Tune into Tourism

In this bonus episode, we're joined by Lesley Judge and Josh Ryan-Saha from TravelTech Scotland (www.treveltech.scot), and look at all the ways technology can help achieve the goals of the strategy, helping our tourism industry to thrive and grow.    

In this episode, we explore the Outlook 2030 strategy priority to create memorable, world-class experiences for visitors. Robin Warsnop joins us from the award-winning small tour operator Rabbies Trail Burners (www.rabbies.com), and shares the kinds of experiences visitors are seeking and how they are catering to emerging trends. We're also joined by Iain McNeill from Whereverly (www.whereverly.com) who tells us about the latest apps that use technology to enhance the visitor experience. For all the links across the whole series, and for more information, visit www.hie.co.uk/tinto

This episode is all about the key priority of the Outlook 2030 strategy for diverse businesses. To give us a clearer picture of the economic backdrop for tourism businesses in 2022, we're joined by senior economist from the NatWest Group (www.natwestgroup.com), Philip Bartlett. Caroline Miller (www.scottishagritourism.co.uk) then explains how agritourism could unlock new markets for Scottish Tourism, creating additional revenue streams for businesses in the Highlands and Islands, as she shares some great examples from across the country. For more information, visit www.hie.co.uk/tinto

This episode is all about how some communities across the Highlands and Islands are tackling the Outlook 2030 strategy's key priority for Thriving Places. The new chair of the North Highland Initiative (www.northhighlandinitiative.co.uk) Genevieve Duhigg talks about the challenges they face, and how thinking strategically is key for a sustainable future. We visit the Kinlochleven Community Trust (www.kinlochleven.org.uk) to talk to Trust Manager Lucy Cooke about how they have tapped into some of the funding available to create their own strategy - with faster, tangible results. And Rhoda Meek from isleHOLIDAY (www.isleholiday.com) explains how they are using an alternative business model to keep profits in their own communities, rather than give them away to large third parties. For more information, visit www.hie.co.uk/tinto

This episode is focused on the Outlook 2030 strategy's key priority of Passionate People. Gordon Morrison, Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (www.asva.co.uk), explains how the strategy is relevant to businesses in the current climate, and how it can help us deal with staffing challenges. Iain Jurgensen at Portavadie Spa and Leisure resort (www.portavadie.com)shares how he's had success recruiting and retaining great people for his business, and how they are tackling the housing shortage for staff. And George Stone (Georgestone654@gmail.com)in Drumnadrochit tells us how hospitality businesses like yours could fill vacant positions, whilst providing crucial support for Ukrainian refugees in Scotland. For more information, visit www.hie.co.uk/tinto Find out more about fair tourism: www.hie.co.uk/fairtourism

This final series of Tune into Tourism takes a deep dive into how the key priorities of the Outlook 2030 tourism strategy still apply in a world that has changed greatly since the strategies launch 2 years ago. In this first episode, host Julia Sutherland hears from Marc Crothall, CEO, Scottish Tourism Alliance (www.scottishtourismalliance.co.uk), about how the shared vision breaks down into practical steps businesses like yours can take to access support and tackle the challenges the industry faces collaboratively. For more information, visit www.hie.co.uk/tinto

This episode looks at the consumer - how sustainability influences their decision-making, how to market your sustainable product, and re-thinking how we fund better practises to make responsible travel a more affordable option. Featuring: Andrea Nicholas, CEO Green Tourism and Christian Møller Holst, CEO & founder Goodwings  The resources mentioned in this episode are available at hie.co.uk/tinto

Finding new ways for visitors to connect with nature and landscapes, whilst protecting those incredibly valuable assets for the future, will be essential to secure a sustainable future for tourism for Scotland. In this episode we talk about what you should be considering within your tourism business - from promoting active travel, encouraging slow tourism, collaborating with other businesses and agencies, to educating guests on responsible behaviour. Featuring: Simon Brooks, Strategic Planning Manager, NatureScot  Elaine Ford, Wildlife biologist and founder Electric Explorer and Planet Rewild All the resources mentioned in this episode are available at hie.co.uk/tinto

Protecting and centring communities in our tourism offering will be key to creating a sustainable future for all. This episode is essential listening if you're a business owner who wants to work more closely with others in your local area - and reap the benefits that come from a more joined up approach - but also to anyone who cares about taking ownership of how tourism affects the place they live now, and for the future. Featuring: David Bryan, Head of Sustainable Business,The Social Enterprise Academy. (www.socialenterprise.academy/scot). All the resources mentioned in this episode are available at www.hie.co.uk/tinto

Find out how you can help the effort to achieve Scotland's Net Zero ambition by 2045. From auditing your emissions, through looking at your supply chain and reducing waste, we talk about the steps you can start taking today to do your bit for the climate crisis, and the opportunity this provides for your business. FEATURING:   Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director, Net Zero Now   Dr Susanne Etti,  Environmental Impact Specialist, Intrepid Travel 

This episode introduces the concept of sustainable tourism and features information, resources and practical steps you can take to ensure your business has a more positive impact. Plus we answer some of your questions on electric vehicles and charging, transport links, and single use plastic. Featuring: Janie Neumann, Sustainable Tourism Manager, VisitScotland and Crista Buznea, Sustainable Tourism Specialist & Marketing manager, Ecologi Visit www.hie.co.uk/tinto for all the resources mentioned in this episode. 

