October Newsletter
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STF Events |
Our annual AGM and Open Meeting, held at Scotland's Hotel in Pitlochry (pictured, left) were a great success, with 80% of the capacity audience evaluating the Open Meeting as either "excellent" or "very good." Thanks to all who attended.
A detailed report on the event and the evaluation results were sent out to all members - get in touch with us if you didn't receive your copies.
The meeting's show of hands against the impositon of a 'bed tax' was subsequently reported in the media (as outlined in your recent news digest), thus stimulating debate around this critical issue for the industry.
Scotland's Strategic Future: Tourism - 20 Nov, Loch Lomond
Places are still available for this policy event which is replacing the industry conference, Scotland United (which will now become bi-annual), and which takes place at De Vere Cameron House at Loch Lomond on 20 Nov 2006. The event aims to produce an industry response to the Tourism Framework document. Delegates will seek to identify how the industry can achieve the objective of a 50% growth in tourism revenue but will also discuss the barriers to tourism growth - and the means of overcoming those barriers.
Speakers include;
Alan Rankin, Chief Executive, Scottish Tourism Forum
Gavin Ellis of BHA
John Brown, Head of Tourism, Scottish Executive
Professor John Lennon, Director of the Moffat Centre for Travel Tourism and Business Development
Philip Riddle, Chief Executive, VisitScotland
You can read the full agenda here.
Scottish Tourism Week™ 2007
View the draft timetable of events. Interest is already building for next year's event. Steering groups are currently being established for the regional meetings, which are at the core of the week, and we will keep you informed regarding all developments relating to this industry led week of events.
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STF Activities | |||
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Lobbying
With an election looming STF has been pounding the pavement between Drumsheugh Gardens and Holyrood, lobbying politicians to ensure that the tourism industry's needs are prominent within their manifestos.
Last month we had extremely positive meetings with Jamie McGrigor, of the Scottish Conservatives and with Fergus Ewing and Brian Adam of the Scottish National Party. We are also meeting with Jamie Stone of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and have requested a meeting with Patricia Ferguson. Productive relationships have resulted from our recent Holyrood meetings and we will continue to be pro-active in influencing the nation's policy makers.
Manifesto
Thank you for the enthusiastic reaction to our recent request for final comments on the STF manifesto. We are currently working on a final version which we hope to launch shortly. Many members of the Forum have actively contributed to the formation of this important document which clarifies our ambitions for the future of the industry.
STF members will receive a finalised version of the manifesto before it is distributed to Holyrood, the media and key industry figures.
STF e-commerce Advisory Panel
As announced at the AGM and Open Meeting, STF is forming an e-commerce Advisory Panel. Our aim is to assemble diverse representatives from the industry who can pull together to identify the important issues and solutions for e-commerce for Scottish tourism. We'll be drawing up the remit for this panel and will be in touch you in the very near future inviting contributions to this important new group.
Member 2 Member Affinity Deal
It's not too late to participate in our great new member discount scheme which we'll be introducing soon. Technological development is currently underway for the members' secure section of the STF website which will be launched before the end of the year, giving you secure access to news, events info and members only deals.
Scottish Register of Tartan Bill
STF have been invited to make a submission to the committee for this Private Members Bill, proposed by Jamie McGrigor, the Scottish Conservative tourism spokesperson. We are very keen to get feedback from our members over this bill and will be in touch shortly to ask you to participate in a brief (honest!) survey.
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Red Tape News | |||
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Keep up to date with changes in legislation which may affect your business.
Age discrimination at work is now outlawed and the new rules affect every stage of the employment process: recruitment, terms and conditions, training, promotion, transfers, retirements and dismissals. For more information visit these relevant pages on the DTI website.
National minimum wage rates have risen
- the full rate for employees aged 22 years and over has increased to £5.35 an hour
- the 'development rate' for workers aged between 18 and 21 has increased to £4.45 an hour
- the rate applicable to workers aged 16 and 17 has risen to £3.30 an hour
- the second 'development rate' is abolished; these workers are now entitled to receive £5.35 an hour.
The length of time that pregnant women and adoptive parents can take off work has been extended to a year. Where the child is due on or after 1 April 2007, statutory maternity pay is now payable for nine months. Increased contact and 'Keeping in Touch Days' are allowed between employers and employees on maternity or adoption leave. View more info.
Enhanced capital allowances for energy-saving equipment
Businesses can now claim 100 per cent first-year capital allowances when buying a range of energy-saving equipment, thanks to changes introduced under the capital allowances legislation, which took effect on 7 September. While normal capital allowances on plant and machinery are 25 per cent a year on a reducing- balance basis, the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme (managed by the Carbon Trust on behalf of Defra) applies to the purchase of all equipment on the Energy Technology List (ETL).
As a result, a business that buys any item from the ETL (such as a boiler, refrigerated display cabinet or air conditioner) can claim an ECA against its taxable profits during the period of investment.
View more info.
European ruling on rest breaks
Employers are under a stricter duty to ensure that workers can take the rest breaks they are entitled to under working-time legislation, following a recent decision by the European Court of Justice.
The UK Government was found to be in breach of its obligations to implement the Working Time Directive, because guidance issued by the DTI stated that: 'Employers must make sure that workers can take their rest, but are not required to make sure they do take their rest'. The court held that the words in italics undermined the aims of the directive. Accordingly, those words have been removed.
To comply with working-time rules, employers must actively create an atmosphere in which minimum rest periods are effectively observed. Also, there should not be any pressure that deters workers from taking their rest periods - whether such pressure comes from the employer (eg through set performance targets) or the influence of employees who choose not to use rest periods due to them.
