Shropshire Tourism
Newsletter - Winter 08/09
2009 : The Year of Shropshire Anniversaries
We are promoting it loud and clear that 2009 is the year to visit Shropshire - why? Because we are celebrating some really big birthdays indeed - Charles Darwin that evolutionary thinker was born 200 years ago in Shrewsbury. Dr William Penny Brookes was also born 200 years ago in Much Wenlock - he went on to inspire nothing less than the Modern Olympic Games, whilst at Ironbridge 300 years ago a discovery by Abraham Darby ultimately led to the Industrial Revolution.
To find out more about these anniversaries click here www.shropshireanniversaries.co.uk
Shropshire Tourism AGM - Tuesday 3rd February 2009
The 2009 Shropshire Tourism UK Ltd Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday 3rd February at the Lord Hill Hotel.
Papers from the meeting are available to download here
The directors of the Board were all voted back in. They are as follows:
Director/Chairman - Cllr Mrs. Pat McLaughlin
Director (Human Resources) - John Cushing
Director (Advocacy) - Lesley Davies
Director (Asset Management) - Glen Laws
Director (Membership, Communication & Marketing) - Judie McCoy
Director (Membership, Communication & Marketing) - Alison Patrick
New Accommodation Assessment Scheme
We are on the verge of launching our own accommodation assessment scheme. The scheme will be delivered by one of our subsidiary companies Direct Tourism Services Ltd and will work to similar criteria as the existing national schemes. In order to be assessed by DTS, businesses are required to be a member of Shropshire Tourism, and our assessors will provide advice and support as part of the scheme.
Assessments will be available from April 1st. More details to follow shortly.
You will receive more details in the post shortly. If you have any queries in the meantime, please email enquiries@shropshiretourism.co.uk
Shropshire & the Welsh Borders brochure 2009
All advertisers should have now received their copy of the 2009 Shropshire & the Welsh Borders brochure. The national advertising campaign for the 2009 brochure is already underway with adverts being featured in the Radio Times, UK Holiday Collection and various other response advertising publications.
It is important to us that the brochure generates business for you as advertisers and members so we have also conducted a targeted direct email campaign from our current database. We are thrilled with the higher than average response and the results speak for themselves:
- Email sent to 3,930 pre-selected email addresses
- Generated an Open rate of 19%
- With a Response rate of 30%
- Number of Brochure requests (226) 6%
Shropshire Positively Shines at the Regional Excellence in Tourism Awards
Shropshire businesses led the field at last November's regional 'Tourism Oscars' with Shropshire winning no less than 4 gold awards, 4 silver awards, 4 highly commended awards and 5 special awards.
The special award also resulted in Shropshire being named as 'My Favourite Place' in the region as voted for by the public.
The Shropshire award winners are:
'My Favourite Place' - Shropshire (voted by the public)
'Best Cultural Experience' - Ironbridge Gorge Museums (voted by the public)
'Outstanding Contribution to Tourism' - Severn Valley Railway
Tourism West Midlands Award Winners:
'Events and Festivals' - Weston Park, Near Shifnal
'Food and Drink' - Ludlow Food Festival
Gold Award Winners:
'Best Tourism Experience' - Severn Valley Railway
'Access for All' - The RAF Museum, Cosford
'Best Small Hotel/Townhouse' - Goldstone Hall near Market Drayton
'Taste of the Heart' (Outlet or Attraction) - The Ludlow Food Centre near Ludlow
Silver Award Winners:
'Outstanding Customer Care' - Gareth Williams, Curator at Weston Park
'Sustainable Tourism' - The Green Wood Centre, Ironbridge
'Heart of England Business Tourism Award' - The Telford International Centre
'Self-Catering holiday of the Year' - Bon Accueil, Whitchurch
Highly Commended Award Winners:
'Tourism Website of the Year' - Ironbridge Gorge Museums
'Sustainable Tourism' - Hollies Farm, near Shrewsbury
'Tourist Information Service' - Oswestry Mile End Visitor Information Centre
'Taste of the Heart - Outlet or Attraction' - Weston Park, near Shifnal
Congratulations go to all of the award winners and to those gold award winners who will now go forward to the national Enjoy England for Excellence Tourism awards to represent Shropshire.
