Supporting businesses in the tourism industry
Marketing your business
There are various ways you can promote your business. Business Link provide free marketing courses to businesses and have a wealth of information on their website - please see the web link opposite. There is information on web design, branding, PR, search engine optimisation and much more.
The Marketing Donut is an online resource for small businesses that offers advice and information on marketing strategies, internet marketing, advertising, exhibitions and forums. Please see the web link opposite.
If your business is not already in the South Gloucestershire Business Directory, visit the web link opposite and complete the form.
If you have literature for your business, contact your local Tourist Information Centre (see details below) to see if they will display this for you.
There will also be numerous publications in your local area produced by a variety of organisations that you may be able to list or advertise your business in.
South Gloucestershire Council work with Destination Bristol who list events, accommodation providers and visitor attractions via their website Visit Bristol. To become a member of Destination Bristol and to find out the full benefits of joining, visit the web link opposite.
It may be an option to register your business's interest in either the London 2012 Olympics and the potential 2018 World Cup. See the web pages opposite for more information.
If your business is based in a town centre, join your local Chamber of Commerce or Business Network. For more information, contact the Communities team by emailing community_projects@southglos.gov.uk
For information on international marketing, contact Business Link, Destination Bristol and the UKTI.
Filming
South Gloucestershire Council is working to encourage the amount of filming in South Gloucestershire. Filming by production companies brings money into the local economy and supports local businesses. It also helps to put the area 'on the map' and encourages tourism. We are currently building an online library for film locations in South Gloucestershire that we hope will go live by October 2010. If you own a unique property that you would like to register, please contact us on 01454 864950.
Useful contacts
Tourist Information Centres
Thornbury
The Old Town Hall
Old Police Station
35 High Street
Thornbury
South Glos
BS35 2AR
01454 281638
Chipping Sodbury
The Clock Tower
High Street
Chipping Sodbury
South Glos
BS37 6AH
01454 888686
Grants
Grantnet is a database of around 6000 UK and EU grants. Please see the link under 'Other websites'.
Quality Assurance and National Accessibility Scheme
These schemes are relevant to accommodation providers and some other businesses. Visit England are the largest providers of the Quality Assurance Scheme and for a fee, you will be visited annually by an assessor and given a rating. Along with this rating, you will receive use of the Quality Assurance logo, free listing on various websites and a written report. For more information see the web link opposite.
The National Accessibility Scheme aims to help service providers make their services more accessible to disabled people. For more information visit the Enjoy England website opposite.
Going green
For information on how your business can 'go green' visit the Visit Britain website.
Let us know
We are always interested to hear from you and to understand the issues that are facing your business. On the top right of this page under the 'Have your say' title there is a business issues form that you can complete. This will help to guide our work and increase our comprehension of the current climate of business in the tourism sector.