New Vice Chair for North Wales Tourism

North Wales Tourism is pleased to announce that Glenn Evans, Director of the Royal Oak and Waterloo Hotels in Betws y Coed has recently been appointed the Vice Chair of North Wales Tourism.North Wales Tourism, celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2021, the organisation represents approx 1500 tourism & Hospitality businesses in North Wales.Chris Frost the Chairman said:“It is a great pleasure to welcome Glenn to the position of Vice-Chair of North Wales Tourism; he has been a valued member of the board for a number of years and his breadth of experience in the industry, especially as one of the largest employers in tourism here in North Wales, will be […]

Lord Burns to lead North Wales transport review

A new transport commission that will develop a pipeline of transport schemes for north Wales has been announced The year-long review will develop recommendations for road, rail, bus and active travel across the whole of North Wales. This step follows on from the advice of the Roads Review Panel to cancel current plans for the A55 Junction 14/15 and 16/16A improvements scheme, which Ministers have agreed. It has also now been agreed which further schemes the Panel will consider as part of their final report due this summer. https://gov.wales/lord-burns-lead-north-wales-transport-review https://gov.wales/written-statement-roads-review-initial-report-and-north-wales-transport-commission-a55-j14-16

Next step in development of tourism tax

The Welsh Government has confirmed a consultation on proposals for a local visitor levy will launch in autumn 2022. The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, and the Cooperation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, both contain commitments to introduce levies. Formal consultation on draft legislative proposals for a visitor levy will launch in the autumn, providing a platform for a range of views to be considered. https://gov.wales/next-step-development-tourism-tax https://gov.wales/written-statement-development-local-tourism-levy

People and Places Project – Cael Cymru

North Wales Tourism are working with COS (Centre of Sign Sight Sound), a disability charity based in Colwyn Bay which works to help tackle social exclusion. The Cael Cymru programme is a two year funded project: To produce 40 accessible videos of various places of interest across North Wales (at no cost to the site owners) where written English and Welsh are not the languages needed for people who wish to access the information.To provide free and subsidised training to frontline staff in the leisure and tourism industry of dealing with people with a sensory loss or information access need. Full details about the project is attached or you can […]

Smoke-free law changes from 1 March

New smoking laws are being introduced in Wales which affects the tourism industry. From 1 March 2022, all hotels, guesthouses, inns, hostels and members’ clubs must be smoke-free and will no longer be able to offer designated smoking bedrooms. All self-contained holiday and temporary accommodation, such as cottages, caravans, chalets and other short term lettings accommodation will also be no smoking. Owners should therefore have prepared for conversion any of their smoking accommodation/designated smoking bedrooms to smoke-free ready for 1 March 2022 – after this date it will be against the law to smoke in these areas and a fine could be issued. Further information on how these changes affects […]

Virtual Employment Law Update

Virtual Employment Law Update 8th March 2022 hosted by Supertemps and S2 Recruitment with guest speakers from JMW Solicitors LLP Free webinar hosted by Supertemps and S2 Recruitment with guest speakers Simon Bloch and Paul Chamberlain from JMW Solicitors LLP. Areas covered include: Developments in holiday payWorking from home/hybrid working – legal issues‘No jab/no job’ – mandated vaccinationsDigital right to work checksA roundup of important case law over the last year  Tuesday 8th March 2022, 10am – 11.45am via Zoom  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/employment-law-update-2022-tickets-255994986897 The webinar is aimed at HR/personnel directors and managers, business owners and those in charge of staff.

Visits to tourist attractions: 2019 and 2020

The report monitors trends in the tourism attraction sector for 2019 and 2020 in order to provide a greater understanding of the sector. Attractions taking part in both the 2019 and 2020 survey saw visits decrease by 68% on average from 2019 to 2020. Underground attractions saw the largest decrease and outdoor attractions the smallest decrease from 2019 to 2020. visits-to-tourist-attractions-in-wales-2019-2020Download https://gov.wales/visits-tourist-attractions-2019-and-2020

Regional Economic Frameworks – Publication

How each region of Wales is working towards a common set of economic priorities. The Framework for North Wales has been informed by extensive engagement with stakeholders and has been fully endorsed for publication by the Economic Ambition Board. Further and final consideration, by the individual Local Authorities and other partners, will continue into January. https://gov.wales/written-statement-regional-economic-frameworks-publication

Retail, leisure and hospitality ratepayers in Wales will receive 50% non-domestic rates relief for the duration of 2022-23

Like the scheme announced by the UK Government, the Welsh Government’s Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief scheme will be capped at £110,000 per business across Wales. WG approach means that businesses in Wales will receive comparable support to that provided in other parts of the UK. https://gov.wales/written-statement-non-domestic-rates-relief-businesses-2022-23

Creation of a Sustainability Group

Following a recent board meeting and correspondence with a number of members we are looking to establish a private sector advisory group on Sustainability within the Tourism & Hospitality Sector.If this is something of interest to you and you would like to be part of the group, please let us know by emailing eirlys.jones@gonorthwales.org.uk in order that we can include you on our database.  We will be hosting an exploratory meeting on the 20th of January with venue and further details to be confirmed in the New Year.