‘RURAL and Community Tourism'  Guests: Peter Syme, Adventure Specialist and Strategic Advisor (petersyme.com) and Joan Bishop, Chair of the Dornoch Community Interest Company (visitdornoch.com).  After a year where everyone's world shrank dramatically, visitors are now desperate to escape the urban for the freedom of a rural environment - and have a meaningful experience, really connecting with the locals, and drinking in the history, culture and traditions. The Highlands and Islands of Scotland couldn't be better placed to tap into this desire. In this podcast, we're look at how things have changed post-covid, and how to tackle the new challenges rural destinations face in the coming season and beyond. Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto 

‘RESPONSIBLE - Caring for the Environment, Community and Economy'  Guests: Dr Harold Goodwin, Director, Responsible Tourism Partnership (Responsibletourismpartnership.org) and Paul Easto Co-founder, Wilderness Scotland (wildernessscotland.com)  As consumers look for more information, openness & options around sustainability, we discussed what ‘responsible tourism' really means, the new challenges we face in a post-covid world, and discovered some of the changes you could start to make within your tourism business. Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto 

‘EVENTS - Going hybrid, and embracing change'  Guest: Judith Wilson, Director EVENTSBASE and EVENTIT (eventsbase.co.uk eventit.org.uk) The Tune into Tourism: Road to Recovery podcast aims to help tourism businesses in Scotland to get back on track after the pandemic. As events start to return in Scotland, albeit many in a hybrid form, we find out what that could mean for your business and how to embrace the change, as well as opportunities to collaborate to create new events or festivals in your own community. Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto 

‘RECONNECTION - Reunion travel, and thinking digital'  Guest: Nick Hall, CEO Digital Tourism Think Tank (thinkdigital.travel)   In this podcast we talk about an unsurprising trend for 2021- Reunion travel. People are desperate to get together with friends and family they haven't seen for so long. But not being able to connect in person for the last year has driven all of our relationships online, so re-thinking how we communicate and interact with visitors in this new digital first era will be crucial. We discuss how to embrace change, cater to these guests and their new needs, plus collaboration and partnerships.     Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto 

‘CUSTOMER BEHAVIOUR - Getting to know the new customer' Guests: Simon Calder, Travel journalist (simoncalder.co.uk) and Irene Roberts, Director, UK North, Market Management, Expedia (expediagroup.com)  The Tune into Tourism: Road to Recovery podcast aims to help tourism businesses in Scotland to survive  - and thrive - as we emerge from a global pandemic. We discuss new trends in customer behaviour - what they are looking for, how they are booking, and how to turn lookers into bookers. From pricing, through booking windows, to managing expectations, we talk about how you can take the opportunity this year will provide to create new loyal domestic customers who will keep coming back.    Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto 

'THE BUSINESS OF RE-OPENING ' Guests:Andrew Scott, Victus Consultancy (www.victusconsultancy.co.uk) and Jo De Sylva, VILN Chair and owner, MacGregors Bars (www.macgregorsbars.com) and Bogbain Farm (www.bogbainfarm.com) Re-thinking your offering, tackling concerns around pricing, creating packages, working with other businesses within your communities, and more! Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto

‘STAFFING - Dealing with a post-Covid and post-Brexit reality' Guest: David Cochrane, Chief Exec Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland  (hitscotland.co.uk) In this episode, aimed at helping your tourism business emerge from a global pandemic, we'll discuss how to find, attract and keep great team members. From new pools of people to be looking at, to changing the work environment to appeal in what will be an employees market, as well as re-thinking some of the fundamentals of how you run your business in a world that has been forever changed. Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto 

‘WELLBEING - Taking care of yourself and your staff' Guest: Gordon McIntyre, Hospitality Health (hospitalityhealth.org.uk)  In the first of 8 new episodes in this Road to Recovery series, aimed at helping your tourism business emerge from a global pandemic, we look at the most important aspect of any business – the people. After a year which has challenged our mental health, we talk about how to take better care of our staff, the signs to look out for, how to improve communication, and most importantly look after your own wellbeing too. Find out more about Tune into Tourism hie.co.uk/tinto 

The focus for this episode is food and drink, and host Julia Sutherland is joined by Jacqui Williamson (owner corneronthesquare.co.uk Beuly), Kelly MacKenzie (marketing manager An-talla.co.uk), and Craig Innes (owner pixelspiritsltd.co.uk & lochlevenhotel.co.uk/ ). They talk about the challenges of starting a delivery service in rural areas, listening to what local customers really want from your business, adjusting your marketing strategy accordingly, creating new online experiences, and the new meaning of BYOB!

