1.2. Grow your business and make global connections
High level, general information about developing your business. For more specific information on the services that HIE offers, please see classes 3.1 – 3.4.
Broadband savvy Britain hunting a bargain this ChristmasOnline traders are now in full Christmas selling mode, but what are the prospects for 2008? Are we in line for a bumper web shopping spree as people forsake the high street? Or are credit crunched shoppers waiting to see who blinks first and discounts the heaviest – the high street or the online stores?
Don’t touch my broadband!It has emerged that the average Briton would go without a car or a washing machine before parting with their broadband connection.
On song for selling online this ChristmasThe run up to Christmas – a time of loosening purse strings – is ‘traditionally’ also when shopping online enjoys a growth spurt. Maximising the sales potential at this time of year is crucial and no more so than this year when competition for consumer spending is going to be as fierce as it has been in decades.
Dramming up support for Spirit of the WestAbout 6000 people are expected at Inveraray Castle next May for the ‘Spirit of the West’ whisky culture weekend. And joining them for the Homecoming Scotland 2009 event will be celebrity chef, Nick Nairn, Scottish band Ceilidh Minogue, Food from Argyll and the 16 west coast distilleries in the Whisky Coast group.
Distillery makes it a double in whisky awardsThe Isle of Islay’s credentials as a world centre of whisky excellence have been boosted still further as Ardbeg distillery has taken home the title of World Whisky of the Year for the second year running.
Wester Ross gains marketing identityA branding makeover for the North West Highlands is underway with the launch by Tourism @ Wester Ross of a new image and logo.
Events and Gaelic take centre stage at Highland tourism seminarThe Gaelic language and culture, events and innovation are the three major themes running through the 2008 Highland Council Tourism Seminar next week.
Kiwis are tops at green tourismAfter riding high with the success of their 100% Pure New Zealand marketing campaign, the Kiwis have proved again they are the ones to watch on the world stage.
Big sky country 24x7Recently we had bad weather tourism. Now, the latest emerging market is dark skies star gazing tourism.
Local firm appointed to provide special assistance services at Inverness Airport Dalcross Handling has been appointed to provide special assistance services to passengers at the largest airport in the Highlands and Islands.
Free online rep research tool launchesYou can run but you can’t hide. Or so a new web site would have us believe as it launches the biggest free people search in the UK. <br />
Pulling rank on the search enginesTo finish first, first you have to finish. Do we as website owners, though, have to get hung up about coming first in Google?
Northlink Ferries launch new guide at World Travel MarketNorthlink Ferries is launching their 2010 Group Tours Guide at World Travel Market this week, the UK’s major travel trade show which is being held in London and attracts top industry professionals from around the globe.
TourismHIE is a key source of advice and support for tourism businesses.
Tourism eventsTourism events news
Airside team expanded at Inverness AirportHigher traffic levels at Inverness Airport has prompted Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (HIAL) to create a six-strong apron operations and safety team.
Green is good for businessGoing green won’t cost you money: it will create savings and win new customers.
Skye band tuning up for ScotlandSkerryvore, a six-piece Celtic band from the Isle of Skye, are providing the live music entertainment tonight (Monday) at the UK’s premier travel trade show, World Travel Market in London.
VisitScotland.com website brought into public ownershipThe national tourism website, VisitScotland.com has been brought back into public ownership, it has been announced by VisitScotland. <br />
Tourism for Tomorrow Awards deadline loomsThere is now just 40 days left for tourism organisations in the Highlands and Islands to complete their entries for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.
St Andrew’s Day celebrations lined up for InvernessInverness is hosting a series of fun events to celebrate St Andrew’s Day and join the rest of Scotland and cities around the world getting ready to herald in Homecoming Scotland 2009.
Time testing your broadbandTime is of the essence, hence the fascination with which broadband users hold its speed.
Cashing in with inbound linksInbound links – links from other sites to your own – are often said to be the currency of the web.
Lights, camera, actionHow to shoot and present video on a shoestring budget
Tux and frocks at the ThistlesIt’s black ties and ball gowns tonight (Friday) for the biggest night in tourism – the Scottish Thistle Awards.
A new laptop to chew overCan’t think many people saw this one coming: a green laptop encased in bamboo.
What site visitors really, really wantHere’s a question: what is the first thing visitors want when they land on your website?
Web host shopping checklistA building block of any web presence is the hosting; the place where the site sits and is made accessible to the outside world.
Inverness airport secures direct link to GermanyInverness Airport will offer direct access to mainland Europe in 2009 with a new air link to Germany operated by Lufthansa, it was confirmed today (Tuesday).
How green the Highlands areStewardship of the environment has traditionally been a cornerstone of life in the Highlands, a fact that is now being reflected in the number of green tourism businesses the area now boasts.
Free workshops on turning customers into sales peoplePride & Passion, the industry-led movement to improve visitor experience, is holding free workshops across the Highlands and Islands next month.
Funding boost for Homecoming 2009 unveiledThe Scottish Government has announced funding of £190,000 to host a series of events as part of next year’s Homecoming celebrations.
How do I order broadband?How do I order broadband?
Broadband providersBroadband service providers - how to choose the right one for your business.
Task group to examine training in the hospitality and tourism sectorHospitality and tourism training is to be scrutinised by a task group announced by the Scottish Government.
Thistles head north to the HighlandsWalkhighlands and Wilderness Scotland lead the way for the Highlands and Islands in this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards, the tourism industry’s premier celebration of excellence.
E-businessTrading and marketing online for tourism businesses
ID theft risk posed by CVs highlightedAn online CV website is aiming to make life more secure for job seekers and companies seeking to hire staff.
Ferry nice - crossing the water of lifeFerry passengers sailing to and from Islay on Thursdays are now literally enjoying a taste of Islay and Jura.
Orkney tourism guide launched tonightThe official 2009 Orkney tourism brochure is to be unveiled tonight (Wednesday) by VisitOrkney at a launch ceremony in Kirkwall.