Distance-selling guide for businesses published
Businesses that sell goods and services online, by phone or mail order will welcome guidance published recently on the application of the legal regulations governing distance selling. The DTI and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have jointly issued a revised version of a guide for businesses on distance selling, which explains the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 (DSRs) and provides information on how businesses can comply with them. Download the guide here.
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Industry Events | |||
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Scottish Thistle Awards.
The industry's annual 'Oscars', the Scottish Thistle Awards, was held at the EICC last Friday. Congratulations to the following award winners who all belong to STF member businesses or associations:
Argyll Caravan Park (British Holiday & Home Parks Association)
Huntly Peregrine Wild Watch (Forestry Commission Scotland)
The Balmoral (Edinburgh Principal Hotels Association)
The Howard (The Townhouse Company)
View more details on the Scottish Thistle Awards nominees and winners on the VisitScotland website - VisitScotland
15 Nov Health, Beauty and Scotland's Hydropathic Treatments' - VisitScotland and Tourism Society 'Futures series' debate, Crieff Hydro
According to the World Health Organisation, tourism and health combined will be world's largest industries by 2022. Dr Ian Yeoman, VisitScotland's Scenario Planner, analyses these trends and Dr. Alastair Durie of Stirling University recalls stories about Scotland's Hydro's from his new book Water is Best. A light buffet will be served at 12 noon, followed by the lectures and discussion at 12.30 prompt. The event will finish by 2.00pm.
Cost: Free. Reservations: Spaces are limited to 40 people. Please email research@visitscotland.com or telephone 00 44 (0) 131 472 2039
16 Nov, Falkirk, Ancestral Tourism Training
Places are still available on Tourist Board Training Ltd's one day ancestral tourism training course in Falkirk on Thursday 16 Nov.
Developed to recognise the increasing number of ancestral tourists coming to Scotland to trace their ancestors, this course has been designed for people working in the frontline of tourism, providing information to visitors to make their stay more enjoyable. It gives participants an introduction to Scotland's ancestral tourism initiative and equips them with the skills and knowledge to provide advice and assistance to ancestral tourists locally. To book a place telephone 01294 313006.
20 - 27 Nov, across Scotland, Pride and Passion theatrical customer service workshops
Pride & Passion asks and assists everyone in Scottish tourism to add a bit extra to the customer experience - and enrich their own lives, too - by always doing the right thing rather than the easy thing. Join them in their 'new and improved' (no roleplay!) FREE drama- based workshop to discover how to get the most out of interactions with your visitors.
Have fun discovering how easy it is to go from good to exceptional customer service and how that benefits YOU directly. Expect your perceptions to be challenged! Learn new ways to 'WOW' your customers. Get practical tools (and a goodie bag) to take away.
12 Pride & Passon sessions are being held around Scotland - view the timetable here.
To book email team@prideandpassion.net or free phone 0800 028 0588.
21 Nov, Inverness, EU Funding and Scotland's Economic Regeneration and Development: The Future
Find out about alternative and innovative EU funding opportunities for Scotland.
This is an Economic Development Association Scotland event in partnership with Highland Council. View more info here.
Cost: Buy one place, get one place free. £25+VAT (members) £50+VAT (non members) £5+VAT (concession) Free to Highland Council employees. SURF members receive 10% discount on the standard fee.
1pm-4.30pm. Highland Council Chambers, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.
22 Nov, Scottish Enterprise Business Tourism Conference 2006, Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow
Targeted at senior managers and business owners in Scotland's conference, meetings and corporate hospitality sectors. World experts in the business tourism field will share their knowledge and expertise, offering an insight into how the market leaders and some of the biggest industry players see the future direction of the sector. Parallel sessions will include Trends, PR and Customer Service, offering practical hints & tips from award- winning businesses such as the Eden Project, the Balmoral Hotel, "etc.venues", and Davies Tanner PR Agency. Cost: £85 & VAT including lunch & refreshments. For further information and a booking form please contact Katharine at Starkevents on 0141 357 2235.
6 Dec Highlands Tourism Seminar
6 Dec, Inverness,The Highland Council is hosting an annual tourism seminar on Wed 6 Dec at the Highland Council headquarters. For more info telephone 01997 423032. View the draft agenda for the seminar.
Dec 2006 - March 2007 Twin City People: Glasgow & Edinburgh Product Knowledge Tours.
80% of tourists visiting Scotland enter via Glasgow or Edinburgh offering a huge opportunity for everyone involved in the tourism industry to deliver confident, informed and up to date advice about what's best to see, do and experience during their visit to our key cities.
As part of the Glasgow and Edinburgh Collaboration Project, an innovative series of product knowledge tours has been developed to give frontline staff a good grounding in what makes your sister city tick.
Run by STF member, Rabbie's Trail Burners, the six diverse tours -three for each city- are scheduled over the months from December to March, focusing on a different aspect of the city's tourism offering. The tours are also exceptionally good value at just £25 + VAT, which includes lunch and a goody bag.
For more detail on the tours and to book places online, visit Rabbie's Trail Burners website.
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Non Members | |||
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This newsletter is for members of the Scottish Tourism Forum. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you'd like to register for updates on events and developments from STF you can sign up here.
NB: STF Members receive priority communications and advance notice and discounted entry to events.
Membership of STF allows you to influence policy and gives you access to a wide range of benefits.
Find out more about joining the Forum.
Kind Regards
STF Team