New Destination Digital Package from Trade Supplier Inspire IT Services

Posted on January 30, 2017February 2, 2023 by Ali Campbell

New Destination Digital Package from Trade Supplier Inspire IT Services

Brand new Destination Digital Product from Trade Supplier Inspire IT Services:

“Everything you need to Get Online, stay Online, & Get Value from being Online”

Are you looking to increase your online marketing activity?
Is your website needing a fresh look and feel?
Are you needing to improve your digital presence but not wanting to ‘break the bank’ in doing so?
Would enquiries 24/7 be good?
Want great tailored graphic design?

Destination Digital is the ideal business option for you to consider. With a depth and breadth of experience in website design and development, in addition to a strong portfolio of tourism and hospitality clients, Inspire IT have something very special to offer.

You can have a new website up and running within a matter of weeks for only a small set-up fee of £159 and a monthly fee of £60, both + VAT. Your website will include:

Professional 9 Page Website
Contact Form
Business Email Address
Domain Name Registration
Hosting & Support

But that’s not all… nowadays, you need to drive potential visitors to your website and continually make sure that your business name is out there to be found on the channels that the majority of your customers use to consider their options and make their decisions. Our Destination Digital package can also include the management and operation of your Social Media activity in order that you can concentrate on what you do best, whilst we work hard for you at what we do very well!

Social Media Services

First month fee = £100

Set up Facebook and Twitter pages where none exist
Review pages if already in existence
Review channel following and develop
Create and agree first 3-month social media plan
Operate Facebook and Twitter channels on a daily basis posting content in line with agreed plan

Second Month Onwards – Standard Service monthly fee = £60

Operate Facebook and Twitter channels on a daily basis
Deploy agreed 3-month plan
Continually look to develop channel audience

Enhanced Service monthly fee = £110

Operate Facebook and Twitter channels on a daily basis
Deploy agreed 3-month plan
Continually look to develop channel audience
Include “boosted” Facebook posts/Tweets to a budget of £10
Create and run 1 Twitter campaign on a monthly basis as agreed

So, if you’re struggling with really making social media deliver for you, then why not hand that across to an experienced team for a monthly fee starting at only £60.

Imagine heading into 2017 backed by a strong digital presence that helps make your business flourish without an expensive initial outlay that could better be used on other priorities.

Destination Digital offers your business the use of effective online technologies, managed by people who offer real and credible expertise in their field.

Destination Digital – helping you break through the barriers!

Find out more at http://bit.ly/destinationdigital.

Go Walkies with EmbraceScotland

Posted on January 20, 2017June 26, 2023 by Ali Campbell

Leading Scottish Holiday Home Provider Recommends The Best Dog-Friendly Breaks North of the Border

Scotland’s extensive “right to roam” access makes it “top dog” when it comes to holidaying with a canine companion. The country offers an array of experiences, specifically with Fido in mind and now, thanks to EmbraceScotland’s “Pets Welcome Charter”, there’s a wide range of pooch-friendly pads to cater for their every need.

In Scotland, walkers have a more extensive “right to roam” compared to England and Wales. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gave walkers and their dogs the right to walk almost anywhere in Scotland, so long as they stick to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, making it the perfect choice for a pet-friendly getaway.

As well as the right to explore open land, The National Trust for Scotland allows dogs in all of the properties and gardens in the collection, as long as they are well behaved. CalMac ferries allow owners to take pets on-board, as does ScotRail, making travel to and around Scotland with a dog a piece of cake.

EmbraceScotland offers 100% quality assured self-catering accommodation throughout Scotland, with hundreds of properties from the Highlands to the Scottish Borders going the extra mile to welcome pets as well as their owners.

Scotland’s jaw-dropping landscapes will get a dog’s senses working overtime, so here’s EmbraceScotland’s pick of the best dog-friendly holidays in Scotland.

Climb Ben Nevis together: Highlands & Skye

Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, can be a wonderful challenge for owners and dogs, as long as the dog is used to lots of exercise. All walking routes up the mountain allow dogs, from the ‘Tourist path’ to the very top.

Walkers can stay at Springwell Holidays’ five cottages (Colonsay, Oronsay, Shuna, Kerrera & Lismore) in Onich, near Fort William. The cottages, some of which sleep eight guests and some four, are set on a 17-acre hillside with magnificent views overlooking Loch Linnhe. Ben Nevis towers above the historic town, and a secluded, rugged beach is close by. All cottages welcome pets.