Finalists shortlisted for Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2008A total of 27 finalists are competing this year for the honours in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.
Skye and Lochalsh to get together for tourismThe Aros Centre in Portree is the venue later this month for the Skye and Lochalsh Get Together for Tourism conference.
Focus, locus, pocus are key to successGetting a website up and running is the easy part: the real challenge is in then making that web presence a success. Like gardening, the successful company website takes time, patience and effort to cultivate.
UK’s first social media training centre launched in the HighlandsThe UK’s first social media training centre has been launched in the Highlands to offer businesses the chance to understand and make the most of this new online marketing channel.
Cultural planning event in the Outer HebridesAlmost 100 delegates will gather in South Uist at the end of October for a two-day event to discuss access to culture and cultural planning in the Outer Hebrides.
Pesky spamming varmintsSpammers are a wily bunch, continually thinking up new and cunning ways to avoid detection. Here are a few examples of techniques that are becoming more common.
Why websites fail – part twoContinuing our look at why some websites struggle to make the impact that was hoped for, we lift the lid again on some of the reasons for failure and flag up the solutions.
New cyberspace security centre launched(ISC)2® (“ISC-squared”), the not-for-profit organisation in educating and certifying information security professionals throughout their careers, is inviting businesses and consumers to download free security awareness materials that have been provided by some of the organisation’s 60,000 certified members worldwide.
Get snapping for World Tourism Day photo competitionIf World Tourism Day (Sept 27) passed you by, there’s still time to participate if you’re handy with a camera.
Autumn tourism campaign showcases the Outer Hebrides and Homecoming to millionsThe Outer Hebrides are being positioned as the ideal get away in over a month’s worth of press advertising in some of the UK’s most popular consumer magazines and newspapers. The campaign, which also incorporates TV, cinema, and London Underground advertising, aims to inspire people to take a break in Scotland this autumn.
Come home for a dram in 2009No homecoming would be complete without a wee dram so the Whisky Coast, Scotland’s west coast whisky trail has announced a spectacular weekend event on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May 2009 at Inveraray Castle as part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.
Selling in 3DUsing Web2.0 generated video on your tourism website
Developing world-class destinationsGlobal marketing of Highlands and Islands tourism
Content management, is it for you?Once upon a time when website owners required an update they’d have to wait until their developer eventually got around to it. Now, content management systems (CMS) let complete novices edit a site in minutes without months of learning new skills.
Back to the future with Windows LiveThe problem with email addresses with the user names sales@ or info@ is that they tend very quickly to become spam magnets. Try as we might with filters and rules, and chopping and changing our email software, spam still seems to wriggle through the mesh.
Orkney’s gems and Homecoming showcased to international mediaA number of influential international journalists have been sampling what Orkney and Scotland has to offer in advance of Homecoming Scotland 2009.
Million pound investment in future Scottish hospitality leadersApplications are now open for the 2009 Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland Emerging Talent Scholarships. This year, the charity is offering up to 200 scholarships, representing an estimated million pounds of investment towards developing future industry leaders.
Five star treatment for Hebridean Self CateringHebridean Self Catering, a Stornoway company, will today (Monday) become the latest Isle of Lewis tourism business to earn a five star grading for two of its luxury holiday lodges.
How to never (legally) pay for software again – Part TwoFree Open Source software is a vast subject. So, picking up from where we left off last time, what else is out there to make life simpler – and cheaper – for the small to micro-sized company?
We are all publishersWhether it is fully appreciated or not in the frenzy of internet entrepreneurial activity, website owners are content publishers.
Mental blocks and free stuffEver had a mental block while sitting at your computer? Ever wondered what software’s best for a particular task but don’t have the time to experiment?
Award-winning castle tearoom backs Macmillan Cancer SupportDuart Castle on the Isle of Mull will be one of the more unusual venues tomorrow (Friday) taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, a national charity event that aims to raise £800,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland.
Postal push to get North Americans to ‘come home’ in 2009The Highlands and Islands look set to make big gains next year as changes to US census rules now allows Homecoming Scotland 2009 marketing to better target households that declare themselves to be of Scots descent.
How to never (legally) spend money on software againIs it really possible to buy a computer and not end up spending hundreds on extra software?
Priceless privacy prevents phone pest“How can I stop Skype loading automatically? As soon as I boot up there’s this guy bugging me about getting his invoice paid.”
Tourism marketing and promotionWhile VisitScotland promotes Scotland as a whole, tourism businesses also have a responsibility to undertake their own marketing and promotion, building on national and regional activity.
Innovative Adventure Pass offers extra adrenalin for holidaymakersThe new Scotland-wide Adventure Pass promotion that launched at the start of the month includes discounted activities at 11 adventure centres in the Highlands.
Scottish tourism statisticsQuick Scottish tourism industry statistics
Hospitality Assured - FAQsFrequently asked questions about Hospitality Assured
Hospitality AssuredExcellence in tourism: Hospitality Assured, an online self-evaluation tool and road map to accreditation
Apply for Hospitality Assured accreditationApplication form to apply for Hospitality Assured accreditation
Net gives business the jittersIt really is true: nothing is quite as it seems. A couple of unconnected stories this week should give businesses of all sizes cause for reflection.
Loch Ness officially a WonderLoch Ness and Urquhart Castle have topped a Seven Wonders of Britain poll conducted by the RAC and VisitBritain.
Self-catering gives credit crunch a beatingWith the tourism industry anxious about the effects of the credit crunch on bookings, one sector that is definitely not living up to expectation is self-catering.
Clearances statue unveiled in CanadaA statue commemorating the tens of thousands of Scots forced to leave their homes during the Highland Clearances has been unveiled in Canada by Environment Minister today (Saturday).
Star-studded Orkney toast successThree visitor attractions in Orkney are enjoying their new star status following a Quality Assurance Scheme grading from national tourism organisation, VisitScotland.
Double national win for family-run Highland retreatA Highland inn and its sister hotel have won national acclaim following a re-branding campaign which is proving a magnet for every type of visitor.
