| Northern Ireland Tourism Award 2010 launched - 28 January 2010 The Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2010, in association with Diageo Northern Ireland, have now been launched. The awards have changed:there are new categories and revised assessment techniques. In addition, all entrants will be able to attend one of NITB's industry development workshop events free of charge.
You can download the entry forms for each category from our website and it gives you all the background and assessment criteria information you will need to enter for the awards. read more ...
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| DVCB launch new Short Breaks Brochure - 27 January 2010 All the latest DVCB Special Hotel Offers in Derry and Donegal are now avaialble to download QUOTE: DERRY VISITOR SHORT BREAKS to avail of these great deals!
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| Lonely Planet - Derry -warm,witty and welcoming! - 26 January 2010 Northern Ireland's second city comes as a pleasant surprise to many visitors. Derry (or Londonderry) may not be the prettiest of cities, and it certainly lags behind Belfast in terms of investment and redevelopment, but it has a great riverside setting, several fascinating historical sights and a determined air of can-do optimism that has made it the powerhouse of the North’s cultural revival
There’s lots of history to absorb, from the Siege of Derry to the Battle of the Bogside – a stroll around the 17th-century city walls is a must, as is a tour of the Bogside murals – and the city’s lively pubs are home to a burgeoning live music scene. But perhaps the biggest attraction is the people themselves: warm, witty and welcoming. read more ...
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| Lastest Tourism News Across Northern Ireland - NITB - 08 December 2009 As we near the end of the year, we look at how Northern Ireland tourism has performed in 2009 and take the opportunity to look ahead to 2010. There is good news from the Republic of Ireland market as visitor numbers continue to rise and increased revenue boosts the local economy. There was also encouraging news from the domestic market as short breaks increased, with many residents choosing to holiday at home and take advantage of the huge range of things to do on their doorsteps. Tourism Spotlight also brings you the latest trends, access updates and environmental news.
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| City Tours leading the way in customer care - 03 December 2009City Tours Leading the Way in Customer Care
As part of its continuing drive to improve the service it offers visitors to the North West, tour guides and taxi drivers working with local tour operator Martin McCrossan City Tours have completed an intensive customer care training programme. Martin`s coach partner Dessie Lynch of Executive Travel also completed the course.
The training programme - ‘Exceeding Excellence when Dealing with the Customer’ - was tailored specifically for City Tours and delivered by Michelle Simpson, lecturer at the NWRC.
Martin McCrossan, who is a member of the NWRC’s Tourism Liaison Group, explains how the course came about.
”Earlier this year I met with Karen McLaughlin, Head of Hospitality Tourism and Sports at NWRC and identified a need for short programmes in customer care. NWRC provided a tailormade training course on Exceeding Excellence when dealing with the customer.
“Although everyone working with City Tours has already completed ‘in house’ training, we are all very aware that good customer care is key to success in the tourism industry. The company has experienced tremendous growth in the past number of years with greater numbers of visitors staying longer than before. Since every visitor to our city is a potential ambassador, we must ensure that each and every one of them has a memorable experience – for all the right reasons. We should never be complacent about customer care and this is why I felt it was important that everyone working with City Tours completed the programme.”
Martin continues: “We have a great tourism product here in the north west and it is vitally important that we can deliver a quality service to match it. It is no longer enough to meet customers’ expectations; we have to exceed them every time and the onus is on everyone working in the tourism industry to do just that.”
Michelle Simpson lecturer in the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport at the North West Regional College added: “Exceeding Excellence when Dealing with the Customer covered all aspects of customer care and provided City Tours employees with training that would equip them to deal with incoming tourists to the city. The team at City Tours is very aware of Customer Care and understand that it is of paramount importance when dealing with the tourist.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Martin McCrossan telephone 07712937997
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| Launch of City's Festime Time 2009 - 24 November 2009Experience a truly Classical Christmas Celebration as the city comes alive with a great line up of free family events and festive cheer.
The city will be animated with characters in colourful costumes, musical performances and entertainment with the focus on festive family fun. Come relax, meet with friends and enjoy a great shopping experience with easy parking, unique gift choices and a warm and friendly festive welcome.
Discover our hidden gem of unique shops and follow our sparkle trail of exclusive outlets for a truly treasured shopping experience with delightful gift ideas. Visit www.festivetime.com read more ...
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| CCi - Christmas Windows Competition - 24 November 2009For the festive season, City Centre Initiative organises the wonderful Christmas Windows Competition. Visual merchandizing is important from an economic point of view and is especially crucial for all our independent retailers. Through the use of this event, we hope to make the shops in the city centre more attractive to potential shoppers.
