The first Open Meeting of 2005 will take place on 11th January at 12 noon in the new Swansea Bay Ramada Encore.  Please do try to attend as you will have the chance to hear of our plans for the year ahead and have your say on how we develop together as an association.  Come along and tell us your thoughts and feelings, and let us know the issues you would like to see addressed.

The Ramada Encore is a vibrant new hotel and by hosting our first 2005 meeting they are inviting other tourism businesses in the area to have a look around and see how they are doing business.  As you drive to the hotel you will undoubtedly notice the beginnings of the exciting SA1 Developments and in fitting with this we have arranged for a guest speaker to tell us all about this project and give you the opportunity to have any questions answered.

In addition to this, we have another guest speaker.  As you will already know we will be introducing an on-line booking system this year to the website so coming along to fully explain this is the Area Manager of Active Hotels.

As always we will have a networking session and a buffet lunch so we look forward to seeing you there!

Following on from last years Trade Open Days, which many members attended, Tourism Swansea are now beginning to organise another set of these for Easter time of this year.  We are looking to develop the most successful days from last year as well as expanding possibilities around a new formula.

These days are designed to get you out and about amongst the local attractions, to spend some time in the shoes of visitors to the area and to ensure you are familiar with what is on offer within the industry. 

Accommodation Providers – how can you recommend your guests to visit a specific attraction if you don’t have first hand experience of the place?  Its important to be familiar with what is available. 

Activity Providers and Attractions – How can you market yourself effectively if you don’t know what else is out there?  Its important for you to know your competition and maybe even learn from how they operate.

We want to know where/what you would like to see included in the Trade Open Day programme.  Give Beth in the Tourism Swansea office your suggestions on 01792 403333 or e-mail her on

Heritage of Wales

Make Heritage work for you! Come along to our seminar for an opportunity to see just how important heritage is to tourism in Wales and to get tips on how you can make use of heritage themes yourself.  The seminar will look at the place of heritage in WTB strategies, identify sources of help and information and also give practical examples about how simple and affordable ideas can work for your business.

Date: Thursday 20th January
Venue: Parc le Breos House, Parkmill, Gower, Swansea
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Registration Fee: Non Tourist Association Member £14.50, Tourist Association Member £7.25

You can book your place on-line at or alternatively contact Michelle Evans on 07977 989724 or email

ICT SEMINAR -

MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION

With the new year come many exciting plans for events in the area so please remember that Tourism Swansea have available a marketing grant to assist with budget restrictions.  This grant can be used for marketing purposes i.e. to ensure that your event is filled to its maximum capacity and is the success it deserves to be.

Getting your hands on this grant couldn’t be easier – simply call Beth in the office on 01792 403333 who will send out an application form to you and give you assistance with its completion.

Reminder No.1
Member Benefit Packs are an important part of your membership, providing you with much needed helpful information and many useful money saving discounts.  Not all members have collected these yet - if you do not yet have your benefit pack please call the office on 01792 403333 to arrange collection.

Reminder No. 2
Another important part of membership is your micro site on the Tourism Swansea Website.  Some members have still not submitted the necessary details for the development of their micro site – if this applies to you then please organise with Beth (403333) how you can have your micro site up and running in time for Summer 2005 bookings.  Members, who already have a complete micro site, please review its content and decide if you wish to make any changes for 2005.  If you do then please let Beth know ASAP of the changes.

The first e-Try participants have now successfully completed their allocated time session with the e-Try computer.  Having had the computer at their own home now for several weeks Rosemary and David Rees, from Aberlogin Fawr Farm, feel much more confident with carrying out basic tasks and the idea of using a computer no longer gives them nightmares!!  They have spent time with our IT specialist Corliss who offers patient tuition to e-Try participants and both Rosemary and David say 'we would never have taken the first step to learn how to use a computer if it was not for this scheme and Corliss makes learning so easy'.

We are now ready for the next eTry 'victim' so if you fancy taking part then please get in touch with Beth to make the neccessary arangements, 01792 403333.

This was a new scheme introduced in the last few months of 2004.  In return for introducing a new member to Tourism Swansea we will reward you with £30 off your next membership fees.  This is a fantastic way to eliminate another cost from your budget for this year!

For most members, membership renewal will take place in early summer so by introducing enough new members before then, you may even manage to cover all of your own membership fees by using the Reward Scheme and have another years membership completely free!!  And remember should you introduce a number of new members which over compensates your membership fees then Tourism Swansea will give you £30 in CASH.

Just think how many businesses you are in contact with every day and how easy it could be to introduce them to Tourism Swansea and then think of the savings that could mean for you ££££££££!!!!!

The handy hints sections returns! Every month we will give you a little thought to consider in the way you run your business, perhaps some you may already be doing and others may be simple things you had never thought of.  These are all taken from “B and B Success” – a popular book amongst the industry which is available to Tourism Swansea members at the special price of £9.99.  Ask Beth for more details…

December Suggestion – All Year Round
They come and stay with you.  You like them, they like you.  They have a good time and they go away.  They say they’ll come back.  You never hear from them again.

What a pity, if only you’d kept in touch, they’d have been back like a shot.  They’ve probably forgotten all about you by now.

Why not collate all your guests’ name and addresses and send them a nice little letter occasionally (or e-mail which costs nothing).  It doesn’t have to be long or complicated and could include information such as:
   Refurbishment you have done
   New products you offer
   Local events
   Regional events
   New roads/routes
   Special offers
   A little discount perhaps for 2nd time visitors?

It can’t do you anything but good!  Let us know how you get on or even if you already do a newsletter, is it effective?  E-mail

If you haven’t already been to see Swansea Grand Theatre’s pantomime then you still have time – until 16th January.  “Jack and the Beanstalk” is full of special effects and great costumes as well as many famous faces.  Tickets are from £6.50 to £16.00 from the box office 01792 475715 or

Start the year with a breathe or fresh air – literally!  There are many walks being organised in the area including:

Explore North and Central Gower on 9th January, meet at 9.30 AM at Green Cwm car park, parkmill GR 538896 (behind Gower Heritage Centre) for an 11 mile moderate walk over moorland, marsh and Cefn Bryn

SPIN Walk programme are organising various walks on Sundays throughout the coming months.  The first one is a Mumbles History walk on 9th January, meet at Blackpill Lido at 10.30 AM.  Check out or call 01792 635469.

If you fancy the Theatre then La Fille Mal Gardee may be perfect for you on 18th January at 7.30pm.  Swansea’s Ballet Russe, the Classical Ballet Company of Wales presents the traditional Russian version.  The box office number is Swansea 475715.

However if you fancy something a little less traditional then The Circus of Horrors is the ideal option.  On 20, 21, 22 January Swansea Grand Theatre plays host to an evil and twisted world of sword swallowers, voodoo acrobatics, vampires and many other oddities.  This is not recommended for children under 14 years old – tickets can be purchased via the box office on the usual number.