Open Source launch of web docs suiteOpen Source fans will be interested to hear that a web suite of tools based on OpenOffice is nearing launch.
Christmas!!Christmas may seem like a very long way away, but online traders should be gearing up now for a busy festive season of e-tailing.
Polish your computer with ChromeIf there’s only one thing you do this weekend: try out Chrome, Google’s new browser.
Five Star Outer HebridesTour the 11 self catering establishments and guest houses accredited with Five Star status.
tigh-na-mara^ home | < previous ...
ValtosValtos Cottage, five star self catering accommodation in the Uig district of Lewis.
CaberfeidhCaberfeidh - five star self catering accommodation on the Isle of Harris
Croft CottageAccommodating up to six people, Croft Cottage offers luxury five star living on its own 26 acre croft on the Isle of Harris.
Taigh na BoireachTigh na Boireach and Boreray Cottages are two traditional thatched cottages rebuilt to an original design but incorporating all modern conveniences and comforts
BlueReef CottagesBlue Reef Cottages, Isle of Harris, five star self catering accommodation
AultbeitheAultbeithe is a stunning, luxury self-catering cottage on the west coast of Lewis
ShalomShalom, a luxury five star cottage in Strond, South Harris
Broadbay HouseFive star accommodation at Broadbay House, Back, Isle of Lewis.
Braighe House^ home | < previous ...
Liz McColgan back on the monster huntScottish athletics legend Liz McColgan MBE and celebrities Nell McAndrew and Ben Fogle will be joined later this month by runners from the UK and the United States in the First Monster Challenge – a 120 kilometre relay duathlon (running and cycling) around the shores of Loch Ness.
Tourism Minister awards local businesses five star recognitionTourism Minister Jim Mather saw some of the best tourism businesses in the Outer Hebrides at first hand on a visit to the islands this week.
Tour OneCaladh Inn, Craigard Hotel, Clachaig Inn and Pool House Hotel
World class destinationsAckergill Tower, Glenfiddich Distillery, Aviemore Highland Resort, Blue Reef Cottages
Message on a bottleFirst Minister Alex Salmond has left a signed bottle of 25 year-old whisky to be collected by the 250th visitor to the Talisker distillery in 2009 - Scotland's Year of Homecoming.
Veni, vidi, viciHadn’t thought of this before: seeking out video tutorials for software on youtube.
Open Source experts launch free advisory serviceOpen Source software for business has been much debated over the last couple of years. But with Microsoft’s Vista operating system hardly enjoying a smooth ride since its launch last year, it now looks like Linux is finally gaining traction in the business world.
Visitors teeing off in numbersHighlands and Islands golf courses averaged 872 rounds by visitors during the month of June, the latest figures from Golf Tourism Scotland (GTS) have revealed.
Animal magic by podcastWild Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Tourism Association, are spreading their sustainable tourism message further than ever by launching a podcast on The Environment Channel website.
Culloden a major asset for Homecoming Scotland 2009Culloden Visitor Centre has been placed on the front line of winning hearts and minds during Homecoming Scotland 2009.
Thistle Awards finalists show calibre of Highlands tourismThe Highlands have launched a formidable raid on the 2008 Scottish Thistle Awards, cornering the Innovation category with finalists and contesting a diversity of other award categories too.
E-business in tourismWeb-generated business statistics for the tourism industry
Tourism: facts and figuresTourism industry facts and figures
Inverary Castle-hosted music festival pulls in the crowdsMusic lovers from across the UK are converging on Inverary Castle on the banks of Loch Fyne today (Thursday) for the Hydro Connect Music Festival. <br />
Green is the colourTurning a tourism business green is not as difficult as we may suppose, and will now be made a whole lot easier thanks to a new Scottish tourism initiative to encourage more operators to embrace sustainability.
Entry deadline nears for Highlands and Islands Tourism AwardsTourism businesses across the Highlands and Islands have until Friday (August 29) to get their entries in for the region’s largest and most prestigious hospitality and tourism industry awards.
Delegates applaud e-tourism workshopsThe e-tourism workshops held throughout the Highlands and Islands recently have been voted an overwhelming success by those in the know: the people who attended.
Newsletters still rockDriving traffic to your website and then converting casual surfers into paying customers is the aim of the game. But embedded within that is the hope of the positive transaction translating into repeat business.
You’re wanted on the phonePhones of the fixed line and mobile varieties have been much in the news of late, with conflicting opinions expressed on who is going to come out on top and why. Time for a round-up and at stab at making some sense of it all, then.
Data mining with GoogleDrilling down through web trends can uncover market research gems
Stornoway town centre redevelopment underwayRepaving work at Cromwell Street in Stornoway under the Townscape Heritage Initiative is expected to be completed over the next couple of months.
Shetland centre for creative excellence receives HIE fundingPlans for the proposed centre of excellence for international creativity in Shetland have moved closer following a major investment of £965,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Decoding web statsWeb statistics and analytics can provide website owners with a wealth of information from where on the web a particular visitor arrived, which pages they looked at, whether they were converted into a paying customer, to how long they stayed. But what do all the figures really mean in practical terms?
Supplies surpriseNot all broadband outages are down to problems with your supplier; the machine you’re sitting in front of right now can cause just as many. Find out what to try first before picking up the telephone.
CoachesBiographies of the Hospitality Assured coaching team for businesses undertaking the journey to tourism excellence
CoachingNeed to ask a question about Hospitality Assured? Try a member of coaching staff.
Going that extra mile for the customerHow often do we hear the mantra about exceeding customer expectations?
The meaning of destination managementIsn’t it fascinating the way a stretch of water separating two countries that speak the same language can serve to mutate the meaning of words?
Brains to power 21st century tourismHow many times have we heard that overused phrase, “Knowledge is power”?
Buying in legislation complianceAlmost no one generates their own electricity or breeds cattle in order to have steak on the menu. So why do we feel it necessary to cope in-house with every sphere of business?