Stay in the grounds of a Castle: Ayrshire and Arran

Culzean Castle overlooks the Firth of Clyde, near Maybole, Carrick, on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. It is the former home of the Marquess of Ailsa, the chief of Clan Kennedy, now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Culzean Country Park offers walking routes in lush woodland, landscaped gardens and the rugged coastline, with dogs permitted.

The National Trust for Scotland has five beautifully-furnished properties in the grounds of Culzean Castle Estate. Four of the five welcome pets. Royal Artillery Cottage is situated within the Clock Tower Courtyard. North and South Segganwell are directly on the beach below the castle. Ardlochan Lodge is just a few minutes’ walk from the beach. All properties sleep four guests.

Canine City Break: Edinburgh & The Lothians

If a city break is more appealing than countryside, there are many options in Edinburgh for a chic break with a canine companion. Holidaymakers can take in a spot of culture at Summerhall Arts Centre, where dogs are welcome in the various galleries, the café and pub. The mens’ gift store Brotique on Queen Street welcomes pups and even sells a range of dog accessories. Diner and doggie can enjoy the beautiful cakes at Odds and Ends Coffee on Polwarth Crescent, or dinner and cocktails at Treacle, Broughton Street. The Maid of the Forth ferry allows dogs, so a day trip to Inchcolm Island together is a fun day trip.

Stylish Dundas Apartment in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town is a contemporary apartment with wooden floors, traditional rugs, antique pieces, shutters and bathroom toiletries from the White Company. The apartment sleeps up to three people, is just a 10-minute walk from Princes St and welcomes pets.

Pooch Paddle-Boarding in Perthshire: Perthshire, Dundee & Angus

Water-loving dogs will love a ride on a stand-up paddleboard just as much as their owners. Paddle Surf Scotland hires out boards and delivers all equipment to any address across three regions of Scotland. Loch Tummel in Perthshire is recommended as an excellent location for paddle-boarding.

Elegant Foss House is an idyllic country home near Pitlochry, with beautiful views over Loch Tummel, as well as the large pond and stream at the bottom of the garden. The house sleeps up to ten people, the interiors were recently renovated and have been beautifully finished with Harris Tweed furnishings, and pets are very welcome. The grounds extend over two acres, with stone garden, decking and hot tub.

Ghost Hunting at Inveraray Jail: Argyll, Scottish Islands & Stirlingshire

Built in 1820 in Argyll, Inveraray Jail was once a dire place for prisoners, but is now a fascinating museum. Conditions were terrible for inmates, and now ghosts are rumoured to haunt the jail. The museum is 100% dog-friendly, so furry friends can join the ghost hunt too. After visiting Inveraray Jail, a drink is recommended at The Dog House, a dog friendly pub near Balloch, offering water and free treats for well-behaved dogs.

Restored 200-year-old cottage Upper Croitachonie is situated in Cairndow, 12 miles from Inveraray, set in 4.5 acres of beautiful private garden. The stylishly furnished cottage overlooks Loch Fyne from an elevated position and is adjacent to Loch Lomond, the Trossachs National Park and Ardkinglas Estate gardens. The house sleeps up to five people, and pets are most welcome.

Fairies, Foals & Furry Friends: Aberdeen, Grampian & Moray

Belwade Farm in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, is a World Horse Welfare rehoming centre, home to dozens of adorable horses and donkeys. They have a bistro and picnic locations, and dogs are welcome as long as they are kept under control. Popular nature walks from the farm wind through beautiful woodland and along the River Dee.

Perkhill Holiday Cottages are located on a family farm, home of the award winning Perkhill Aberdeen Angus Herd, near the historic village of Lumphanan, just five miles from Aboyne. Utilising bio-mass and wind power, the site is a point of interest for sustainability in the future. Modern and contemporarily styled, King Duncans View sleeps seven people, and Macbeths Retreat and Lady Macbeths Rest both sleep four.

Launched in 2016, EmbraceScotland’s “Pets Welcome Charter” set out a range of standards that the holiday homes in its collection must meet in order to be classified as “pet-friendly”. All must provide a water bowl, poop bags, details of suggested local dogs walks, contact details and directions to a local pet shop and vet, pointers to suitable exercise areas nearby and details of the local pubs and restaurants, where pets are accepted. Many properties also provide towels for drying off wet dogs, food bowls, blankets, dog tags, a lead, a dog walking service, day kennels, treats and dog grooming. Holidaymakers can identify the properties that are pet-friendly by ticking the “pets welcome” box in the search function on the website.

