Meetings & Events
Tourism Ministers Meet
Alun Ffred Jones, the Assembly Government’s Minister for Tourism welcomed John Penrose MP, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Minister for Tourism and Heritage, to Wales when the two men met for the first time on 6 August to discuss the importance of tourism to the Welsh economy.
A range of issues were discussed at the Celtic Manor Resort, the venue for October’s Ryder Cup and Mr Jones said “I was very interested to discuss a number of issues with the Minister that will allow us to work constructively together in order to provide support to Wales’s tourist industry. I am particularly keen to develop our relationship with Visit Britain, explore digital marketing opportunities and ensure that Wales is fully represented as the UK looks forward to London 2012.”
FHL Consultation Meeting – 2 September
The WTA and WASCO will be holding a joint meeting to discuss the proposals and proposed changes to the special tax rules for furnished holiday lettings at 11.00 on 2 September at Tourism Partnership Mid Wales offices, Y Plas, Machynlleth.
There has already been a great deal of discussion between our partners across the UK and the Coalition Government to get the consultation proposals to this stage so we will be looking for a consensus view point which we can all sign up to. The consultation runs until 22 October; the scope of the consultation is on proposals to ensure the tax rules for furnished holiday lettings are fully compliant with EU law and are better targeted at businesses that are run commercially for profit rather than for personal use. The proposals are to:
• increase the minimum period over which a qualifying property is available to let to the public during a year from 140 to 210 days
• increase the minimum period over which a qualifying property is actually let to the public during a year from 70 days to 105 days
• restrict the use of loss relief from furnished holiday lettings so it can only be set against certain income from the same business
• a loss from a UK qualifying furnished holiday lettings business should only be available to set against future profits from that UK qualifying furnished holiday lettings business
• a loss from an EEA qualifying furnished holiday lettings business should only be available to set against future profits from that EEA qualifying furnished holiday lettings business.
The Government will publish its response by the end of the year and intends to implement the changes in the 2011 Budget. The paper can be downloaded from: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_holiday_lettings.htm
Chefs’ Night Out – 4 September
A charity event at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff on 4 September will bring together top chefs and restaurants in aid of Ty Hafan, the children’s hospice for Wales. Fifteen of Wales’ finest chefs will be cooking exclusively for each table; for all the details, go to – www.chefsnightout.co.uk.
'Welcome to The 2010 Ryder Cup' Training Course in Pembrokeshire – 7 September
For accommodation providers or anyone expecting visitors as a result of the Ryder Cup, a free training course, 'Welcome to The 2010 Ryder Cup' will be held at the Wolfscastle Country Hotel, Wolfscastle, near Haverfordwest on 7 September.
The Ryder Cup is the largest sporting event to come to Wales, and ensuring a Warm Welsh Welcome is received by all visitors for the event is a great way to show the world what Wales has to offer.
In order to help you do this, Capital Region Tourism is offering Free 'Welcome to The 2010 Ryder Cup' training to businesses welcoming Ryder Cup visitors.
For anyone welcoming Ryder Cup visitors but unable to commit to the full Croeso Cynnes programme, 'Welcome to The 2010 Ryder Cup' offers an alternative, and the opportunity to ensure they are ready to offer our Ryder Cup visitors a Welcome to do Wales proud, resulting in repeat visitors both for businesses and Wales.
The course aims to reinforce previous customer service training and provide key information about The Ryder Cup, Wales, Newport and its surrounding areas in an informative, interactive and enjoyable manner- resulting in an improved visitor experience.
'Welcome to The 2010 Ryder Cup' is a stand-alone course, available in a range of timescales between 11.00 and 15.30 to suit everyone’s needs (4 hours, 45 minutes and 15 minutes); from accommodation providers to taxi companies, attractions to event staff, there's a course to suit your business.
It's simply a case of booking your place on the course below and� attending, or if you can put 10 or more staff through the course, we can arrange the session to take place 'in-house' at your premises and specifically for your staff!
For more information to book your place on the course, or to enquire about arranging an 'in-house' course, please contact Chris Allen at Capital Region Tourism on 02920 599221 or 07816890457; email chris.allen@capitalregiontourism.org or visit the website: www.croesocynnes.org/rydercupwelcome.
Tour of Britain Cycle Race Stage in Wales – 13 September
100 of the world’s top cyclists from 17 top professional international teams will take on the challenge of The Tour of Britain in 2010, which will start in the north west of England on Saturday 11 September and finish in London the following weekend, on Saturday 18 September. The stage in Wales is 150km long and runs from Newtown to Swansea and a group of local schoolchildren will lead the peloton out to start the race at around 10.30 on Monday, 13 September.