Hospitality Assured highlighted in awards successAttaining Hospitality Assured status has paid off again for the Heathmount Hotel, the stylish Inverness boutique hotel. For the establishment, which dates back to 1868, has been crowned the friendliest hotel in Scotland.
All in definition of destinationWe hear a lot these days about destination management, but what do we mean by destination?
On the distillation of Hospitality AssuredLess is more. Brevity is the soul of wit. Often we can better understand something by distilling it down to its very essence, the central core around which the wider idea revolves.
We are here, and we want to go thereIf there’s only one thing that we learn in the hospitality game, it is this: you need to know where you are before you can navigate a route to where you want to go.
We are on a mission“To make people happy” is probably one of the best-known mission statements of any company anywhere in the world.
Managers beating themselves up over trainingHands up who knows everything about the tourism and hospitality industry.
All change – how to manage itIt is said that change is the only constant. Curiously, though, humans - despite this daily reality - are frequently resistant to change.
Getting to the route of the matterUntil now we have concentrated on figuring out where we are, in a business sense. What we haven’t discussed yet is how to get where we want to go.
Brand forging for everyoneA brand is an identifying mark or label on a company’s products. But while we tend to regard branding as a concern of large companies, hospitality and tourism operators of all sizes should be thinking along similar lines.
Rooting brands in deliverable realityAt its most simple level a brand is “a promise of an experience”. But what, in reality, is a brand?
Capturing best practiceWe have of late been pondering the purest definition of best practice. Now, let’s progress onto what tourism best practice means at a practical level.
Local businesses urged to benefit from world sporting eventsSmall and medium-sized businesses across the Highlands and Islands are being urged to find out more about opportunities arising from the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Colour me, schemes and themesLess than 10 per cent of all communication is verbal. Colour, therefore, is a critical element of visual communication and not something to be overlooked when it comes to website design.
GooglewatchThe dominance of Google, despite challenges from various quarters, continues to look unshakeable. The search engine is now being used by over three quarters of UK searchers and by 70 per cent in the United States.
Shoppers beat credit crunch onlineThe credit crunch and the resulting slow up in consumer spending may not be all bad news for online retailers. For when finances are tight, shoppers abandon the high street and go online looking for bargains instead.
Glenlivet Visitor Centre celebrates a decade of excellenceStaff at The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre are celebrating a decade of excellence after being awarded a top visitor attraction award for the fifth time in row.
Highlands to be profiled in top Indian titlesA highly regarded Indian travel journalist will be sampling some of the delights of the Highlands in the hope that the resultant publicity will help raise the profile of the area internationally.
Moray dolphins are tops with touristsDolphin watching in the Moray Firth has topped a poll of the most popular Scottish tourism activities among UK holidaymakers.
Cuil new search engine launchedA new Google rival that shares a name with a community on the Isle of Skye has outperformed the search giant in result relevance tests.
Skype makeover releasedSkype, the world’s most popular free internet application, has released an updated version of its internet telephony software.
Registration deadline looms for HIT AwardsTime is rapidly running out to register online for entry submissions to the 2008 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.
Aiding and abetting ID theft?Online identity theft is growing. It is now thought to cost the UK economy at least £1.5 billion every year. But are websites doing all they can to help stamp out this fraud?
Internet on the move – small but potential for growthThe internet on the move is still something of a marketer’s dream if new research from web analysts, Point Topic is anything to go by.
Supply2.gov.uk free trial comes to a close soonSmall and medium sized businesses have until the end of this month to register for a no obligation three month website trial that offers free access to thousands of public sector contract opportunities.
Putting the punch in marketingVisitScotland has issued some timely advice on how tourism businesses can maximise their market share.
BT trawls for Scottish support for superfast broadbandThe Highlands and Islands reputation for “shouting out” for broadband could put it in good stead for the roll out of superfast 100Mb/s fibre-based broadband. For BT has stated that it will invest first in areas where demand is strongest and where there is public sector interest in partnering with and using the new BT services.
Marine tourism highlighted in Scottish sea proposalsScotland’s status as a top marine tourism destination is underlined in proposals for a sustainable seas Bill to go before the Scottish Parliament.
Hospitality Assured - the process and ten stepsWhat is involved in qualifying for Hospitality Assured status.
UK hospitality industry recognises young talent in Fort AugustusA Fort Augustus-based hotelier has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 30 emerging young talents in the hospitality industry.
Education and training skills are failing Scotland’s tourism industry, says Holyrood CommitteeScotland’s education, training and skills structure is patently failing to deliver what the tourism industry needs, says an inquiry report published today by the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.
Our work with businessesHIE's support is targeted towards businesses with high growth potential.
Heads up on what’s on for Homecoming Scotland 2009The Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme is swelling by the week with Burns and Scottish culture themed events taking place from Shetland in the north to the Borders in the south.
Murdo's Laws of HospitalityMurdo’s Law of Expectation - “To exceed expectations, we ...
Scottish tourism fighting its cornerDespite much tougher market conditions, Scotland’s tourism industry is holding steady so far.
Heb Celt Fest plays to an international audienceThe Saw Doctors, Julie Fowlis, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Seth Lakeman are just four of the acts due to play in Stornoway later this month at the 12th Hebridean Celtic Festival – one of the biggest music events in the Highlands and Islands.
Web credited for global sales bonanza The power of the internet as a sales and marketing channel is undisputed – and has been for some time now. Even so, it’s still good to hear a success story where the web has played a major role in growing an organisation year on year.
New tourism website where the customer has the last wordA new website claiming to be the first of a new generation of regional tourism portals was launched today. www.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.
Lews Castle subject of talks with Trump directorRepresentatives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Stornoway Trust have held talks with a top level director of the Trump Organization to discuss possible development of the Victorian-era Lews Castle which overlooks Stornoway.
Northern Isles gets fibre optic link to mainlandBT is laying a new fibre optic submarine cable between Orkney and the Scottish mainland to help bring its 21st Century Network to the Northern Isles.
TestimonialsTestimonials from Hospitality Assured accredited businesses
Keywords are itLadies and gentlemen of the class of 2008, I salute you!
