Heart of Devon Members Area
Welcome to the Heart of Devon Members Area. This section of the website includes current marketing opportunities and benefits available to members, plus industry news and updates.
Exeter Visitor Strategy 2012 - 2015
The Tourism Unit of Exeter City Council are developing a new Visitor Strategy for the city that covers the period 2012 to 2015. The strategy primarily focuses on Exeter, but covers the wider area (Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership) under priority five.
We would be grateful if you could spare some of your time to comment on the new Exeter Visitor Strategy 2012 - 2015. See the links below to the draft strategy and questions to arouse some thoughts and comments. Please send your comments through by Friday 28 October for them to be included in the final version.
Exeter Visitor Strategy 2012 - 2015 Draft
Exeter Visitor Strategy - Consultation Paper
If you have any queries please contact Victoria Hatfield on 01392 265104 victoria.hatfield@exeter.gov.uk
Channel 5 want you!
A new Channel 5 TV series is currently in production. The series which features one of the UK’s most-renowned Chefs focuses on independent restaurants from all over the country. Channel 5 are looking for couples who work together to run their Eatery, which can be anything from a Restaurant, to a Cafe, Gastro pub, Bistro, Curry house and more!
New website launched!
The Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership launched a new website in June 2011. The new website has a refreshed look and improved functionality, including the ability to take online booknigs.
Accommodation providers who are currently members of the the Heart of Devon Partnership can upload their availability through the Availability Extranet. This is a simple process which just takes a little time to manage - please click on the links below to download the instructions on how to upload your availability.
Availability Extranet Quick Guide - Serviced Accommodation
Availability Extranet Quick Guide - Self-Catering Accommodation.
For online bookings taken through the Extranet, a 10% commission will be deducted from the total cost of the booking by Heart of Devon. All commission taken will be channelled back into promoting the website and the area.
Accommodation providers must sign up to the online booking terms and conditions before we can set them up with online booking.We are finding that more people are using the availability search to look for accommodation, so it is worthwhile for businesses to use this option.
If you are currently a member of the Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership and wish to request a username and password for the Extranet so you can start uploading availability, please just call us on 01392 265209 or email info@heartofdevon.com.
If you have any queries about your membership, or would like to update your website entry, please contact the Membership Services Officer on 01392 265209 or click here to email us.
Website advertising
There are plenty of opportunities for members and local businesses to get extra exposure on the Heart of Devon website. We are able to offer special rates for members on banner advertising,plus the option to be featured in the image gallery and main navigation of the website.
Please click here to download our guide to the Heart of Devon's Online Marketing Opportunities.
Marketing campaigns
As part of your membership you will receive a monthly e-newslettter from the Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership. The e-newsletter contains the latest news from us, marketing opportunities, member benefits and industry news.
We also send out a regular e-newsletter to our database of 45,000 email addresses of potential visitors. These email addresses have been captured from people who have requested a brochure from us or have signed up to our e-newsletter through our website.
The consumer e-newsletters are tied in with our marketing campaigns. Upcoming campaigns are:
Cultural breaks: Autumn 2010 - Summer 2011
Family holidays: Summer - Autumn 2011
Activity breaks: Autumn 2011
The Heart of Devon consumer e-newsletters will be tied in with these campaigns. Members are entitled to a free entry on the e-newsletters, so if you would like to be included, please contact us on 01392 265209 or email claire.toze@exeter.gov.uk.
Please click here to view our planned marketing campaigns for 2011-12.
Work with us and target more than 200,000 potential visitors
A core part of our new marketing campaign will be four sub campaigns, each targeting specific market segments, giving members the chance to gain exposure to literally hundreds of thousands of potential customers.
The first campaign will promote the Heart of Devon as the perfect destination for a cultural holiday or short break. Click here for how to get involved.
Brand guidelines
Heart of Devon recently launched new brand guidelines to help inform all future promotional campaigns. Please click here to view the Heart of Devon's brand guidelines.
Member seminar
The Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership held their first Member Seminar on Tuesday 30 November 2010 at Escot Park in Ottery Sy Mary. The event was kindly sponsored by BCR Associates.
Please click on the links below to view Powerpoint presentation from the seminar.
Heart of Devon Member Seminar - November 2010
Clockwork Marketing have produced a guide for accommodation providers on understanding social networking site Twitter, giving guidance on how to use it and get value from the service.
Click here to download the guide to Twitter for accommodation providers.
Clockwork Marketing are also delighted to be able to offer a 10% discount to Heart of Devon members on all new website builds and selected digital marketing services. Additionally they are also offering a limited number of free, online gift voucher sales trials in time for the Christmas rush.
Please visit their website for more details and for terms and conditions:
www.clock-work.co.uk/heartofdevon.
A groundbreaking initiative that promises to safeguard Britain's tourist industry from ''nightmare guests'' was launched in the UK in September 2010. The Guestscan scheme - the first of its kind in Europe - will allow accommodation owners to check customers' credentials before taking a booking through an online database of known or potential troublemakers.
Click here to read the full press release and visit www.guestscan.co.uk to find out how to join the Guestscan network.
VisitEngland have launched a free online tool to make it easier for tourism businesses to create an Access Statement. An Access Statement, which is a description of a venue’s services and facilities, helps people with access needs make an informed decision about whether an establishment can cater sufficiently for their needs.
This free tool now offers bespoke guidance according to the business type and in doing so provides operators with the information they need in order to create a robust Access Statement.
For more information see www.visitengland.com/accessstatements
Devon County Council and North Devon Plus have created a toolkit to help food and drink businesses get the best out of events and festivals. Whether you are considering exhibiting at events for the first time or have previously attended exhibitions and festivals, the toolkit gives practical hints, tips and advice to gain the best possible results.
Click here to view the Food Festival & Event Preparation Toolkit
Visit Devon are offering Banner and Skyscraper advertising slots on their website - www.visitdevon.co.uk.
Prices start from £35 for 1 month.
Click here to view a copy of the rate card.
Elavon Merchant Services are offering discounted rates on processing credit and debit cards to members of the Heart of Devon. Elavon delivers secure end-to-end debit and credit card processing - from authorisation to settlement, funding and support - to more than 1 million merchants worldwide.
Click here for more information.
The main focus of any business is to gain sales which drive profits. BCR Associates is to reduce a company’s key running costs through their close relationships with suppliers, expertise and experience.
BCR Associates are one of the UK’s leading cost reduction companies who identify hidden profit by reviewing a company’s spend on electricity, gas, telecoms, insurance, staff, finance, vehicles, and green services. They make no charge for their cost reviews which are without obligation PLUS their clients retain 100% of savings realised – BCR Associates are paid by the suppliers for the retention and acquisition of clients. Click here for more or visit www.bcrassociates-nigelcollins.co.uk.
Fair Energy is a Community Interest Company specialising in seamless, full service transition to renewable energy for domestic, commercial and public sector customers. We design, install and integrate wood fuel biomass boilers for central heating, solar PV and solar thermal hot water systems and we are MCS registered installers so our projects are eligible for the Feed in Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive.
As a Community Interest Company we have social enterprise goals. Our aim is to help eradicate fuel poverty in England and Wales and encourage secure and affordable energy to fuel our future. We help individuals and communities take control of renewable technologies to give them energy independence, lower fuel costs and lower CO2 emissions.
Click here for more information or visit www.fairenergy.co.uk.
Click here to view member discounts available to members of the Heart of Devon.
