New programme of webinars unveiled

TOURISM businesses across the Glasgow City Region are being encouraged to sign up to a series of webinars to help support their re-opening and recovery from the current coronavirus pandemic.

The programme is being offered by national tourism organisation VisitScotland, in partnership with Glasgow Life. The series of four webinars begin on Wednesday 24th June and will cover a range of topics from how tourism businesses can adapt and exploit marketing and social media in times of crisis, to understanding the concerns and demands of returning visitors, and sharing practical examples of how to address the challenges of re-opening. 

It forms part of VisitScotland’s Moment for Change programme of industry and community engagement activities, which includes tailored webinars and Q&A sessions, to support businesses to develop their own strategies to rebuild and recover. 

“These webinars are part of our national Moment for Change recovery programme, and they have been tailored for the specific needs of tourism businesses in the Glasgow area to help support their recovery and understand more about what visitors will be looking for when restrictions ease. 

“We are collaborating with partners across the country to help businesses prepare to reopen, and we are delighted to be working with Glasgow Life on this series of webinars to help re-establish this crucial part of the city’s economy.”

“All of us want to see Glasgow welcoming visitors again, and it has been great to see the drive, innovation and a true spirit of collaboration among city businesses and partners working together to get our tourism industry back on its feet.

“Tourism in Glasgow has been contributing more than £660 million to the city’s economy and supporting 30,000 jobs, so we need to do all we can to support the industry through our economic recovery.

“We’re delighted to be working with VisitScotland on this programme which will bring together our hotels, attractions, bars, restaurants and shops, and give them the practical advice they need to get ready for business again.”

The four webinars will focus on:

·         Marketing skills: social media in a time of crisis – Wednesday 24th June at 3pm. The webinar will focus on how to use social media to remain in the minds of customers and be visible when visitors start thinking about booking again. 

·         Marketing skills: creating inspiring content & distribution – Monday 29th June at 3pm. This webinar will focus on how to approach developing content, tailoring it to target markets and maximising distribution.

·         First to return (Glasgow): day visitors and those visiting friends and relatives – Monday 6th July at 3pm. This webinar will give the latest insights into visitor intentions, what the first visitors to return will be looking for, and best practice examples of how to address some of the challenges.

·         First to return (Glasgow): Scots, UK and Irish markets – Friday 10th July at 11am. This webinar will focus on the Scottish staycation, UK and Irish markets, will outline VisitScotland’s phased approach to marketing to this key domestic market for Glasgow. 

For more information and to make a booking, visit: https://www.visitscotland.org/events/industry-events/events-training