£3.3 million contract to wipe out broadband blackspotsA £3.3 million contract has been awarded by the Scottish Government to roll out broadband communications to the remaining remote communities still relying on dial up.
Faster than a speeding…Here’s a thing, what travels at 2,000 miles per second but normally takes up to three minutes to arrive?
Institute of Hospitality annual Scottish luncheonTime is running out for Institute of Hospitality members to book their table at the organisation's annual Scottish luncheon being staged at The Gleneagles Hotel on July 22.
Courting success with badminton bulletsTechnological advances are impinging on every sphere of life – and none more so than in the business world.
Customer feedback sought for Ionad Spòrs LeòdhaisThe importance of customer feedback cannot be underestimated in shaping future plans and business operations, no matter what type of tourism operation you run. And putting this best practice into effect at its £7 million flagship sports centre in Stornoway is Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
How to work outdoors with a laptop“In the summertime when the weather is high…I’ll be outside with a laptop on Wi-Fi.”
Shedding light on keeping safe this holiday seasonRight now is one of the most dangerous times of year for the small to micro-sized business. With the holiday season almost upon us there is a tendency to take our eye off the ball and start to wind down in readiness to enter full-blown holiday mode.
Innovative chef training is “Quick to the Cut”A new training course nominated to the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) as a model of best practice looks to be the recipe to reduce the number of chef vacancies in the Highlands and Islands.
Living the Bronze Age in ShetlandA glimpse of Shetland life in the Bronze Age is to be unveiled later during the summer with open days, demonstrations and workshops on Bressay.
Golf Highland brand marketing strengthenedThe Golf Highland brand has received a marketing boost with the news that Highland Loch Ness Marketing Group (HLN) is adding the golf marketing activities of Golf Highland to its existing marketing development work.
BT searches for inspirational entrepreneurs A business grant of £20,000 is up for grabs as BT Business searches for the UK’s 20 most inspiring entrepreneurs in its Essence of the Entrepreneur 2008 competition.
‘Free’ mobile broadband in 2009 predictedFree mobile broadband could be less than a year away if broadband comparison site Top 10 Broadband is to be believed.
How we can helpAdvice and training for tourism operators
Tourism skills developmentThe key to effective staff development and training is to link it directly to your business objectives.
Assisting tourism in the Highlands and IslandsFinancial assistance for tourism
Pool House Hotel, PoolewePool House Hotel, Poolewe
Green hotelsThe Gold Register - eco-friendly hotels recognised by the Green Tourism Business Scheme
Want to innovate, influence, and get passionate?Innovative tourism, the next generation
Whisky tourism in high spirits as visitor numbers growVisitor numbers released today (Monday) by ScotlandWhisky - the national whisky tourism initiative - reveal Scotch Whisky’s growing importance to Scotland’s tourism industry.
Get the very latest at the click of a mouseKeeping up to date with things can be an arduous task sometimes, so why not let the information come to you?
Inner Hebrides plane links take to the airTickets go on sale today (Tuesday) for the long awaited Argyll air service flying out of Oban to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay.
To a Highland bardRobert Burns in the Highlands. Time to get up to speed for Homecoming Scotland 2009.
Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group aim to informThe latest newsletter from the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group has just been published and is available for download.
Arran sets Perfect Adventure for travel writersArran – an island often described as Scotland in miniature – plays hosts next week to top class travel journalists getting on their bike on an adventure-filled mission to gather information.
Shetland festivals kick off next weekLerwick is set to become a very busy place next week with no less than two major festivals taking place.
Highlands and Islands tourism statisticsQuick tourism statistics and tourist industry figures
Selling your business on the webUsing the internet to sell goods and services between businesses has long been one of the goals of e-business. And today, finally, it’s fair to say that the b2b (business to business) sales channel is well established.
Free money transfer service launched for UK’s Polish communitySendcashhome.com has launched a pioneering cash transfer service for the Polish community.
Laptop maker to ship Linux in an instantAs a tailpiece to our recent series on Linux comes the news that Asus laptops will ship this summer with a pre-installed ‘instant-on’ version of the open source operating system.
New web shopping standard launchedComputer magazine, Computeractive has launched Consumer Confidence Charter, a new standards mark for online traders signing up to a code of practice.
Text but not as we know itDifficult as it may seem to believe right now, the era of the text message may be drawing to a close.
Deadline looms for Scotland's top tourism awardsTourism businesses throughout the Highlands and Islands are being reminded that there is just a week to the entry deadline for the Scottish Thistle Awards, the biggest tourism awards of the year.
EssentialsHot tourism topics - what tourism operators need to know.
Let the internet take the strain out of trainingOpportunities to obtain tourism training online
Forest RecreationBusiness opportunities in forest recreation tourism
Visitor information gap filled at Lews CastleA new heritage information display at the entrance to Lews Castle is the latest project to be completed under the Stornoway Townscape Heritage Initiative. The £21,000 project, assisted by the Heritage Lottery Fund, aims to fill a long-standing need for visitor information at the Castle.
Outer Hebrides businesses boosted by online directoryComhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have developed what is hoped will be the most comprehensive online business directory of the Outer Hebrides.
I got your number, I’m not gonna use itA useful thing I need to share is my discovery of a website called Who calls me? I stumbled across it by chance after missing 13 calls on my mobile from a number I didn’t recognise or appear to have in my Contacts.
Rural broadband households overtake urban for the first timeRural areas of the UK are better connected to broadband than their urban neighbours, a new Ofcom report reveals. And the Highlands are among the best served in Scotland, with only Aberdeen achieving a higher take up rate.
Scottish forests gear up for 2009 celebrationsNo excuses about lack of notice. Here’s a heads up on the World Mountain Bike Conference on Sustainability 2009 which is coming to Scotland in May next year.
Doing your bit for tourism growthTourism Framework for Change, the tourism industry’s blueprint for the future, has set a challenge to grow Scottish tourism by 50 per cent. The target date is 2015, but how can individual tourism businesses develop to help meet this ambition?
