Find your Christmas in Mid and East Antrim
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Join Santa (he’s not fooling anyone) on his adventures in Mid and East Antrim as he finds some Christmas magic in Ballymena, Larne, Carrickfergus and Whitehead this festive season. Everyone deserves a day off - even at their busiest time of year! #FindYourChrismas
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Book for Shaped for Success industry seminar
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Shaped for Success is Mid and East Antrim’s inaugural tourism and hospitality seminar, bringing industry specialists and tourism and hospitality businesses together to shape individual and borough potential for tourism success in 2020 and beyond.
Book your place now to hear from our exciting line-up of speakers and to have one-to-one meetings with our industry partners, to help you shape your business, shape your sales and be shaped for success.
Wednesday 29 January 10am-4pm
The Innovation Centre at ECOS
To book click here.
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£20K pitching competition now open
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The Yes You Can £20K pitching competition is now officially open to support female owned businesses – pre-start, start up and trading (under 2 years).
Let your business idea take flight and apply today! Applications close at 12 noon on 13 January 2020.
For further information click here.
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Tourism Ireland launches global strategy
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Tourism Ireland has launched a new 3 year global strategy to increase the number of tourists visiting Northern Ireland. They hope to grow overseas tourism revenue to £658 million – an increase of 15% – and visitor numbers up 13% to 2.57 million by 2022. For full story click here.
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Calling all experience providers: apply now for our 'Storify my Business' marketing programme
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Economic success for N. Ireland with 148th Open
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According to an independent study commissioned by The R&A, The 148th Open at Royal Portrush generated more than £100 million of economic benefit for Northern Ireland, with £45 million of new money entering the economy. Northern Ireland also gained £37.3 million in destination marketing benefit from over 5,400 hours of global television coverage.
An additional £23.7 million was identified by Tourism NI in advertising equivalent value for N. Ireland golf tourism, monitored in other media coverage across Ireland and internationally.
The Open attracted 237,750 fans with over half of these spectators (57.6%) travelling from outside Northern Ireland including visitors from elsewhere in the UK (20.2%), from the Republic of Ireland (18.2%) and from overseas, the United States (11.1%), Canada (2.3%) and Australia (2.1%).
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Some 83% of visitors told researchers they were more likely to visit N. Ireland in the next two years as a result of their attendance at The Open. A key aim of The R&A was to attract a younger audience to the Championship, and more than 30,000 spectators under the age of 25 attended, including 21,000 children under the age of 16 who attend free of charge thanks to the long-running Kids Go Free initiative. For full story click here.
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Golf quality assurance scheme launched
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Tourism NI, in partnership with the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), has launched a Golf Quality Assurance Scheme which is designed to certify golf courses in meeting and exceeding customer expectations. Since October 2019, ten Northern Ireland clubs have successfully passed the certification programme including Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort.
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IAGTO also launched its first ever Golf Tourism Accreditation programme for golf course managers, which recognises the proficiency and expertise of individuals working in the golf tourism sector.
The certification programme is open to all golf courses and includes an online Golf Tourism Audit, and an IAGTO site inspection. Any golf course that does not achieve certification is provided with a step-by-step roadmap to achieving certification status. For full story click here.
For more information
E: golf@tourismni.com.
or visit www.tourismni.com/golf
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International tourism events fund now open
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Tourism NI’s International Tourism Events Fund for 2020/21 is now open for applications to support events which attract significantly high levels of visitors to Northern Ireland and generate international media coverage to showcase Northern Ireland. The deadline for submissions is Monday 13 January 2020. For further details click here.
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Housekeeping awards now open
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Now in its 11th year, the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation's Hotel Housekeeping Awards are about recognising and rewarding your team. It is an exciting, fun competition with interactive tasks and some great team building. Entries must be made by Friday 31 January 2020. For further information click here.
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Encouraging statement of progress
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Mid and East Antrim's Community Plan, ‘Putting People First’, was launched in 2017 following extensive consultations with the local community. You can view the full statement of progress on the Community Plan at www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/communityplanning-ppf
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Promotional opportunities
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ROI Campaign - Spring 2020
Tourism NI and the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation are again targeting the Republic of Ireland market. The target for this campaign will be Open Minded Explorers. Closing date for entries is 20 January 2020. For full details click here.
