Blog

  • Thursday, 02 February 2012 By Adrian Greason-Walker | Comments: 0

    A busy start to 2012

    It has been a busy start to 2012, with Wales Tourism Alliance working hard throughout to keep you informed about the issues and policies that affect your tourism business and to influence government at either end of the M4 to ensure legislation and business support provides the best possible trading conditions for everyone. Alongside partners such as Wales Association of Self Catering Operators, we have brought about a reversal of the decision to impose unnecessary 'red tape' in the form of energy performance certification on self-catering providers. We have seen significant... Read More
  • Rural Tourism
    Tuesday, 10 January 2012 By Chris Osborne | Comments: 3

    Pete Bursnall, RIP

    It is with great regret that last week saw the death of Pete Bursnall. He was a man for all seasons, a true polyglot: an author of cycle, walking and climbing routes and much more again; an avid photographer; an active activity user, from kayaking to mountain biking to mountaineering to mountain walking, he was the very best promoter of Wales' natural environment; a respected spokesman and representative for numerous tourism clusters and organisations, including Welsh Government's recently discarded Ministerial Tourism Advisory Panel and, indeed, the Wales Tourism Alliance's own... Read More
  • General Tourism
    Saturday, 31 December 2011 By Chris Osborne | Comments: 0

    Happy New Year

    So what does 2012 have in store for us? I think we can rely on difficult trading conditions, reducing customer confidence, increasing unemployment and concerns about the ability of Wales, UK and the Western World’s economies to provide for their electorates. Meanwhile the debate about Europe, the Euro and should we be in or out – shake it all about – of either or both will run and …… run. So that’s the backdrop. We will have a better idea about Welsh Government’s approach to the newly promoted tourism, as informed by... Read More
  • Training & Development
    Friday, 09 December 2011 By Chris Osborne | Comments: 0

    Skill Summit - 9th December 2011 – Cardiff and Vale College, Barry

    In amongst teachers and lecturers from FE, HE and schools across Wales, WTA’s Chair and Chief Executive attended this first People 1st Go! Convention in Wales to show what initiatives are being played out in our country. Chaired by People 1st’s Council Member from Wales, Philip Lay, Retail Director of SA Brain and Chair of the new People 1st Employers’ Panel, the summit featured presentations from:- People 1st ‘s Phil Raynsford – Strategy, Vision and Delivery of People 1st in Wales Phil Raynsord accompanied by Kevin Potts (Coleg Lladrillo), Judith Williams (Neath Port... Read More
  • General Tourism
    Thursday, 24 November 2011 By David Edwards (Visit Britain) | Comments: 0

    A Trip to Wales

    Well I've now managed to visit all four of the nations that make up the United Kingdom this year, having been kindly invited to give a presentation at the recent Wales Tourism Alliance conference in Llandrindod Wells. For the unenlightened among those who for whatever reason have found themselves reading this entry, Llandrindod Wells in pretty much slap bang in the middle of Wales – though maybe a bit nearer the south coast than the north. Regular readers will know that my eyesight isn’t all that great, so I’m reliant upon dear... Read More
  • Daylight Saving
    Tuesday, 01 November 2011 By Adrian Greason-Walker | Comments: 3

    Good time for a debate on daylight saving?

    Wales Tourism Alliance members could be asked what they think about proposals to put clocks forward by an hour for a three-year trial period. The Westminster Government is asking its counterparts in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland for their views on the proposal in the Daylight Savings Private Members' Bill put forward by Conservative MP Rebecca Harris. It calls for a review of the potential costs and benefits of advancing the clocks by one hour and, if the review recommends it, a trial period. Ms Harris says her Bill is about "moving... Read More
  • Economic Renewal Programme
    Wednesday, 26 October 2011 By Chris Osborne | Comments: 0

    We need clarity on the advisory panel remit

    The Minister’s decision over the summer to make tourism a priority economic sector was welcomed by the industry, but the decision to dissolve the established tourism advisory panel closed an important channel for advice and guidance being presented to the Minister. Let us hope that the newly appointed panel will be able to contribute to that role but I guess we must await its finalised remit. While some members of the new panel are drawn from within the tourism sector, which is to be welcomed, we understand that a change... Read More
  • Licencing
    Tuesday, 13 September 2011 By Chris Osborne | Comments: 0

    The Price of Music

    Some would say music is priceless. As a lover of music and, in particular, blues and jazz (in that order), I have always been a zealous controller of any music that is played in my hotel. Sure, there are some who don’t ‘get it’ and if I were to be totally truthful, none of our staff seem to be that bothered about musical standards. So, I set the standards and only my sourced music can be played. Simple. Then there is PPL, aka (a very dated) Phonographic Performance Limited. “If... Read More
  • Licencing
    Wednesday, 31 August 2011 By Adrian Greason-Walker | Comments: 0

    PPL proposed above inflation increase to the Specially Featured Entertainment Tariff!

    Phonographic Performance Limited – PPL (which licences the public broadcasting of music) is proposing changing the way in which it charges for the use of music under its Specially Featured Entertainment Tariff. If these proposals go through, unchallenged, then it will almost certainly mean increases to tariffs for Specially Featured Entertainment licences. These licenses apply wherever a DJ plays recorded music and there is the expectation of dancing that is if it is not background music. While this will mainly apply to pubs and nightclubs, it can apply to a... Read More
  • Marketing
    Wednesday, 17 August 2011 By Chris Osborne | Comments: 0

    Temptation

    In the aftermath of England’s urban challengers, noone is going to suggest that a Welsh holiday is always safe, that the Sons of Owain Glyndwr have transmogrified into Albion’s dissatisfied yoof, that all that patient Olympic build up, celebrating one year away, has been tarnished although for most of us it will matter not one row of beans. No, noone would be so heartless, nimbyistic or blinkered. Meanwhile, I have just returned from making a commitment to the economy of Brecon by enjoying not one but – this year for... Read More
Page
Previous
Previous
1
2Next
Next 9
Blog
Meetings & Events
More Events
Commentary
  • Good time for a debate on daylight saving? As the country containing Greenwich, it seems ludicrous to abandon GMT in favour of CET, especially as we are not...
    24 January 2012
  • Pete Bursnall, RIP Pete was one of the finest people you could have known and I'm proud to have been able to call...
    24 January 2012
  • Pete Bursnall, RIP Hugely saddened by the loss of this admirable man so young. Have twice enjoyed the Snowdon Circular so beautifully described in...
    21 January 2012