Moray distillery opens new visitor centreGlen Grant Distillery in Rothes, producers of one of the biggest selling malt whiskies in the world, has officially opened their brand new visitor centre at the site.
Attractions see growth in Northern Isles visitorsShetland and Orkney both enjoyed substantial growth in visitor numbers in 2007 compared with 2006, the latest VisitScotland Scottish Visitor Attraction Monitor has revealed.
Calling all businesses: Shetland’s first ever Festival of Nature needs you!Organisers of Shetland’s first ever Festival of Nature, to be piloted from 4th to 12th July 2008, are calling on local businesses to come on board and get involved by offering trips, tours, arts and crafts, and workshops to feature in an exciting programme of events planned for this summer.
18th Skye Storytelling Festival returns to GlendaleThe Glendale Gathering and Skye Storytelling Festival 2008 returns to the northwestern corner of Skye this weekend for the eighteenth consecutive year. From Friday 23rd until Sunday 25th May inclusive, the Glendale estate will be brought to life with the ancient traditions of storytelling, with everything from sessions and workshops to walks and a ceilidh.
Cairngorm hostel website launchedThe 19 independent hostels in the Cairngorms National Park now have a dedicated website offering a one-stop destination for hostel information and accommodation planning.
Business transformation forumBusiness transformation forum discussing a wide range of e-business topics
Ye old curiosity search engineTalking of curious things, keywords for Google Ads aren’t always what they seem.
Setting off on the exploration of LinuxInstalling a new operating system is a major undertaking not to be taken lightly. In this final part of our series on Linux, we get ready to install Ubuntu.
National Work for Home Day on ThursdayThis Thursday (May 15) is National Work from Home Day when up to five million people are expected to work from home across the UK.
All about Linux – part twoHaving previously examined what Linux is and why we would want to try it out, the next step on our alt. Operating System odyssey is the installation. But which one?
Companies and parents give flexible working the thumbs upAlmost three quarters of small to medium-sized businesses are adopting flexible working practices, and support is strengthening for Government plans to extend flexible working to parents of older children.
Hospitality Assured newsLatest news on Hospitality Assured, best practice and quality management in the tourism and hospitality sector
Hospitality Assured loginHospitality Assured accreditation process login page
Home-shoring pilot could revolutionise contact centre industryContact centre workers in the north of Scotland are set to work from their homes in a HIE-sponsored trial which could create new jobs and revolutionise the way call centres are run in the UK.
New training courses ready for launchTourist Board Training has announced the imminent launch of two new online training courses addressing the growing needs of the niche tourism market.
Roots training urged for Homecoming Scotland 2009Scottish tourism is in line for a significant boost next year when Homecoming Scotland 2009 comes to fruition. Meantime, tourism operators are being urged to gear up for this marketing effort.
GolfBusiness opportunities for golf tourism
These boots are made for walkingThe Aviemore and Cairngorms Walking and Mountain Festival runs from 10th-17th Mays. Set in the spectacular woodland, loch and mountain scenery of Strathspey and the surrounding area, the former Aviemore Walking Festival has been re-launched under its new title to reflect an ever-expanding programme of activities, including rock climbing, canyoning, dog sledding and even spa treatments.
Penguin slays techie image and goes old schoolOnce upon a time having a penguin on your desktop and using the word, Linux, instantly marked you down as a techno geek. But not any longer! For today’s breed of Linux user is someone like you and me.
A nation of speed freaks, says surveyFalling into the category of stuff we already knew comes the news that the UK is a nation of broadband ‘speed freaks’.
Ord House receives 5 starsOrd House on the west coast of Skye’s Sleat peninsula has been awarded five stars following an assessment under Visit Scotland's Quality Assurance Scheme.
Orkney businesses can assure hospitalityThree Orkney tourism businesses received a ‘Hospitality Assured’ award at a recent lunch held in the Kirkwall Hotel, hosted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Highlands and Islands are top GreensFour tourism businesses in the Highlands and Islands have been crowned as the best performing Green businesses in Scotland.
HIE tourism business contactsHIE network contacts for the tourism business
Speaking your languageThe “mither tongue” may be enjoying a resurgence of late but when it comes to learning foreign languages, Scots top the charts.
Data protection is Mission Possible“This laptop will self destruct in ten seconds!”
The lowdown on PDF creationPDFs (Portable Document Format) are secure and easy to distribute digital documents that are ideal for the web or as email attachments. Fortunately, creating them for use on the web needn’t require any special skills or expensive software, putting the era of the PDF easily within the grasp of small to micro-sized companies.
Tourism top guns sell Scotland to the worldAn elite group of travel agents from around the world, who have been trained to sell Scotland in their home countries, are visiting Scotland this week.
Sustainability is watchword for destination managementAll good destination management plans should have strong founding principles the sight of which should not be lost along the way.
What do customers really want?Are we giving customers what they actually want, or what they say or think they want?
Free e-book publishing service launchedCreating professional digital publications such as e-books and e-zines from a PDF is now within the reach of even the smallest of companies.
Quality scheme for Scotland’s bars gets setFirst there were Scotland’s best cafes. Now, watch out for Scotland’s best bars.
InternationalisationTourism in the Highlands and Islands performs on the world stage, so fundamental to capturing our share of the market is the development of international clientele.
Quick tourism factsQuick facts about tourism
Kirkwall next for e-business workshopA company web presence is a vital part of any business strategy these days, but getting your website to perform for you is not always easy.
English also spokenThe closing date for industry input into a major new study of Gaelic in the workplace is today (Monday). The online questionnaire has now been switched off and the hard work will now commence on interpreting the results.
Skara Brae to get new milestone on anniversary of first man in spaceThe wishes of a Russian film director with ancestral links to Orkney are to be finally granted later this week (Saturday 12th April 2008) as an additional milestone is laid in place within the historic time trail that marks the passage towards Skara Brae.
Broken link stuffs access to US GoogleThere was much huffing and puffing this week before Google finally fixed a broken link on the google.co.uk home page.
