Introduction of new smoke-free requirements legislation

Welsh Government is planning to introduce new smoking legislation in Wales and would like to hear views on bringing the requirements into force on 1 January 2021. Enclosed or substantially enclosed workplaces and premises open to the public will remain largely smoke-free (as they are now) and signs will still need to be displayed. However, there are currently exemptions that allow smoking in self-contained holiday and temporary accommodation and for hotels, guesthouses, inns, hostels and members’ clubs to have smoking bedrooms. These exemptions will be removed 12 months after the legislation comes into force and after that time all of these types of accommodation will have to be smoke-free. https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/introduction-new-smoke-free-requirements-legislation

Non-Domestic Rates Revaluation for Wales

The next non-domestic rates revaluation in Wales will take effect in 2023 and will be based on property values as at 1 April 2021. Postponing the revaluation to 2023 will mean that the rateable values on which rates bills are based will better reflect the impact of COVID-19. The change will also mean that the next revaluation in Wales takes effect at the same time as that in England, ensuring businesses and other ratepayers in Wales are not placed at a disadvantage compared to those elsewhere. Copy of the written statement is available on the link below: https://gov.wales/written-statement-non-domestic-rates-revaluation-wales

Minor Injury Units Open in Gwynedd and Anglesey

Please see message below and poster attached regarding the minor injury units currently open in Gwynedd and Anglesey. Local Health Service – Minor Injury Unit (MIU) Service Minor Injury Units (MIUs) can help with less serious injuries, and your nearest Minor Injury Unit is at: Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 2QAPhone number: 01407 766 000 Ysbyty Alltwen, Tremadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9AQ.Telephone number: 03000 852 406 The Minor Injury Unit at all other sites in Gwynedd and Anglesey are temporarily closed as part of NHS Wales’ response to COVID-19 in our communities. Your Nearest Emergency department is: Ysbyty Gwynedd, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, LL57 2PW For further information about the MIU at […]

Go North Wales Tourism August Trade News

Go-North-Wales-Tourism-August-Trade-News-1Download The Power of Audio Webinar With over 10 million people spending a combined 59 million hours a week listening to podcasts in the UK, the success of podcasting is undeniable.Join us on Tuesday 11th August at 10.30am, as we discuss how to harness the power of audio for the tourism and hospitality industry, creating an audio strategy to engage new and existing customers.The free webinar will cover: – Why are brands using podcasts? – Content – getting the message right – Relevance – examples of how branded content can work as a business to consumer channel – Reaching the right audience – distribution and discoverability – What’s all this […]

The Chancellor’s summer economic update: Background briefing

The Chancellor will make a statement to the House on Wednesday 8 July. He will outline plans to support the economy. The Chancellor’s statement is being labelled as a ‘summer economic update’. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8957/CBP-8957.pdf Plans include a new £2bn scheme to create thousands of job placements for young peopleThe chancellor announces a temporary change to stamp duty – immediately increasing the threshold to £500,000Temporary cut to VAT on food, accommodation and attractions from 20% to 5% is announcedChancellor announces new job retention bonus for employers who bring back furloughed staffA £2bn “green homes grant” to help make homes more energy efficient is also unveiled https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-53333253 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rishis-plan-for-jobs-will-help-britain-bounce-back

Trade Update – June 2020

North Wales Tourism has always been about bringing people together, working together, consulting with our members, lobbying hard on your behalf and trying to carve a sensible path through the demands of the Welsh Government and the public sector. I hope you agree that our team led by Eirlys, our Commercial Director, have done a great job of keeping you updated. Over the last few months we have been called upon like never before. We have gathered a dossier of heart-breaking stories from across the board as you have struggled to adjust and cope through the Covid19 pandemic.  We found it particularly unfair how a number of local authorities, guided […]

Trade Update – May 2020

Dear Member, each day brings new headlines about Covid-19 and its impact on our communities and businesses. The safety and wellbeing of our team and our members is always our biggest priority. We have continued to represent you as you navigate your way through this crisis. We have with the full support of our Board been lobbying our MPs, AMs and councils, sharing insights and intelligence into Welsh Government from your feedback and talking with them about strategy for safe reopening. We have been pushing particularly hard on the unfairness experienced by bona fide self-catering accommodation businesses not getting the support they so badly need. This is not a situation […]

Agents summary of business conditions – 2020 Q1

The Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has caused a sudden, rapid decline in economic activity in recent weeks. The situation has been described by many Agency contacts as being worse than the financial crisis in 2008. Due to fast-moving developments since the outbreak of the virus, this publication focuses on intelligence gathered by the Bank’s Agents during the first few weeks of March. Prior to that point, companies had generally reported some modest improvement in some parts of the economy and the outlook. That is reflected in the Agents’ scores released alongside this publication, which are based on information gathered during January and February. https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/agents-summary/2020/2020-q1

Coronavirus Update

Please find below the latest information regarding the current Coronavirus outbreak. Since our last email the Coronavirus situation has developed fast – now covering all continents and with a host of flight and tour cancellations, plus various measures put in place by authorities across the globe. We are in regular communication with tourism partners including VisitBritain and it is becoming more important for us to report back on how businesses in North Wales are being affected and the potential consequences on domestic and international visitors going forward into 2020. The information that you supply may help to leverage the development of a recovery plan. We are therefore asking our businesses […]