The Border Tart

2/7/07
Hello! We hope you are all surviving the ‘wash out’ that is the summer. Surely this cannot go on for much longer!

NNTA SECRETARY

We are sorry to say that John Murphy has stood down as Secretary to the NNTA after 9 years of loyal service to us and are very grateful for his huge contribution to the association.

Tina Mulvey has agreed to become Secretary with the help of committee member Jae Jones as full back up. Tina can be contacted on 01890 820647 or email tinahayfarm@tiscali.co.uk.

LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION

The committee would like to apologise for the disruption in the continuity of the distribution run. We are really very sorry for this breakdown and by way of recompense we will be doing the July, August, and September runs free of charge. We very much hope that this will go someway to giving you confidence in us, to carry on doing the job for you.

NEW WEBSITE

The new look is coming along fantastically well. It is looking really fresh and will invite the would be visitor to spend some time on the site. We have quite a few images of the area but it would be great if any of you out there had any scenic photographs of the area or local beauty spots that we could use. If you wouldn’t mind letting us use them then please email them to tinahayfarm@tiscali.co.uk (please make subject line NNTA) in JPEG format if possible. Please make sure that images you send to us are definitely not subject to any copyright laws!!

We really need up to date information and photo’s for your business, so please, once again, send them to tinahayfarm@tiscali.co.uk There should be space on your page for 1 large photo and 3 or 4 smaller ones. You will get a link to your web site if you have one and would ask that you put a link on yours to www.nnta.org The more links we have to the NNTA site the better the search engines will like the site, which in turn will rate it higher and all our businesses will have a better chance of being seen. If you don’t have a web site then this is a great opportunity to advertise your business on the net. SO PLEASE GET THE INFO TO US, THIS IS YOUR SITE, PLEASE USE IT!

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE

This continues to be well distributed and we have very positive feedback about it. We are already thinking about the next edition, can you believe that! You can get more copies from;

Elaine Lang at Tillmouth Park Hotel, tel: 01890 882255
Sandra Thornton at 4, North Road Berwick, tel: 01289 306146
Anne Park at The Tankerville Arms, Wooler, tel: 01668 281581

If you have a problem collecting them, then contact a committee member and we will arrange for them to be dropped off for you.

FAMILIARISATION VISITS

Over the years these visits have proved to be very popular but just recently the numbers have dwindled. It is difficult to organise these at a time to suit everyone and of course the visits are usually to places that are only open in the ‘season’ when we are all really tied up with our own businesses. We would really like to carry on with these visits as it gives us all a chance to meet up and have a chat as well as seeing first hand an attraction that we can then recommend. If you have an idea for a familiarisation visit then please contact us. We were thinking of choosing dates for next year and publishing them in advance so that you could at least pencil those in that you would like to join. Let us know what your thoughts on this are.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

If you have forgotten to pay your subs yet this year, it would be much appreciated if you can let Sandra Thornton have them as soon as possible.

DEADLINES

If you have anything you would like bringing up at the next committee meeting please contact Tina Mulvey or Jae Jones by the 23rd July.

If you would like to contribute or share news, views or just something amusing with other members via the ‘Border Tart’ newsletter the deadline for this will be the 27th.July. Same contact as above.

Regards
NNTA Committee

TOURISM NORTH EAST SURVEY RESULTS PUBLISHED

A region-wide visitor survey was carried out between October 2005 and September 2006 and the results are now available on the Tourism North East website.

The survey involved over 2500 face to face interviews carried out at locations across the region. To read the regional report and the four sub-regional reports click on this link:

http://www.tourismnortheast.co.uk/

North Northumberland Tourism Association

Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting held at Berwick Borough Council Committee Rooms on Friday 25 May 2007

Present
Derek Smibert (Chairman), Elaine Lang (Vice-Chairman), Sandra Thornton (Treasurer),
Jae Jones, Carol Lang, Ruth McNeely, Tina Mulvey, Jackie Maxwell and Anne Park.