Wi-Fi hotspots are so Seventies claimWi-Fi hotspots will become the phone boxes of the broadband era. So said Ericsson’s chief marketing officer while bigging up mobile internet at the European Computer Audit, Control and Security Conference in Stockholm.
Accredited businessesListing of Hospitality Assured accredited businesses in the Highlands and Islands
Còig Turasan Mìorbhaileach Gu Saoghal Nan Gàidheal Air Am Foillseachadh / Five Magical Journeys Into The Gaelic World UnveiledChaidh còig turasan ùra gu cridhe saoghal nan Gàidheal fhoillseachadh san Òban an-diugh, Dihaoine 28 Am Màrt 2008.
Make global connectionsA high-performance Highlands and Islands economy hinges on carving out global markets and relationships. That means internationalising our perspectives and multiplying the number and range of international business activities.
Scoring through technology knowledgeOnce upon a time, Scrabble was an educational family board game that required nothing extra other than paper and pen to keep the score. But no longer.
High/low the reality behind the speedThe higher you go, the less likely it is your broadband speed will match the maximum punted by your internet service provider (ISP).
Skype plug-in lets you fax offThe fax just won’t go away, will it? I’m set up for receiving faxes from other people (via a Yac.com telephone number) but not for sending. However, I think I’ve arrived at a solution.
Death, taxes and spamIt is said the only certainties in life are death and taxes. Maybe it’s time to add a third certainty…spam.
Adding images for freeNeed to give a report or presentation some extra visual punch? Adding dynamic photography and design work can really help get your messages across.
Flagship b2b show travels eastThe unique all Scottish tourism business to business event, VisitScotland expo 2008, heads east to Aberdeen this year.
Should auld acquaintance…The original handwritten manuscript of arguably the world’s most famous song – Auld Lang Syne – is to go on display in New York as part of the Scotland Week 2008 celebrations.
Scotland’s top tourism awards lift offYoung entrepreneurs are being encouraged to put themselves forward for Scotland's top tourism awards for the first time this year as the 2008 Scottish Thistle Awards celebrate some the country's up and coming talent.
Scotland's cafés are icing on the cakeMany people have a favourite spot, a quiet place or a local unknown where they take themselves to switch off, relax, read or enjoy their favourite view; often from the warmth and security of a welcoming venue. Equally, there is something rewarding in a comforting cup of tea and sweet treat after a long journey, invigorating walk or activity. However, finding the perfect café is something most people stumble upon by chance, until now.
Business leadership and productivityWhy business leadership is important for the future success of tourism
Inbox management: why spam mattersSpam, unwanted email messages, now account for three quarters of our daily inbox, and at certain times of the year this percentage can be even higher. But why should we be concerned about spam and regard it as anything more than an unavoidable irritation?
My MI, who is using it on the move?With mobile internet predicted for rapid growth, it is now more important than ever to ensure websites are fully accessible to as wide a range of devices as possible.
Let customers call the tune over paymentBeing easy to do business with is one of the keystones of commercial life and nowhere is this more crucial than when a company trades online.
Highlands and Islands ahead of the wave with broadbandThe Highlands and Islands are leading the rest of the UK in rapidly adopting high-speed broadband technology.
Free ecardsSend a free ecard from Hospitality Assured
Of millions and percentagesIt has been a week of large numbers and percentages, so why not try out this quick guide to the stats you should know?
UK sites need Polish research suggestsWith up to 4,000 Polish nationals now estimated to be living and working in the Highlands and Islands - and at least over half a million nationally - there are compelling reasons for many website owners to offer a Polish language text version.
BlackBerry attempt to woo a wider audienceResearch In Motion (RIM), the company behind the groundbreaking BlackBerry, is seeking to widen the smartphone’s appeal with a series of sweeteners to tempt new users.
Highlands and Islands scoop food and drink awardsA third of the winning categories, at this year's Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards, were scooped up by companies from the Highlands and Islands.
Mountain biking - a briefing for tourism businessesFollowing research commissioned in 2005, on trends in cycling and mountain biking, the downloadable business development brief available here was developed by the Forest Tourism Initiative and HIE in collaboration with VistScotland, Forestry Commission Scotland and The Highland Council.
Market trendsTourism trends and new markets for tourism in the Highlands and Islands
Latest seminar newsByte the Bullet seminar news
Byte the Bullet seminar registrationRegister for a Byte the Bullet seminar
Byte the Bullet: business transformation for competitive advantage. Have you got the appetite?Byte the bullet - helping SMEs with the effective, planned use of ICT and e-business
Friendly Scots and stunning scenery - new research gives the visitor’s view of ScotlandThe friendly welcome of Scottish people and its stunning scenery were listed as the highlights of a holiday in Scotland in new research commissioned by national tourism body VisitScotland.
VisitScotland.com to launch new websiteVisitScotland.com will launch its new website on 2 April 2008, the most significant change to the UK’s most popular tourism destination website in six years.
Broadband by balloon hope held out by space companyYou could be forgiven for thinking April is still some way off after hearing an American company’s idea to roll out wireless broadband to rural areas of the UK. For a space company in Arizona is suggesting the use of high altitude balloons to beam WiFi signals to remote broadband-hungry areas.
Have moby, can travelLugging a laptop or Flash memory stick around, with the consequent security worries that entails, could be under threat by a new piece of software that lets users remotely access their documents and PC from any kind of portable device.
Year of the Home Worker launched by BTThe Year of the Home Worker has been launched by BT Business following findings that 45 per cent of home-based business people find it difficult to separate their work and home life.
Business start up workshopsOur business start-up workshops are for people in the Lochaber area who wish to start-up their own business.
Web users cheerleading for Highlands and Islands tourismThe power of the web and the influence exerted by users uploading their own material is giving the Highlands and Islands tourism a consumer-led marketing boost.
Health & well beingHealth spas are the new black in tourism
Ancestral tourism - business improvementHighlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland are working in partnership with the industry to deliver the Ancestral Tourism initiative. A series of activities will be delivered to ensure that opportunities for ancestral tourism are maximised.