From Newtown, the stage will head south down the A483 to Llandrindod Wells and on to Builth Wells. The Tour will then continue on this road south west through Llanwrtyd Wells and onto Llandovery.
The riders will then turn south over the Black Mountain on the A4069; from the summit there is then 40km to go via Pontardawe and after a tough stage the peloton will head up Constitution Hill for the finish in Swansea.
British Road Race Champion and Olympic gold medallist, Geraint Thomas has said he is looking forward to competing in his home country in The Tour of Britain; it is the first time the event has visited Wales since 2004. Geraint, who recently returned from a successful second Tour de France, will compete as part of strong Team Sky that also includes fellow Olympian, Bradley Wiggins.
Welsh Assembly Government, Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones said hosting a stage of The Tour of Britain was another sporting coup for Wales.
“As part of our work to develop a major events strategy we have identified cycling as a priority target area for future support and development because it helps achieve a number of objectives in our sustainability, physical activity and tourism agendas.
Being a partner in British Cycling’s ambition to take Olympic track cycling success onto the road and to make The Tour of Britain one of the world’s top ten road races will hopefully encourage more people in Wales to take up sport. The event will provide invaluable exposure for Wales to an international TV audience.
Based on the evidence from the regional stage races in 2009 we estimate that a Wales stage of The Tour will generate an additional £3-4 million for the local economy.”
Commenting on the Welsh stage, Tour of Britain technical director, Mick Bennett said “We’ve created a very tough stage, with the two hardest climbs of the entire Tour coming in the final 50 kilometres. Knowing the reputation of Constitution Hill in Swansea, I am sure cycling fans will flock from all over to see riders tackle the cobbled climb, which will prove decisive in who wins in Swansea."
South Wales Shoreline Management Plan 2 Consultation & September Exhibitions
The Lavernock Point (south of Cardiff) to St Ann’s Head (west of Milford Haven) Shoreline Management Plan (SMP2) provides a large-scale assessment of the risks associated with coastal erosion and flooding along the coast and estuaries along the south coast of Wales. It defines high level policies to help manage these risks to people and to the developed, historic and natural environment in a sustainable manner.
The draft SMP2 document is available for review on the SMP2 web-site www.southwalescoast.org.
The Main Document provides an overview of how the SMP2 has been developed and Annex 1 comprises SMP2 Policy Statements, which define the preferred SMP2 policies for each of 21 Policy Units (length of coast/estuary). This is the most important document to review since it defines the future policies for coastal erosion and flood risk management along the coast. For the list of Policy Units refer to Figure A.1 and Table A.1 at the back of the User Guide.
Public consultation is being undertaken between September and December 2010. A series of public exhibitions will be held in September 2010 to present the draft Shoreline Management Plan for the local coastline.
Representatives from the local authority and the Environment Agency Wales will be available to listen to views and answer queries.
Public exhibitions will be held at the following venues between 12 noon and 8pm:
Barry - Monday 6 September - Memorial Hall, Gladstone Road
Porthcawl - Tuesday 7 September - Seabank Hotel, Esplanade
Swansea - Wednesday 8 September - Grand Theatre
Llanelli - Friday 10 September - Discovery Centre, North Dock
Carmarthen - Monday 13 September - Carmarthen Library
Pendine - Tuesday 14 September - Museum of Speed
Tenby - Wednesday 15 September - De Valence, Upper Frog Street
Pembroke - Thursday 16 September - Town Hall
Milford Haven - Friday 17 September - Murray Suite, Town Hall
Port Talbot - Thursday 23 September - Sandfields Young Business Centre
Comments need to be provided to by 6 December and should be emailed to SouthWalesSMP2@halcrow.com
SW Wales Marketing Mix Roadshow – 28 September
Starting at 10.30 on 28 September at the LC, Swansea, the South West Roadshow will take a closer look at the marketing opportunities that are available to businesses, with a focus on the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry.
There will be presentations, breakout sessions, and exhibitors from both the public and private sectors that offer business support, advice and marketing services.
If you would like to attend as an exhibitor or as a delegate, please visit www.regionalroadshows.co.uk or call Tourism Swansea Bay 01792 403339 for more information; booking for this event is essential as it includes lunch.
Swansea Bay Tourism Awards 2010 – 11 November
Get you entries in! Any tourism, leisure or hospitality business from the Swansea Bay area can now enter the Swansea Bay Tourism Awards or you can nominate your favourite! Simply visit www.swanseabaytourismawards.co.uk and follow the links or call Tourism Swansea Bay on 01792 403339 for more information.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Brangwyn Hall on the 11 November.
Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards – 11 March 2011
A date for your Diary – the Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards will be held on Friday 11 March, 2011 (just preceding Wales Tourism Week), at the stunning entertainments venue at Kiln Park, Tenby.