fife. More...17/01/2008
Tourist Information Centre staff in Fife are looking to develop their product knowledge of the area by undertaking a series of familiarisation trips to local tourism businesses throughout the year. More...17/01/2008
VisitScotland Fife is gearing towards a successful 2008 with many events and developments set to boost tourism in the area. More...17/01/2008
The Scottish Snowdrop festival is brought to you by VisitScotland, Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, the National Trust for Scotland and the very best gardens across the country. More...17/01/2008
The site will highlight news, major events, accommodation, what to see and do, a new golf section and providing businesses with the opportunity to download a copy of the latest what’s on guide. More...18/01/2008
VisitScotland Highland has once again produced our A4 accommodation brochure ‘Freedom of the Highlands’ for 2008. More...21/01/2008
VisitScotland Business Relationship Manager Scott Christie will be leaving his post on the 1st of February. More...21/01/2008
Highlands & Islands Enterprise, in partnership with the Scottish Tourism Forum and VisitScotland, are bringing workshops designed specifically for people involved in the tourist industry, to Wick, Kirkwall and Lerwick. More...18/01/2008
Details of VisitScotland roadshows will shortly appear in the local press. More...18/01/2008
People 1st have pleasure in announcing the first consultation event for 2008. More...18/01/2008
With 2009 the year of Homecoming Scotland the online ancestral course could be the way into this potential market. More...18/01/2008
These events are hosted by three snowdrop gardens to deliver special events during the Scottish Snowdrop Festival to help visitors enjoy the sparkling white stars of Scotland’s clear winter skies. More...18/01/2008
In an age where technology makes virtually anything downloadable, a group of business trainers have become some of the first in the UK who are using it to chalk up some powerful results in customer satisfaction. More...14/01/2008
See the best and latest in technology applicable to the tourism sector at this year's Tourism Innovation Day at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 28 February. More...18/01/2008
Scotland hoteliers and B&Bs are still unprepared for the forthcoming switchover to digital TV and run the risk of their guests being stuck with blank screens, with the country’s first switchover region being the least prepared. More...16/01/2008
The search is on for the stars of marketing excellence in Scotland. With 24 awards from Business Start-Up to PR and Business Innovation, there’s bound to be a category that relates to your business. More...21/01/2008
VisitScotland continues its trade and consumer marketing activity in Scotland’s biggest overseas markets for 2008, and there are some great opportunities for you to get involved. More...21/01/2008
Car touring represents the largest leisure tourism market to Scotland from the US and the spring touring campaign is the largest campaign VisitScotland runs in the US. More...21/01/2008
The latest news on the tourism events from Scottish Enterprise. More...21/01/2008
Owners of the “Success Story” businesses, which are showcased on the Tourism Foodkit, will be among those sharing their good food secrets on Day Two of Scotland Food & Drink’s first national conference. More...21/01/2008
VisitScotland.com offers tailored training courses on the Extranet and Web in a Box applications. More...21/01/2008
If you are interested the Asia and Middle East market, here’s an overview of this year’s opportunities for you. More...21/01/2008
Forward Scotland would like to invite you to submit nominations for the first ever Champions for Sustainable Communities Awards to be held in March 2008 in Edinburgh. More...21/01/2008
If the words ‘annual report’ normally make you switch off, you haven’t seen VisitScotland’s online version launched at the end of last year. Not only is this more sustainable than a printed format, but it allowed VisitScotland to be creative and take advantage of the freedom of the electronic format. More... | 