The retailers of the city play such a huge part in our local economy and are central to the regeneration plans for our city. For further information visit www.cciderry.com
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| New DVCB Members October 2009 - 29 October 2009The following tourism properties/businesses are now new members of the DVCB. We welcome them to the tourist network and hope that they will work closely with the organisation in promoting the city as a top visitor destination on the island of Ireland and servicing our ever increasing visitor numbers.
- Amara B&B ( Burt, Co.Donegal) ( Bed & Breakfast)
- Brewsters (Self-catering Accommodation)
- Patricia O'Donnell ( Event Management)
- Rural College & Derrynoid Centre( Conference Venue)
- Rushfield House (Carrigans, Co.Donegal) ( Bed & Breakfast)
- Westland House ( Bed & Breakfast)
For further details of these properties see relevant section on our website.
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| Launch of Guided Taxi Tours by City Tours - 29 October 2009Martin McCrossan of City Tours one of the north west's longest established and most successful tour guiding companies has unveiled plans for guided taxi tours to complement the company's award winning walking tours of the Walled City.
For further information visit www.derrycitytours.com
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 | FREE Historic Walking Tours this Halloween by City Tours - 17 October 2009SPECIAL HALLOWEEN OFFER ALL TOURS FREE BY CITY TOURS
Friday 30th and Sat 31 October 2009 ONLY
10.00am, 12noon & 2.00pm
Tours depart: Tourist Information Centre & 11 Carlisle Road
Tour times: 10am, 12noon and 2pm.
Walks take place at other times by arrangement.
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 | Arc North West Call for Tourism Funding Applications - 16 October 2009
ARC north west is the delivery mechanism for the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 in the Council areas of Derry, Limavady, Omagh and Strabane.
ARC north west is now inviting applications from interested parties for projects within the Cluster area under:
* Measure 3.3 Encouragement of Tourism Activities
* Measure 3.4 Basic Services for the Economy & Rural Population
* Measure 3.6 Conservation and Upgrading of the Rural Heritage
These Measures will be OPEN to receive applications from Monday 28 September 2009and will CLOSE at 12noon on Friday 6 November 2009.
Please note applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.
Interested parties are invited to submit applications for projects within the Cluster area via www.eugrants.org or by visiting www.arcnorthwest.com. Hard copy application forms can be made available upon request. For further information on 'ARC north west', 'What's Available', 'Who is Eligible to Apply' as well as 'How to Apply' please visit the ARC north west website www.arcnorthwest.com
Please remember this is a competitive programme and the submission of an application for financial assistance does not indicate that your application is eligible for consideration or that the project will be awarded financial assistance.
If you have any queries please contact :
Una Cooper
Rural Development Programme
ARC north west
Development Department
Derry City Council
98 Strand Road
Derry BT48 7NN
una.cooper@derrycity.gov.uk
Tel: (028) 7136 5151 (Ext 6925)
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 | Scary Tours this Halloween - 16 October 2009Don't miss out on the Scary Derry Bus Tours ( Inner City Outer City ) and the Twilight Haunting Tours of Derry ( Tours n Trails) this Halloween a must for all the family and theres loads more to see and do during this years Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival.
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| NITB TRade Events - Masterclasses and Business Insight Days for the Trade - 08 October 2009Masterclass Series 2009-2010
20th October 2009 – “Enhancing the visitor experience through food”
16th November 2009 – “The rise of the ‘Learn-To’ holiday: gaps and opportunities
28th January 2010 – “How to create the Authentic NI experience”
9th February 2010 – “Music Tourism: the scale and scope”
4th March 2010 – “Destination NI”
Business Insight Days
24th September 2009 – Creating Customer Value
4th November 2009 – Eat NI
21st January 2010 – Creating the Authentic NI Experience
For further information on all these NITB Industry Development trade events click here
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| NEW DVCB Members September 2009 - 23 September 2009The following tourism properties/businesses are now new members of the DVCB. We welcome them to the tourist network and hope that they will work closely with the organisation in promoting the city as a top visitor destination on the island of Ireland and servicing our ever increasing visitor numbers.
- Angel House B&B ( Bed & Breakfast)
- Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall ( Visitor Attraction)
- Avish Cottage (Self-catering Accommodation)
- Bayleaf Restaurant ( Restaurant)
- Monreagh Manse Ulster Scots Heritage Centre ( Visitor Attraction)
- Rose Park House B&B ( Bed & Breakfast)
For further details of these properties see relevant section on our website.
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| Macmillan World Largest Coffee Morning at the Tourist Office - 23 September 2009Feel good and be part of the World's BIGGEST Coffee morning. The Tourist Information Centre, 44 Foyle Street are hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morming on Friday 25 Sept from 9am-lunchtime and we would love you to come along to share in some tea/coffee and treats. Why not collect some holiday brochures and take part in our raffles to win some fabulous prizes.
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