Keep it real: a marketing & communications toolkit

Keep it Real is a new toolkit to help tourism businesses to sell sustainability as part of their unique offer. It is designed for those businesses who have already taken action to be more sustainable and want to maximise the marketing opportunities that may exist. Produced by England’s Regional Tourism bodies in association with VisitEngland and written by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism the toolkit is packed with case studies from around the country. By illustrating the Who, Why, Where, When and What is involved Keep it real is designed to give businesses the confidence to talk about sustainability and make it part of their sales proposition.

The toolkit is available as an online document at www.visitengland.com/keepitreal where it can be downloaded if preferred at no cost.

Get the edge on Quality

I've just been passed a glossy mag by our Quality Manager, Sarah Gravelle: no, not the latest issue of Vogue (although we do talk shoes on a regular basis) but VisitEngland's summer edition of Quality Edge. Having had a good thumb-through with my morning coffee, I can see why Sarah raves about this magazine each time it arrives on her desk.

Firstly, there's a range of 'hot topic' articles - such as how to widen your appeal to an overseas audience, embracing the era of the credit card transaction and - for us nosey types - 'a Day in the Life'; this edition spotlights a four-star hostel in the Lake District. Amongst the undeniably useful selection of practical advice you'll find a generous offering of tips and ideas too.

Quality Edge is a bit of a no-brainer: free business advice, industry insight and oodles of handy hints... It easy to get hold of - you can read the Summer 2009 issue and download any back issues, all free of charge at http://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/quality/QualityEdge . Once you've taken a look, do let us know what you think. CL