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Nordics Sustainable Business Promotion
For any of our tourism businesses with sustainable practices check out this free opportunity to promote in the Nordic markets. For more details click here.
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Bob and Berts opens just in time for Christmas
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New Bob and Berts quirky artisan coffee shop, opened in Ballymena on 20 December 2019. Check out the comfy and relaxed surroundings at 29-41 Ballymoney St, Ballymena BT43 6DG
E: ballymena@bobandberts.com
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Exciting times for Blackhead Path
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The Blackhead Path is closed to the public as it is still a construction site with descaling and cliff face remedial work currently underway. Slippage or rock fall is possible. To keep up to date with on-going path developments click here.
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Kickstart the new year with great local events
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Reminder - award opportunities
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Institute of Hospitality Northern Ireland Awards for Professionalism
Key dates:
Nominations now open.
Deadline for entries: Monday 10 February 2020
Judging: Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 March 2020
Gala dinner & awards ceremony: Friday 15 May 2020
For award categories click here.
5th Food Awards Northern Ireland
Nominate your favourite places to eat in various categories here. Businesses with the highest number of nominations will be shortlisted into the finals. Winners announced March 2020.
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Licensed and Catering News Awards
Key dates:
Nominations now open.
Deadline for entries: Friday 20 March 2020
Gala dinner & awards ceremony: Friday 5 June 2020
To enter awards click here.
Business in the Community - Responsible Business Awards 2020
Key dates:
Nominations now open.
Deadline for entries: Friday 28 February 2020
Judging days: 21 and 22 April 2020
Gala awards night: Thursday 28 May 2020
For full details click here.
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National Churches Trust Gateway Grants Programme
The Gateway Grant Programme is currently open offering churches grants of between £3,000 and £10,000. Grants will never exceed 50% of the net project costs. The next deadlines are 23 January 2020 (for a decision in March) and 14 May 2020 (for a decision in July).
For further details click here.
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Arts Council of N. Ireland Funding
There are currently a number of funding opportunities available:
• Creative Industries Seed Fund, worth £240K. Closes 4pm on Monday 27 January.
• Rural Needs Small Grants Programme. Grants of up to £10K. Closes 4pm on Friday 17 January 2020.
• Pilot Premium Payments Programme
• New Commissioning Programme for Creative Innovation.
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Pamela Ballantine and the team from UTV Northern Ireland recently filmed in Glenarm Castle for the UTV Life Christmas special - shown on UTV 19 December 2019.
Great to see more positive publicity for The Gobbins with write ups in The Irish Post and The Guardian as a sight you have to see in real life.
Galgorm Spa and Golf resort recently attended the international Luxury Travel Market 2019 in Cannes.
The Glens Storytelling Festival 2020 will be slightly earlier next year, running from 1-4 October 2020.
TripAdvisor Restaurants has acquired SinglePlatform, a business that helps time-strapped restaurant owners more easily attract diners and manage their online marketing, inclusive of updating their menu listings on multiple online platforms. For full story click here.
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Well done to the Whitehead Easter Monday Road Race and Ballymena Belles which made the final for best 5 mile race in the Spirit of Running Awards. To vote click here.
Larne 10K and Storming the Castle have also made the final for best 10K event in the above awards. To vote click here.
Carmels in Whitehead is leading the way with other local businesses to provide a Whitehead Scholarship Fund to privately tutor P6 pupils to help raise there grades in the AQE.
Ireland wins 'best destination in Europe' award in New York at the 17th annual Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's aim is to provide high-quality services to all of our citizens. They're keen to hear your thoughts on how we're doing this year. You can complete the Residents Satisfaction Survey here.
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Industry dates for the diary
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A final Christmas story .........
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Heart-warming promotional video from Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort featuring the welcoming Maurice, meeter and greeter to one and all. Have a great Christmas everyone!
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