News from the North

Congratulations to Sean Taylor, double celebration at the recent Daily Post Awards, Sean won Business Person of the Year and Zip World won best Start Up category.

Congratualtions also goes to Bodnant Food winning the North Wales Tourism Award.  

Finalists were annouced this week for the National Tourism Awards for Wales, held next year at the Vale Resort, Hensol on 25 March 2015.  There is a wide ranging mix of businesses on the shorlist with North Wales well represented.  Take a look at the list of finalists

Regional support

The Regional Tourism Engagement Fund has been set up to support destinations within the North Wales region. Funds have been allocated up until March 2015 but another round of funding will be available from April 2015. All projects are aligned to our Partnership for Growth strategy and will play a part in achieving our target of 10% growth by 2020. 

Andrew and Ceri work closely with the rest of the Visit Wales team and as your first point of contact we are happy to discuss any queries you may have about this fund. 

Key projects funded in North Wales region

Here's a reminder of some of the current tourism projects in the North Wales area.

Tourism Investment Support Scheme (TISS)  Last year support from TISS totalling £1.9 million was approved supporting 33 projects in total. Here are some of the highlights for North Wales: 450k was approved for Kinmel Manor Hotel, Abergele to upgrade to a 4 star quality and create a spa. 255k was approved for a 4 line Zip World experience at Llechwedd Slate Caverns Blaenau Ffestiniog, supporting the developing centre of excellence destination status.

Wales Economic Growth Fund Always Aim High Events Ltd, Gwynedd purchased new premises. £72, 200 funding approved, 5 jobs were created and 4 jobs safeguarded. Black Boy Inn, Gwynedd received £100,000 to operate 12 additional bedrooms. 10 jobs were created.

Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) Following the severe weather over the winter period, Visit Wales administered £2.3 million from the TIF fund to repair affected tourism infrastructure around Wales. We also supported proactive PR to ensure the message that Wales is open for business was communicated. The promenade in Deganwy was one of the worst effected areas in Conwy. Conwy was awarded £493k to repair the promenade in Deganwy, wheelchair, cycle and slipway access.

Supported through the tourism sector Surf Snowdonia is a strategic investment project funded by Welsh Government of which TISS is a core funding package.  This innovative new development at Dolgarrog will feature a 300m surfing lagoon and supporting attractions, creating at least 43 jobs. This project is now at an advanced stage.

Coastal Communitites Fund The Anglesey Sea Salt Company Limited received £191,817 to build a Halen Môn Salt-Cote visitor centre. Work is about to start on a new production plant and visitor centre. The new salt cote will create at least five new jobs, taking the workforce from 17 to 22, and aims to attract 20,000 visitors a year.

Partnership for Growth (P4G) fund

This fund promotes joint working and collaborative projects to support sustainable tourism development. 

We have supported projects with various partners in North Wales, for example The Snowdonia National Park the regional AONBs and Snowdonia Active will be delivering a programme of projects to forge stronger links between each designated landscape and the tourism sector. 

The Canal and River Trust will be working with partners to deliver a joined up visitor experience across the 11 mile corridor which makes up the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

Environment for Growth (E4G)

Coastal tourism and sustainable tourism are the two main focus for Visit Wales with projects totalling over £35 million since 2010, developing 7 iconic Centres of Excellence in Wales as well as coastal improvements along our beaches. 

In North Wales the National Trust at Aberdaron is a prime example of how we are helping to improve the visitor experience . This £3.3m project has seen over £1.5m of  ERDF funds help drive this project forward.  Developments include Henfaes accommodation and the new Aberdaron Centre of Excellence Visitor Centre, 'Porth y Swnt' as well as improved access and parking to beach/coast in Aberdaron. 

Another example has been the Eryri Centre of Excellence. This is a  £4,606,467 project which has been the beneficiary of £2m of ERDF funding. The One Big Adventure is the brand for the Eryri Centre of Excellence.  Projects include a fishing centre with Prysor Angling at Trawsfynydd.  Mountain biking trails and visitor centre extension at Coed y Brenin, Dolgellau.  New downhill mountain biking trails and new visitor centre at Blaenau Ffestiniog and new accommodation provision for the family market at Glan Llyn, Bala.

The North Wales Cycling Centre of Excellence includes visitor improvements and facilities at the Welsh Water site LLyn Brenig near Corwen, Natural trails and iconic routes developed and improved throughout Denbighshire and Conwy with further mountain biking trails at Marsh Tracks.

Destination partnership updates

We have six destination partnerships across North Wales; 

• Destination Anglesey Partnership
• Destination Denbighshire
• Destination Conwy  
• Destination Flintshire 
• Destination Gwynedd
• Destination Wrexham
  
  

These partnerships are crucial to developing the destinations within North Wales. We will be working very closely with all six partnerships and have already allocated funding to the partnerships up until March 2015, through our Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF) to deliver projects on the ground from generating PR for destinations to updating visitor facilities and interpretation.   

Regional Tourism Engagement Fund

The new Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF), mentioned earlier in this newsletter was set up in October and all tourism destinations partnerships were invited to submit applications for support until 31 March 2015.  26 applications have been approved totalling £426,000 for whole of Wales.  In the North Wales region £123,229 was awarded to 6 destinations for activities such as: marketing, destination development, skills activities, database management, engagement and partnership support. More details of these projects will be in the next newsletter.

How we can help your business

Tourism Investment Support Scheme (TISS) TISS is a grant for new and existing Welsh tourism businesses looking to upgrade the quality of facilities and increase capacity where there is a gap in the market. We offer up to 25% funding for projects, from £5,000 to £500,000.

Visit Wales star grading scheme Stars are a recognised sign of quality and provide reassurance to guests that you’ve been fully inspected before they check in.  We know for a fact that guests consider star quality grading important when choosing somewhere to stay.  Apply online now.

Let's work together Ensure your tourism business or related event appears in our on site searches. Engage with us via social media – primarily Facebook and Twitter. Help us create content about all the great things going on in Wales

Destination Management Wales website A website for all those involved in the development of tourism destinations and the delivery of the visitor experience. You'll find information on your role in creating a successful destination, who else is involved and where they fit in, lots of links to useful sites and sample destination management tools.

Need general support for your business?  Business Wales provide business support to people starting, running and growing a business. Support for business includes information, advice and guidance  Call 03000 6 03000

Search for funding This section within the Business Wales website allows you to search for grants, special loans and awards for which your business or start-up may be eligible.