Reminder: Brochures for the National Networking Conference
mergo Participants attending the Failte Ireland National Networking Conference next Tuesday in Carlow are reminded to bring any brochures on their business which they wish to distribute. There will be a special stand for the South East and South West regions where we will display the brochures.
Reminder – TBDP Deadline 12th Dec @ 4pm
A reminder to all participants who wish to apply for the accreditation for the mergo programme – the Certificate in Tourism Business Practice from WIT, that their Tourism Business Development Plans need to be submitted to the mergo office to arrive no later than 4pm on Wednesday 12th December. Please note that the TBDP template and supporting documentation is available from the mergo Extranet. Click on “Certificate in Tourism Business Practice – Accreditation Documents” in the column on the left hand side of the screen. If you have any queries regarding any aspect of the accreditation process, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the mergo team.
Funding for 2008 Festivals and Cultural Events
Fáilte Ireland is now inviting applications for funding under the Festivals and Cultural Events Initiative for 2008. Funding is available for festivals and cultural events due to take place before 31st December 2008 and for 2009 events that will undertake marketing during 2008. The 2008 funding programmes are primarily intended to assist events with specific tourism marketing & development activities. The 2008 information booklet and application forms are available on the website www.failteireland.ie/festivals , where the necessary forms may be downloaded and completed. Please note that all applications must include the relevant documentation set out in the application form. Further information is available from the Festivals and Cultural Events Office Tel: (01) 8847700/8847151 Email: festivals@failteireland.ie
Tips for selling online
The Christmas season is an important time for every retailer. Just as high street sellers must deck out their stores with the latest and greatest products and ensure that the retail process runs smoothly, web retailers must make sure their online stores and ordering systems are up to scratch in order to cope with the Christmas rush. Ebusiness Live report on how to ensure your web store is primed for business – see the following link http://tinyurl.com/2hpwpxThey also have a case study on a Sligo-based craft boutique. The Cat and the Moon craft boutique has found that a blend of online and offline sales helps it to reach a wide market at home and abroad. The case study is available from http://tinyurl.com/25oeh7
Audience Research Template
This is a useful tool, developed by Failte Ireland, for festival and event organisers, primarily to assist with estimating attendance and visitor numbers. The intention of the Audience Research Template is to provide a means for festival and event organisers to provide estimates of your event’s impact on tourism using standard measures which are as accurate as possible and which can be compared from year to year and from event to event. Even if you don’t have a funder or a sponsors, some of the issues raised in getting formal feedback from your audience, artistes, stakeholders and business/host community are worthy of close examination and follow-through, if only for better, more responsive planning for your next festival. It has been uploaded to the Templates and Presentations section of the mergo extranet.
Rights of young festive workers to be protected
This week, the Minister for Labour Affairs, Billy Kelleher TD warned shops, bars, restaurants and other businesses employing teenagers in the run into and during Christmas that they must protect the rights of these young workers. Minister Kelleher said: “It’s an increasing reality that many young people are taking on jobs, be it part time or full time during holiday periods. While many enjoy a very positive experience others may find themselves exploited by unscrupulous employers. It is important therefore that young people are aware of their rights and what steps they can take should they find those being breached.” The newly established National Employment Rights Authority’s (NERA) (see their website www.employmentrights.ie ) will be carrying out inspections to ensure compliance with legislation, particularly those in the licensed/catering and retail trade, where many of these young workers will be employed. The Minister encouraged employers to make themselves aware of their obligations under the Protection of Young Persons Act. Young workers who are feel they are victims of exploitation are asked to contact the National Employment Rights Authority’s Information Services on 1890 80 80 90. Specific legislation relating to the employment of under 18s is laid out under The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996. A guide to this act is available from the BASIS website – see the following link http://tinyurl.com/2pltj5
New website for Walkers and Cyclists – www.coillteoutdoors.ie
Coillte, Ireland’s leading forestry company, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, have launched a €5.3m initiative which will provide outdoor recreation facilities for walkers and cyclists. Coillte, which has more than 11 forest parks and more than 150 recreation sites countrywide, welcomes more than 18 million visitors each year to its forests and manages more than 52% of all off road national trails. Failte Ireland is funding the delivery of 250km of walking, hiking and biking trails to the highest standard, at 34 sites across the country, including the upgrading of existing trails and the construction of new ones. New signage at these sites will also increase public awareness of the access to the countryside that Coillte lands provide. A new Coillte outdoors website – www.coillteoutdoors.ie – also allows anyone interested in outdoor recreation to research and plan activities from their computer. (Source: The Examiner)
IHI Founders Banquet and Hospitality Awards
The IHI Gala Awards Ceremony was held last night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin and presided over by this years President of the Irish Hospitality Institute Ewan Plenderleith (FIHI and General Manager of the Herbert Park Hotel). The award recipients were: Young Manager of the Year 2007, Elaine Nolan, d Hotel (Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland), Hospitality Manager of the Year – Human Resources, Amanda Meade, Royal Marine Hotel (Award sponsored by Action Recruitment), Hospitality Manager of the Year – Catering, Audrey Crone (Eurest Award sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions), Hospitality Manager of the Year – Hotel, Dan Murphy, Galway Bay Hotel (Award sponsored by The Irish Times), Young Graduate of the Year, Fiachra Martin, DIT Cathal Brugha St, (Award sponsored by Barton & Guestier) and Life Time Achievement Award – Lee Kidney FIHI , Lee Hotels.
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