Progress report

Progress report as at 18th February 2015

LETSGONORTH MEETS LETSGOSOUTH

AGENDA

VENUE:   Hotel Balcon de Competa
DATE:     18th February 2015
TIME: 11:00 to 12:00

Objective of the meeting: to introduce businesses to LetsGoNorth and the new tourism initiative LetsGoNorth meets LetsGoSouth – a collaborative project which examines the historical and cultural links between Scotland and Spain and builds on those links.


Welcome

Introductions

About LetsGoNorth

What is LetsGoNorth meets LetsGoSouth

About Smart Holidays

Sponsorship – how to join

The Explorer magazine

Questions and answers




NOTES FOR 18TH FEBRUARY


10 minutes

Introductions – who I am – what LetsGoNorth is – a tourism marketing company
- who Manuel is

What is LetsGoNorth


 Dunnet Head Educational Trust – administers the Friends of the North Highland Way – a social enterprise
 The commercial marketing company Brough Bay Ltd. t/a LetsGoNorth Ltd.

What we do
 Market Scotland in Spain
 Manage the North Highland Way Project
 Manage the new project LetsGoNorth meets LetsGoSouth

About LetsGoNorth meets LetsGoSouth

 Current sponsors
 Thanks to the prize givers for the Knights of the North Highland Way challenge – Sergio, Helen and Manuel
 Hubs planned with the Axarquia in the epicentre


LETSGONORTH MEETS LETSGOSOUTH

LetsGoNorth is a tourism marketing company based until recently in Scotland and now in Sussex in England.  We have been developing tourism projects since 2000 when we took over the Dunnet Head Bed and Breakfast and tearoom.  In 2003 we formed the Dunnet Head Educational Trust to raise the profile of the most northerly point of the UK mainland.

In 2010 we took over the tourism association North of Scotland Hospitality which then had over 100 members.  We have worked to develop this into a commercial  tourism marketing company.  One of our projects is the North Highland Way, a walking route from John o Groats to Cape Wrath across the top of Scotland.  

We launched LetsGoNorth meets LetsGoSouth in May 2014 and have been encouraged by the response from local businesses both in Competa and Canillas and on the coast.

AIMS

The aims of the LetsGoNorth meets LetsGoSouth project are as follows:

 To build a series of “hubs” of information supported by businesses about selected areas both in the UK and Spain.  In the UK hubs are Caithness & Sutherland (north of Scotland), Orkney and there is one planned for Lincolnshire.
 In Spain we are developing hubs in the Axarquia, Castril (near Granada), Marbella and Loja.   The Axarquia is the epicentre of the project as it is the first to be developed.
 Collaborative marketing encouraging business in both the UK and Spain using web sites at www.letsgonorth.com and www.letsgosouth.co.uk.
 To identify parallels between Spain and Scotland.  The first of these is the Senda Litoral and the North Highland Way.
 To identify historical and cultural links between Spain and Scotland and build these into products which can then be sold.
 To work with public and private sector organisations for the benefit of the areas concerned.

ACHIEVEMENTS

 Distributed 1500 of the 2000 leaflets printed as follows:

FITUR
SICAB International Horse show
Castell del Ferro
Tourist offices in Nerja, Torre del Mar, Competa, Canillas de Albaida and Alhama de Granada
Several outlets in Competa
Osuna
Businesses in the Acebucal / Frigiliana area

 Challenge event in Scotland launched…. See www.dunnethead.co.uk (linked from www.letsgonorth.com). Prize is a break for two nights in a B&B in Competa.  Sergio Fernandez of Competa has sponsored the medals.  Manuel has offered a prize of a tour.
 Three very fruitful meetings between the main sponsors – Tina Irving of LetsGoNorth and Manuel Garcia of Smart Holidays Andalucia.
 First press release sent out (January)
 Feature in the next issue of the magazine Market Place
 A number of other sponsors identified in the Competa area.
 Sales person on board for Nerja, Torrox, Torrox Costa and Almunecar.
 Part time administrator who has assisted in putting together the database.
 Promotion at Business Breakfast Club
 Promotion at Costa Women Axarquia
 Promotion in the far north of Scotland in the local press
 Work closely with WalkingWorld as partners (60,000 walkers)
 Work closely with Easyways Walking Holidays based in Scotland (3000 walkers)
 As of yesterday we have two new “hubs” in Alhama de Granada and Loja.


PLAN

North Highland Explorer – to be published mid March.  To be renamed The Explorer and be distributed in Scotland and Spain as well as digitally on subscription. 500 copies. 50% about Spain 50% about Scotland.   It will be distributed by post to 40 members of the North Highland Way.

Launch new web site at www.letsgosouth.co.uk. Now complete.

Exhibitions in selected locations to be identified.

Draw up a project plan and budget in conjunction with supporters and public services