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DACIC Business Group Meeting. 15 th January 2018. Agenda. 2:00 pm Looking after your Staff 2:30 pm New Data Protection Regulations 3:00 pm Tea/Coffee networking 3:15 pm Review of 2017 season 3:45 pm Planning for 2018 season 4:15 pm Tax Free Shopping
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DACIC Business Group Meeting 15th January 2018
Agenda 2:00 pm Looking after your Staff 2:30 pm New Data Protection Regulations 3:00 pm Tea/Coffee networking 3:15 pm Review of 2017 season 3:45 pm Planning for 2018 season 4:15 pm Tax Free Shopping 4:30 pm WorldHost training & renewals
Review of 2017 season • No grant aid • Membership levy for salaries • Lucy Williams 12 hours per week Digital Marketing • Lou Rollason & Maggie Seatter Visitor Centre job share 12:30 -4:30 • Lucy Wright - Dornoch Ambassador met 13,900 passengers on 329 coaches • Winter opening of Visitor Centre 1:30-3:30 on trial basis
Marketing initiatives • Food & Drink leaflet • P & J on-line NC500 advert • Donald Ross Leaflet • Bedroom Folder • Dornoch Leaflet • NC500 Map advert • MFR & NT for Late Night Shopping/St Andrew’s Fair • Video for Cruise Liner Market (with support from HIE)
New businesses & expansions • Eagle Hotel upgrade • Dornoch Distillery produces its first gin • Dornoch Stores • Cocoa Mountain • Lily & Roux • Glenshiel extension to Links House
Awards & Recognitions • Carnegie Whisky Cellars - Scottish Independent Retailers Award - Off Licence of the Year • Links House - HITA Restaurant Experience of The Year • Courthouse Cafe was finalist in Cafe of the Year Award • Dornoch was featured as a good example of Community Tourism at the Strengthening Communities Conference
Annual Survey • We will shortly be sending out the annual survey to quantify 2017 month by month, so please support us by providing • Bed nights • Food covers • % change in turnover • Visitor numbers in attractions
Planning for 2018 Season • Over to Business Group members • Dornoch Castle • Dornoch Distillery • Golf Club • Historylinks • Royal Golf Apartments • Royal Golf Hotel open March & November
Marketing Plan • Dornoch double page advert in northern Highlands Bedroom folders • Dornoch 2018 leaflet distribution Inverness & Loch Ness • Potential for shared advert in Port of Call Cruise Liner magazine • Updated you are here maps & printed maps (advertising opportunity) • Closer links with cruise liner ground handlers with aim of “Dornoch Alone” trips • On going digital marketing
Members Feedback • What else would you like to see DACIC do in 2018?
Strategic Review • Business Group Levy - covers summer operation of Visitor Centre, but winter cover is coming out of the balance in the Courthouse fund, so is not sustainable • As well as the staff time, Joan puts in at least 2.5 days per week, which is not sustainable • We need to generate more income to secure the future • Potential to take over the caravan park • Project CURLEW - curling rink, fitness suite, wedding venue. Application to Scottish Land Fund for Business Planning Support in first instance • Work more closely with Community Council and DADCA • Potential application to Common Good for shared community development officer • Consider options for the Police Station - e.g. offices • Other ideas?
Tax Free – Cash Back Centre • Potential for Tax Free “cash back” centre in Dornoch - only one on NC500 • Non EU visitors • Advance refund on VAT purchases • Michael Hanratty has been spearheading this • Location to be decided - Jail Dornoch?
WorldHost • Business Accreditation lasts 2 years • Individual accreditation last 3 years • Most of the training was done in 2014 & 2015 • Follow up training can be done by DACIC or in-house • Businesses need to ensure half of their customer facing staff have an up to date training record • Destination status renewal is in July