Taster toursTourism taster tours and showcases
Byte the Bullet case studiesEbatt case studies of implementing technology into small business
Net is the No.1 travel resourceInternet marketing increasingly important for tourism sector
Business leadership - from the frontLeading the tourism business from the front
World-class destinationsWhat do we mean by world-class destinations?
Keeping tabs on what's onHow tourism businesses can keep tabs on events in their local area
Food for thoughtFood and Drink is now worth £950 million per annum to Scotland. The key consumer demands in this sector are online reservations
The Internationalisation StoryThe internationalisation of tourism presents big opportunities - and challenges.
Going global with Green tourismGreen tourism is a global issue
The gift to see ourselves as others see usNinety seven per cent of visitors to Scotland said they were satisfied with their holiday and 96 per cent would recommend the destination, according to one of the most extensive surveys of visitors to Scotland.
E-tailing more important than everSelling online is poised to become an ever larger part of business for most companies trading in the UK.
Signature promotion for website ownersIn our continuing series of easy web traffic-generating promotion there are still a few more tricks the small to micro-sized business can try out.
WiFi to be challenged by mobile access?Wireless broadband via WiFi may be all the rage now but businesses will begin moving over to mobile broadband access over the next two years.
Scotland gets the big screen treatment in major campaign to attract English visitorsScotland is set to hit the big screen in a new cinema advert directed by an acclaimed Hollywood director. The advert aims to attract more English visitors to holiday in Scotland.
Visitor guide goes audioThe latest brochure from VisitOrkney is now available in audio CD thanks to a collaboration between VisitOrkney and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Keen to ensure that Orkney is enjoyed by all, the tourism agency approached RNIB and requested that they record the brochure in an audible format, so that visually impaired people could find out about all that the islands offer to visitors.
Glen Nevis Visitor Centre boosts Lochaber Mountain Rescue coffersOver £2000 was donated to Lochaber Mountain Rescue this week by The Highland Council’s Glen Nevis Visitor Centre.
Study is first to measure broadband qualityBusinesses and governments must make better use of their communications and computing infrastructure if they are to benefit from the full economic and social benefits of information and communications technology, according to a breakthrough study by Professor Leonard Waverman of the London Business School and global economic consulting firm LECG
Soft selling for expertsBusiness is in the end about selling either goods or services. But often the soft sell can be more effective than the hard sell, and is the subject of our continuing series of simple stuff non-techie web site owners can do to promote their site. Better still, the soft sell is something business owners can feel well qualified to do - talk about their industry.
Ten-year-old TOMM is supermodel for sustainable tourismA destination management model thought to be the oldest operating in the world is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Age verification added to new e-cash schemeThe under 18s represent a significant market segment for many businesses who trade online. Taking payment involves accepting a variety of e-cash and pre-paid vouchers and cards, but age verification can prove problematic.
Rapid response required by demanding web customersIf there’s one thing you learn quickly in business it is that you can’t afford to stand still. And it is not only competitors you need to keep a close eye on, just as important – if not more so – are the customers.
More simple stuff to obtain trafficIn this series on simple stuff every website owner can do to boost their traffic, we now turn to social network bookmarks.
E-Business Breakfast - Business Transformation<h5>Wednesday 13th February 2008 - 7am - 9am at the Mansefield Hotel, Elgin</h5>
<p>The e-evolution is gathering pace across global markets - and HIE Moray is keen to help the local business community raise the wire and whet your apetite for growth and development. If you're hungry for more, book a free place at our special e-business event and over breakfast, you can enjoy the wit and wisdom of two experienced speakers.<br /><br /></p>
Domains the name of the gameAbout ten years or so ago when a lot of companies were making their first steps onto the online world, domain names were being snapped up aggressively. Many purchases were speculative or have now become surplus to requirements for one reason or another. But instead of letting these pieces of internet real estate quietly expire, why not try auctioning them off instead?
The write stuff to drive trafficThe simplest solutions are invariably the best, we are often told. But does that axiom hold true for the small to micro-sized company trying to maximise their online presence and return on investment?
Orkney in the spotlightOrkney’s profile was given an airing at no fewer than 19 major national and international exhibitions throughout 2007, VisitOrkney announced this week. The tourism organisation attended five major exhibitions across the UK and organised the distribution of Orkney brochures at 14 other events, both at home and abroad.
New DVD promotes ShetlandA new DVD and CD promoting Shetland and all there is to see and do in the islands has been produced by VisitShetland. Targeting potential visitors to Shetland, the free DVD is available in French, German, Norwegian, Danish, Italian and Spanish, and is available in the Tourist Information Centre in Lerwick.
Goodbye 2007. Hello 2009With Highland 2007 going out with a bang recently, attention now switches to the next big event, Homecoming 2009.
Tourism Innovation Day 08The growing reliance on technology by the tourism sector is the theme for Tourism Innovation Day 08 next month.
Consultation on way forward for mountain bikingMountain biking is one of the big success stories in the Highlands in recent years. And now, to capitalise on the sport’s massive appeal, seven national organisations are joining together next week to initiate a framework and strategy for the future delivery of mountain biking in Scotland.
broadbandHigh speed broadband internet connectivity for business
Paying offline being pushed as way to boost web salesAn estimated 18 per cent of web users shy away from online shopping due to security fears over payment. But a new offline payment method may well be what entices them to change their mind.
Pipex in network suitor rumoursPipex, the web hosting and internet access company with a significant number of small business clients on its books, is on the verge of announcing the buyer of its access network.
New free Lotus Notes tool launchedJanuary 2008 is becoming a popular month to launch new free tools on the web.
Blackberry makes leap into VoIPOut of the office today means taking the office with you. And buying a digital device that has only one trick up its sleeve is also becoming more of a rarity too.
Free trial of BT expenses applicationKeeping tabs on your and your employees’ expenses can be a right pain, especially if left until a lengthy time after the event. But one web-based solution being touted by BT may be the answer.