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.

A Message from Marc Etches

Welcome to our July newsletter.

Last week I was delighted to meet so many businesses at our ‘Working Together for the Games’ conference held at Market Rasen Racecourse on Wednesday 14 July. Thank you to each of you that attended.

Working with Lincolnshire Sports Partnership we were able to bring together businesses from sectors including sports, leisure and tourism to facilitate and identify new networks and opportunities, using the 2012 Games as a catalyst.

(Group image at the event from left to right, Janet Inman Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, Ruth Hyde East Midlands Tourism, Cllr Doreen Stephenson Lincolnshire 2012 Champion, Claire Lambert East Midlands Tourism, Clive Lawrence-Forbes East Midlands Development Agency and Marc Etches, Interim Chief Executive of Visit Lincolnshire).

I was invited to be a judge for the 2010 East Midlands Renaissance Heritage Awards in June, and attended the awards ceremony at Alford Manor House on Friday 16 July to see St Katherine’s – 900 years of History Heritage and Cultural Centre in Lincoln win Museum of the Year. A result of all Lincolnshire's winner can be read on the Lincolnshire Heritage Forum website.

Congratulations to all businesses who took part in the awards.

By taking part in the judging process I saw at firsthand a selection of outstanding heritage venues across the county which makes a significant and much valued contribution to our cultural offering.

Staying on the topics of awards, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the six businesses who have been shortlisted in the East Midlands EnjoyEngland Excellence Awards 2010.

As the difficult economic climate continues it will bring many new challenges. And as you’ve just read, during this month alone we’ve had great county success with heritage awards, sport tourism opportunities and shortlisted businesses in the East Midlands EnjoyEngland Excellence Awards. I am confident that by working more effectively together across the varied sectors we can meet the challenges and grow our visitor economy.

On a personal note I have accepted the Board of Directors invitation to continue working as Interim Chief Executive for Visit Lincolnshire until March 2011.

I wish you all a successful summer season, and look forward to seeing you at our AGM in October.

Marc Etches,
Interim Chief Executive, Visit Lincolnshire

Regional Tourism Oscars 2010

Congratulations to our six regional finalists who have been shortlisted for the East Midlands Enjoy England Excellence 2010 Awards.

Being nominated for such a prestigious industry award is a huge accolade for these businesses, and Visit Lincolnshire will be supporting them every step of the way to help them scoop gold.

Emma Tatlow, Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Marketing at Visit Lincolnshire said “It’s fantastic to see so many Lincolnshire businesses shortlisted for the 2010 awards; we’ve spoken to each business personally to congratulate them.

“Being shortlisted distinguishes those businesses that are willing to go the extra mile for their customers.”

"All six have been shortlisted for the final of the annual East Midlands Tourism Enjoy England Excellence Awards and will go head to head with other finalists from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland for the title of the ‘region’s finest’ at a ceremony on the 7th October.”

Some regional award winners will then go on to compete for the national title in the Enjoy England Excellence Awards finals, staged in 2011.

Visit Lincolnshire has been a consistent support throughout the process and will be working with each business up to the awards and beyond.

The shortlisted businesses are:

• Grayingham Lodge B&B, Northorpe – B&B / Guest Accommodation


• The Manor House Stables, Martin - Self Catering & Sustainable Tourism


• The Olde Barn Hotel, Health Club and Spa, Marston - Business Tourism


• Brackenborough Hall Coach House Holidays, Louth - Sustainable Tourism


• Helsey House Cottages, Helsey, Nr Hogsthorpe - Think Family


• Long Acres Caravan Park, Old Leake - Caravan Holiday Park

If you’d like to know how to be an award winner for next year please contact Sarah Gravelle on 01522 561673 or email sarah@visitlincolnshire.com