1. Apologies for absence
Iain Hedley, John Murphy and Lorna Suthren.

2. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters arising
a) Charging for the Essential Touring Guide: In view of Northumberland Tourism’s number one key aim for business development “to help Tourism Associations achieve their ambitions” EL suggested that the NNTA might approach N’ld Tourism for funding towards future issues. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to N’ld Tourism to this effect. (EL action)

b) ST has printed labels to attach to the front of the Essential Touring Guide so that they can be sold to/by non-members at 50p per copy. They have been circulated to the TIC’s.

c) RM reported that The Book Shop on Bridge Street has offered to sell the Essential Touring Guide for 50p per copy with no commissions. The issue of other venues was discussed but as there may be problems with VAT and commissions, it was decided that the Guides should be sold by the Bridge Street Book Shop as a trial and that Committee members should make enquiries at their local outlets to see if they will sell the Guides. (Action all)

d) It was agreed that NNTA members should be reminded that the Guides are freely available to them. (include in Border Tart)

e) JJ reported that Helen had not received any contact from J Murphy re. the distribution run and she was not sure if it had been completed. DS would make enquiries. (Action DS)

f) EL queried whether the letter had been sent to the council asking about the future for tourism in the Borough.

4. Chairman’s report
a) An invitation had been received to attend the preview of the Seahouses Seafield Restaurant in Seahouses on Thursday 7 June 2007 from 2pm to 4pm. Anyone wishing to attend should confirm their attendance by Monday 4 June. EL to post the Restaurant details on the website. (Action EL)

b) ST, CL and J Maxwell are working on an up-to-date database of email addresses for NNTA members. It was decided that RM will consolidate the database before the next meeting and she will ensure that CL has a copy. (Action RM)

5. Treasurer’s report
ST updated the committee on the Association’s finances.

6. Secretary’s report
There was no report available.

7. Website
a) EL produced a report on a meeting held at Tillmouth Park Hotel with Jason from Sound Ideas which was attended by JJ, EL, TM and AP. After much discussion, it was decided that, taking into account the fixed yearly fee for web name hosting, the way forward for the website was for a full overhaul, then a monthly payment to Sound Ideas for the upkeep of the site. (DS congratulated AP for negotiating with Sound Ideas and also the sub-committee on their report). AP agreed to contact Jason and invite him to the next meeting with presentations of suggested new formats for the site. (Action AP)

b) NNTA members should be encouraged to have reciprocal weblinks from their own sites to www.nnta.org (include in Border Tart)

8. Familiarisation visits
A) It has been noted that there were poor turnouts at Manderston and The Hirsel. It was felt that members should be made more aware of the networking opportunities at these events. As a result AP suggested that the Border Tart should be issued regularly and that J Murphy should be assisted with this and the many other tasks he undertakes. TM will produce a Border Tart as soon as possible with the assistance of EL. (Action TM)

B) An event to launch the new website combined with leaflet distribution was discussed and EL offered to host a Strawberries or Canapés with Fizz Night at Tillmouth Park.

9. Any other business
a) EL reported that she had attended a workshop regarding the newly refurbished Coldstream Marriage Rooms and that Barbara Huddart was involved in its promotion. The intention is to market Coldstream as the Gretna of the East and that both Edinburgh and Gretna registry offices have agreed to refer couples to Coldstream when they are full. (include in Border Tart)

b) EL had received contact regarding the Berwick Film Festival in September 2007 and, with the agreement of the committee, had offered the NNTA’s full support. (include in Border Tart)

c) EL had received an email regarding a new tourism association currently being set up in the Scottish Borders. It was agreed that EL should write a letter on behalf of the NNTA offering our full support. (Action EL)

d) CL reported that she has been in discussions with VisitScotland since they removed Berwick from their website map and she is concerned about the future of cross-border working.

e) J Maxwell reported she had attended a ‘Made in Northumberland’ meeting at Alnwick Gardens attended by local producers and arranged by Northumberland Tourism.

10. Date of next meeting
This was agreed as Thursday 28 June 2007 at the Tankerville Arms with Jason from Sound Ideas in attendance.

Click here for News Archive

[top of page]