This week, we're talking visitor attractions! Joining host Julia Sutherland this week are Andrew Johnson (General Manager, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions), Iris Thompson-Burton (Business Manager. The Highlanders' Museum), and Martin Murray (Owner / Distiller, Dunnet Bay Distillery) They discuss the unique challenges their sector faces - including how to allow for social distancing in old buildings, enabling guests to interact with exhibits, targeting a different demographic, using data and technology solutions, and the importance of sustainability

The focus is on activity providers in this episode, as three tourism business owners/operators joined host Julia Sutherland remotely, to discuss the specific challenges within their sector, and share ideas how they are surviving in these as we attempt to steer a path through this global pandemic.  Mark Turner (solwaytours.co.uk), Tim Allen (glassbottomedboat.co.uk) and Reece McAfee (rivertoseascotland.co.uk) talk about diversifying their offering, saving money, how the market is changing - and why that could be good news for smaller businesses offering bespoke services.

The Tune into Tourism: Road to Recovery podcast is back!   Over the next 4 weeks, we'll be (virtually) bringing together tourism business owners and operators to talk about the challenges they have faced, and how they have managed to adapt to these ever-changing times to ensure their survival.   Each week will focus on a different sector, and this week we're talking to accommodation providers. Regular host Julia Sutherland is joined by Craig Ewan (Operations Director, kingsmillshotel.com), Jane Slaughter (Owner, pinewoodsteading.co.uk - self catering holiday cottage) and Jamie Conner (Owner, secrethighlands.com - Doric House B&B).   They discuss how they've had to re-think their entire offering, get creative with outdoor spaces, make new connections with other business owners, and find ways to attract a completely different market.    By sharing the things that have helped them, acknowledging the challenges affecting different businesses in different ways, and talking about what changes will be essential for the survival of their sector, we hope to give you some ideas for your business, as well as reassurance that you're not alone.

Lesley Judge, Sector Engagement Executive for Tourism at Interface (www.interface-online.org.uk) shares some of the many developments across the sectors - from the use of QR codes in hospitality, to NASA technology being deployed in new cleaning techniques! And Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (www.assc.co.uk), Fiona Campbell, tells us about some of the apps and systems being used in self catering businesses, which have been created in response to the coronavirus.

Episode 7 is all about marketing strategies. CEO of Visit Inverness Loch Ness, Michael Golding, shares some encouraging news following the launch of the new ‘Scottish Cities' marketing campaign. Carron Tobin, Development Manager for Argyll and the Isles Tourism co-operative, tells us about their latest strategy, emphasising their impressive local food and drink offering, and how working with a Blogger has provided revelation and inspiration!

As the tourism industry re-opens in Scotland, we look at how to improve the visitor experience - and increase revenue - as you rebuild your business. Market manager at a Expedia, Matthew Quinn helps us to focus on accommodation - find out how the gap left by international travellers is being filled, how to protect your pricing while encouraging longer stays, and the key to conversion. Then tourism expert Doug Lanksy shares his vision to change the metrics of success, for the future survival of the industry.

In this episode, host Julia Sutherland is joined by VisitScotland's Director of Industry and Destination Development, Riddell Graham, who fully explains the process of self-certifying your business with the Good to Go scheme (www.goodtogoscotland.com), and travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder reports back on emerging trends and industry reactions in England and beyond, as well as sharing some of his own experiences of travelling within Europe over the last few weeks.

We get a dose of positive thinking and tips on building online communities from SayYesMore.com founder Dave Cornthwaite, hear about lots of creative and innovative things happening in hospitality businesses across the world from Senior Trend Analyst at TheFoodPeople.com, Scott Fraser, and learn three things we need to know from this week's VisitScotland.org Market Intelligence report from their Senior Tourism Insight Manager Chris Greenwood.

Digital strategy expert Emil Spangenberg from Frame & Work, and VisitScotland's Senior Tourism Insight Manager, Chris Greenwood, join host Julia Sutherland to talk about getting your marketing messages right, as we begin the process of restarting tourism in Scotland.

Digital Tourism Think Tank's Nick Hall, and VisitScotland's Senior Tourism Insight Manager, Chris Greenwood, joined host Julia Sutherland and discussed the role of sustainability within the ‘new normal', the importance of involving communities to mitigate tourism impacts, as well as how tourism can help to rebuild the local economy. 

Travel journalist Simon Calder, and VisitScotland's Senior Tourism Insight Manager Chris Greenwood, join host Julia Sutherland to share their knowledge and dissect the latest news and trends within the tourism industry this week.   In this episode, we hear why your digital communication is crucial, how social distancing could work in your business, and what consumers are currently looking for.

Weekly round-up and analysis of the latest tourism news and the implications for Scottish tourism businesses.  Expert guests, practical advice and the latest resources on offer to get back on track following a global pandemic. This podcast aims to provide a positive, practical and informative round up of the week's travel and tourism news, and to how that impacts the tourism industry in Scotland and the Highlands.    In under 30 minutes, you'll hear from the most informed industry experts, as we dissect the latest news and discover the latest trends and insights -  then help you to make sense of how you can apply this knowledge to your business.  So you not only survive, but thrive in the future.   Visit hie.co.uk/tinto and complete the registration form to make sure you don't miss out on the accompanying information and resources.