Non-Executive Directors and Chairman of the Board

South West Tourism is seeking to appoint seven Non-Executive Board members including a Chairman of the Board.

For more information please visit:
http://www.swtourism.co.uk/about-us/board-of-directors/BoardVacancies.ashx

South West Tourism AGM

Thank you to those who attended South West Tourism’s AGM on 02 December at Tiverton Hotel, it was a well attended event. We would also like to thank the members of the panel for taking part in the Question Time session.


The venue was at capacity in the end, so apologies to those who couldn’t attend, however if you would like to view the draft minutes please visit the following:



http://www.swtourism.co.uk/content/tourism-industry-conference-and-south-west-tourism.ashx

Do you have paying guests?

If so, fire safety law applies to you and you must take action


Visit the following for more information:


http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/payingguests

Tourism Excellence Awards winners announced 2008/2009

The best of the South West were celebrating on Monday night (24 November) at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, in association with Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, First Great Western and South West Water.

View the results here

Win a free £500 Multilingual Website Design Package

South West Tourism has teamed up with Kwintessential, a leading regional provider of cross cultural solutions, to launch an innovative competition giving three businesses the chance to win a multilingual website design package worth £500 for the New Year.

In these uncertain times businesses can seek to improve their marketing advantage and global reach by allowing prospective overseas customers to research in their own language every aspect of a holiday or business visit to the South West

All types of private sector tourism businesses; accommodation, attractions, cafes, restaurants & inns, tourism retail and transport operators are eligible for entry and there will be one winner from each of the three eligible areas:

1) Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath and Somerset
2) Dorset and Wiltshire
3) Devon and Cornwall

The online entry form is available at: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/competition/

Entrants simply describe what they are doing already to attract foreign visitors and/or why they feel they would benefit most from a website translation. The three winners will receive 1,000 words professionally translated into two languages of choice, advice on key messages across five web pages and micro website pages integrated and linked to their own website home page.

Deadline for entries is 3rd December.

Tourism related aspects of the pre-budget report

We have received information from Tourism Alliance regarding the main tourism-related aspects of the pre-budget report.

£3bn of capital spending will be brought forward from 2010/11. This will include road projects.

VAT will be cut from 17.5 to 15% until the end of next year, coming into effect next Monday.

Alcohol, tobacco and petrol duty will be raised to offset the VAT cut.

From April 2011, a new 45% income tax rate will be charged to those earning above £150,000 a year.

Small businesses will have a temporary increase in tax relief thresholds for empty properties (threshold to be £15,000 rateable value)

HMRC will work with SMEs to spread tax payments (VAT, corporation and NI) to fit business cashflows

£1bn will be provided for a temporary Small Business Finance Scheme.

Air passenger duty will be reformed into a four tier system so that those who travel furthest pay most.

National Insurance will increase by 0.5% from 2011

We will release more information as it is announced.

Research and 2012 games

In 2012 the eyes of the world will be on the UK and of course the South West, therefore The South West RDA are trying to build up a picture of what the current offer is to disabled visitors and their families when visiting the region.


Please could you spare 5 minutes to complete the following survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ASMTBNPP61Ie24c3ZGNCVA_3d_3d
Your input will be invaluable now, in the lead up to 2012 and beyond.

The Paralympics will increase the focus on disability issues and participation in disability sport across the board. It will highlight our attitudes to disabilities and the service we provide to people with special requirements in the South West.


The South West RDA are already focused on this area of work, and the opportunity it provides for destinations and businesses to build the markets of the future by welcoming the wider audience of those people considered to have a disability, as well as athletes with disabilities, their families, friends and supporters.