A new collaborative approach has been launched to support the recovery of Inverness.
Funded with a contribution from the Inverness Common Good Fund and both BID organisations, totalling £45,000, which was further added to by Highland Council city recovery funds of £20,ooo. This is the first time a specific budget has been set aside to promote the City of Inverness as one destination using the combined knowledge and skills of all organisations.
Combining the BID areas creates the strongest possible city-wide content to share with visitors and the joint resources significantly increase the ability to reach people, encouraging a greater return of visitors. Visit Inverness Loch Ness, as the destination organisation, will deliver visitor marketing activities using its staff, experience and network in a project managed by a steering group with representatives of all organisations.
The project will deliver a range of digital marketing, including online campaigns, website development, hosting of influencers and promotion of business events. New video and imagery content will be produced, to be shared with the combined business memberships of both BIDs, to use in promoting the city. Finally, the BIDs will look to work together in producing maps, guides and itineraries.
Michael Golding, Chief Executive of Visit Inverness Loch Ness said, “The project aims to encourage the responsible return of visitors, empower businesses in their recovery efforts and ensure the sizeable number of people who would love to visit the area, are encouraged to do so in line with Scottish Government guidelines.
“The tourism, retail and hospitality sectors are being severely impacted by the pandemic, this in real terms puts businesses and jobs at risk while impacting the quality of life for local people – through opportunities for things to do and places to stay. This new collaborative recovery project puts the whole city of Inverness and surrounding areas in the strongest possible position, with a greater city appeal by combining BID areas and the ability to engage more people through recovery activity.”
Mike Smith, Manager of Inverness City Centre BID said, “We are delighted to be joining with Visit Inverness Loch Ness Tourism BID and the Highland Council in this initiative to jointly promote the City of Inverness and the surrounding areas. All three parties are very committed to ensuring an early and sustainable recovery for businesses and tourism in the area.”
David Haas, City of Inverness Area Manager said, “The Council recognises the importance of working with the Business Community to enhance the supreme efforts being made by businesses across the city and area to provide a safe and attractive environment for locals and visitors. Support for this excellent joint initiative from the Inverness Common Good Fund is seen by the Council as a key milestone on the path to recovery. The joint working between two key leading groups representing businesses from a broad range of sectors is considered very important to the recovery of business growth and the Council looks forward to further opportunities to collaborate”.
For more information, please visit the Inverness Loch Ness website.