For more information, go to www.embracescotland.co.uk

– Ends –

Press Information

Contact: Anita Clements / Cat Hamilton

Tel: 07557 908 454 / 07879 440663

Email: anita@hamilton-pr.com / cat@hamilton-pr.com

Website: www.hamilton-pr.com

About Embrace Scotland:

Embrace Scotland is a comprehensive directory of 100% quality assured self-catering accommodation throughout Scotland. The website features over 3,000 properties from city pads and beach chalets, to farm houses and country cottages. Pets are a priority with many properties welcoming not just dogs, but cats, horses, parrots, rabbits and hamsters too!

Holidaymakers book directly with the owner/managers with no fees, commissions or fuss.

All the holiday homes featured on the Embrace Scotland website are run by owner/managers who are members of the official self-catering trade body in Scotland (Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers). Formed in 1976 the ASSC is the only trade group representing the interests of more than 7,000 self-catering properties in Scotland and members are committed to the core principles of quality, cleanliness, comfort, courtesy, efficiency and integrity.

For more information, go to www.embracescotland.co.uk and www.assc.co.uk

Brexit

Posted on January 9, 2017January 12, 2017 by Ali Campbell

Brexit is top of most news reports just now, and rightly so, because our choice to leave the European Union is both momentous in terms of impact to the UK, and unprecedented as no country has yet triggered Article 50 to leave. The rule book has not been written.

Brexit has become hotly party political, especially in Scotland, where the Scottish Government published a paper in December Scotland’s Place in Europe setting out in detail its desire to seek a differentiated Brexit from the rest of the UK, retaining access to the Single Market and with freedom of movement of people. With the UK currently leaning towards a harder Brexit than this, another Independence Referendum is a possibility if things don’t go well and push comes to shove.

Putting personal views aside and trying to ignore party politics for the moment, what are the key Brexit issues for tourism? The ASSC was part of a round table tourism discussion with Mike Russell MSP who is the lead negotiator for the Scottish Government on Brexit, and Tourism Minister Fiona Hyslop MSP held at Holyrood in early December with representatives from the Scottish Tourism Alliance Board and Council.

The UK, including Scotland must be seen as open for business, visitors, hospitality and tourism. We need to continue to be perceived to be a welcoming destination despite a Brexit decision.

People

Although short-term letting traditionally has a low reliance on non-UK EU workers, 32,800 work in distribution, hotels and restaurants in Scotland. Restriction of employment of these workers will cause enormous problems for the tourism industry – for businesses and visitors. Quite a few are employed for language skills and would be a challenge to replace.

Visas

Imposing Visas on EU travellers would create a financial penalty to our visitors from Europe. International tourism is highly competitive and as the UK is one of the most expensive countries to visit as it is, adding more to visitors’ bills is just not sensible.

Currency fluctuations

Currency fluctuations may currently favour us in tourism, but you cannot base Tourism Strategy on volatile exchange rates. While the weak pound makes the UK look attractive to visit from abroad just now as well as favouring staycations, the most recent BHA figures on inbound tourism show this is not a given. Also, there are substantial price increases round the corner due to imports costing considerably more which will take the shine off any exchange-rate savings. The prospect of food tariffs if we cannot remain members of the Single Market only adds to the problem.

Rural Development

While Agriculture is currently staring into an abyss until a replacement for the Common Agricultural Policy is found, rural development funding through the European Rural Leader scheme funds rural projects, quite a number of which are tourism related, either directly or indirectly. We need assurance that this European funding stream will be replaced and continue post Brexit.

Opportunities

There are bound to be positive opportunities emerging, especially as more powers get devolved to Scotland, but we highlight these for now:

ASSC supports the Cut Tourism VAT campaign. The UK is currently at a disadvantage as 31 countries in Europe have reduced levels of tourism VAT. Currently receiving significant cross party support, Brexit might provide an opportunity to cement this case.

Air Passenger Duty

The Scottish Government has committed to reduce APD by 50% by the end of this government. We would like to see this cut further under Brexit.

Removal of Red Tape

The EU Package Travel Directive makes it very difficult for our members to sell self-catering accommodation together with other services. We support the BHA in calling for a deregulation to allow SMEs to work with local businesses to offer packages to encourage spending in the local economy.

Finally…

Brexit was decided by a narrow majority, smaller than that which decided against Scottish Independence. Over six months on, it is still very divisive, and the Scottish Government position looks difficult to achieve harmoniously.

The Association will continue to work closely with The Scottish Tourism Alliance and other tourism industry leaders to ensure that our concerns are being heard at the top level.

8^th January 2017