A new website claiming to be the first of a new generation of regional tourism portals was launched today. visitaviemore.com promotes tourism in the Aviemore and the Cairngorms area within the Cairngorms National Park and incorporates the very latest in bringing tourism businesses closer to the consumer.
The site uses new and evolving web2.0 features whilst also providing consumers with a no frills, no commission route direct to local businesses.
Alan Rankin the Chief executive of Aviemore and the Cairngorms Destination Management Organisation (ACDMO) said today at the launch: “This is the first of a new generation of ‘sell and tell’ area tourism portal websites. Businesses will be able to sell their product within a flexible web site but we also want to give visitors every opportunity to tell other visitors about their experiences in the area.“
To support this ambition the site offers the possibility for every member accommodation business to have a direct feed from the Trip Adviser site where the customer posts customer feedback. Visitors are also asked to post their ‘wow’ comments on the ExtramileScotland website to help raise awareness of businesses that have provided extraordinary levels of service. Web2.0 features throughout the site with visitor videos, photos and blog links to various well known and popular sites all of which is aimed at keeping content fresh, up to date and of interest to different types of potential visitor.
Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Jane Hope said: “I very much welcome the launch of this new website which promises to deliver a very customer focused service for visitors and local businesses making it easier for everyone to find information and enjoy the Park.”
The site offers visitors an ability to search for activities, accommodation attractions, things to do, where to eat and drink, shops and local events. More and more emphasis is being put on local activities, events and festivals as it is a common held view that people want to come to the area to do something and accommodation follows on from that. The importance of events is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the site lists over two hundred local events ranging from live music to steam train rallies that are happening across the Badenoch and Stathspey area in the peak visitor month of July.
Rankin added: “The new site is all about driving enquiries direct to our member businesses. Our strategy is to get the potential customer to the business’s website as that where the sale is made. It’s our job to create interest in the area, present what the area has to offer and then get the consumer quickly and as easily as possible to the business they are interested in.”
The site will offer a quick direct search for accommodation and if for example a customer wants to know where the B&Bs are that have Wi-Fi, are dog friendly and have disabled access the site will find the properties from Grantown on Spey to Dalwhinnie that can provide such facilities and services in an instant from the list of ACDMO members.
Sue Crossman director of the influential Scottish Tourism Innovation Group said: “The new Aviemore and the Cairngorms portal is a great example of how Web 2.0 technology can enhance a site, remain business focussed and is the best example of innovation within a tourism website for some time.”
Another feature of the site is when a visitor searches for activities in any specific area the search also displays nearby accommodation, places to eat and shop and local special offers. Cross- selling as it is known in the industry is one of the key planks of the national strategy to grow tourism by 50% so ACDMO are keen to provide this feature for both the consumer but also for local businesses to benefit from each other.
Business listings on the site also clearly show the VisitScotland grading awards and Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) level achieved by a business in an effort to get key decision-making information to the visitor. The new site has come together having carried out a great deal of research of successful destination sites around the world and gathered comment from tourism businesses as to what suits them, all backed up with a wealth of information on how the consumer is shopping for tourism and leisure.