Press & PR for Shropshire
Shropshire's reputation as a media mecca continues with Shropshire appearing on national and regional television. The BBC's One show featured Much Wenlock and the annual Olympics with ITV 3 featuring Shrewsbury and its Brother Cadfael connections and BBC Countryfile featuring Hawkstone Park and Follies.
Press coverage received for 2008 included a ten page feature on Shropshire in the Japan Airlines inflight magazine along with other national newspapers and magazines.
Celebrating Charles Darwin
This year is important for Shropshire and Shrewsbury as it celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of the 'Origin of the Species'. Shropshire Tourism is currently undertaking a press and PR and marketing campaign, commissioned by Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council to raise awareness of Shrewsbury as the birthplace of Charles Darwin and to promote Shrewsbury's year long Darwin celebrations.
The celebrations run throughout the year with celebrity guest speakers including Johnny Ball, Chris Addison, Adam Hart Davies and Professor Heinz Wolff along with World Premiers including theatre performances and festivals. All of the events taking place can be found in a new Darwin Events leaflet and via the website - www.discoverdarwin.co.uk.
A regional and national advertising campaign is also being undertaken so look out for Shropshire again in the Daily Telegraph.
On the 12th February, Darwin's actual birthday, the town wished him a big 'happy birthday'. Celebrations included the unveiling of the new Darwin waymarkers and Darwin stamps outside Shrewsbury Library. The Darwin toast and walk from the Bellstone and a 'Happy Birthday' singalong in the square with a giant birthday cake, complete with 200 candles were also hugely successful.
For more information on Shrewsbury's Darwin connections and events taking place throughout the year visit www.discoverdarwin.co.uk
Shropshire Tourism web team goes from strength to strength
The web team at Shropshire Tourism have been busy designing many new websites for members and helping with the marketing of your business.
We now offer a number of packages to suit any level of budget and technical ability.
If you are thinking of having a new website and would like to see a few samples of some of our recent work, please click on the links below:
www.theedgeadventure.co.uk
www.thewalkmill.co.uk
www.bourtonmanor.co.uk
www.the-bucks-head.co.uk
www.churchhousefarmholidays.co.uk
www.marshfarmbandb.co.uk
www.stonebarnshropshire.com
Alternatively if you already have a website, you might be looking to make savings on the cost of hosting. One way to do this is to transfer the hosting of your website to Shropshire Tourism.
Many members have already transferred their website hosting to us and are now enjoying lower annual fees as well as better levels of service.
Hosting your website via Shropshire Tourism starts from only £145 + VAT per year which includes all image and text amendments and brings many other advantages. In most cases transferring the hosting of your website is a simple process that can be undertaken relatively quickly.
For any website related queries please contact Ben Emanuelli on 01743 462462.
Online Ticketing for Attractions
Attractions are now able to sell their tickets online via an e-ticketing system.
Visitors to the Shropshire Tourism website can now book tickets to the Ironbridge Gorge Museums directly online.
The new system which has been designed by our in-house IT team and operating for several months is available to all attractions in Shropshire that have a computer on their front desk with access to the internet.
If you run an attraction and are interested in using the system, please contact Ben Emanuelli on 01743 462462.
Membership Benefits & Discounts
Don't forget to check the range of benefits you get for your £90.00, click here for a full list.
Here is the latest discounts we have negotiated for you.
Safe-T-Light - It is mandatory in public spaces to provide emergency lighting and there is an economical, innovative and highly eco-friendly solution in the Safe-T-Light. The Home-tek Safe-T-Light, is an award winning appliance from British Inventor Chris Haines, successfully seen on the BBC TV Series The Dragon's Den and recently awarded Good Housekeeping magazines Innovation of the month
Normally £19.99, as an exclusive offer to Shropshire Tourism members it is just £12.99 plus £2.95 p&p
Please contact Safe-T-Light on 0845 2100 888 or visit the website www.hometek.co.uk
Please quote your Shropshire Tourism member number when ordering. Without this number this order will not be processed.
Fire Regulations Advice
Carrying out your fire risk assessments may seem daunting, but it needn't be. The Member's website www.stmem.com contains information on the new Fire Regulations and various other business advice. Please take a look at the following link for fire and safety information.
Latest Warnings & Alerts
We are constantly updating the industry website www.stmem.com with the latest news as well as warnings of scams that may be affecting your businesses in the county. Let us know if you have something of interest that you would like to share with members.
