|
Welcome to Our November 2021 Newsletter Hello friends, Welcome to our November newsletter. đ As the evenings draw in and it gets chillier we hope you are all keeping well and warm! We're back with this month's news highlights, so make yourself a cosy cuppa and settle down for a great read. âThis is a busy month for Cassie, as she will be attending the Great British Entrepreneur Finals in London (fingers crossed! đ¤), she has also completed the first two days of the Destination Leaders Programme being run online by Edinburgh Napier University, The DLP will run over the next 6 months; this award winning, academically accredited CPD is funded by the Scottish Government as part of the Scottish Leadership programme. We're looking forward to witnessing how it benefits our current members (and members-to-be). She will also be attend Scotland's National Tourism Industry Conference next week, before wrapping up the month with a trip to Shetland to meet with with potential clients.
We were thrilled this month to launch our new Webinar Series, PHS Talks, with guest speakers Barry Clark and Paul Thomas. If you missed the event you can catch up here, or read more below! You can also see a sneak peak of our next Webinar, scheduled for 13th January. đThe big news of the month is the COP26 conference. But with the eyes of the world on Glasgow, what does this mean for us? đ Find out below how Destination Net Zero targets sustainability in the tourism industry - and how you can do your part. Our featured property of the month, The Old Barn in Argyll, provides amazing inspiration for making eco-friendly changes to become a carbon-neutral business. Are you currently registered as Safe, Clean & Legalâ˘? Find out how to earn this award through Properly in partnership with Quality in Tourism below.A fun article to sign us off: are you a pet-friendly stay? Research reveals 95% of dog owners want to take their pet on holiday. đ We look at the pros and cons of becoming a pet-friendly stay, and what factors to take into consideration below. đž Thank you for reading our newsletter, and please feel welcome to reach out with any enquiries. We wish you all the best for the month ahead!Take care,Beth / The Private House Stays Team đ
|
|
PHS Talks: November Webinar Success &January Webinar Announced:Scotland's Year of Stories: How to Tell Yours |
|
The 5th November marked our first ever PHS Talks, and we're happy to say it went excellently. A big thank you to everyone who attended, and especially to Barry and Paul for their wonderful talks. If you missed out on the opportunity, don't worry! You can access the full recording here. Barry Clark, sales guru, provided some great tips on taking back the power from OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) and how to prepare for the season ahead. Keynotes to take away from his talk were:- Have a mindset shift in how you perceive OTAs/third party online booking agents. The steep commission they take is the cost of acquiring a new customer! Once they have booked once, that customer is yours to direct towards your own booking channels.
- Smaller accommodation businesses are currently in a unique position to compete with the bigger companies. Due to staffing shortages, large hotels are currently struggling to meet their basic standards of service. People will thus be looking to book with smaller providers - use this to your advantage!
Paul Thomas, social media expert, came armed with fantastic advice on how you can use social media to promote your business. Our favourite points from his talk were:- Look at social media opportunities with excitement, not fear! And make sure you try dipping in a toe before convincing yourself it isn't for you - you might be surprised.
- Start small and build your way up. Don't try and do everything at once - pick one platform to begin with and concentrate on it. Instagram is a great option for accommodation owners because it is a very visual platform.
- Customers want to trust you won't scam them if they are considering booking with you directly instead of through an OTA (which provides them with more security). Having a social media presence where they can see you and your business in action is an easy and ideal way to show you can be trusted.
|
|
Date for your diaries:
11am 13th January 2022 Here's something to look ahead to in the New Year! Writing experts Neely Khan and Emma Greer will be joining us to talk about Visit Scotland's theme for 2022, 'Scotland's Year of Stories', and how you can tell your own in your website copy.
The webinar will be held over Zoom, and you can book in by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the event please email beth@privatehousestays.com.
|
COP26: What does it mean for us?Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism & Destination Net Zero
|
|
Last week saw the end of COP26, a global conference held in our very own Glasgow! But how do these ambitious goals relate to accommodation owners? Climate change can be an overwhelming topic, so we're going to focus on one environmental goals that we as members of the tourism industry can get involved with: Destination Net Zero.
The Destination Net Zero programme is an important strand of the Scottish Government's ÂŁ25 million Tourism Recovery Programme. The aim of the programme is to support Scotlandâs tourism industry on the journey to net zero carbon emissions.Â
The Scottish Government has set a 2045 target for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases with a reduction of 75% by 2030 and 90% by 2040
How can you get involved?- Get informed: read up on how climate change is predicted to impact Scotland
- Get ready:Â Our first step is to reduce emissions by changing our actions and processes, but not all emissions can be avoided. A good place to start is to calculate your businesses carbon footprint, using tools such as this one.
- Get started: once you've established where you are, you can set goals for cutting your emissions down. This isn't as daunting as it sounds. Sites like Ecologi are excellent for offsetting emissions you can't reduce - while you can find top tips (and funding opportunities) for ones you can reduce on Visit Scotland's website here.
If you are based in Glasgow you can also apply to be part of the new funded Hospitality Zero pilot scheme, which aims to reduce waste.
If you'd like to learn more about Destination Net Zero, Visit Scotland's dedicated section to the scheme can be found here.
|
|
Looking for a nature-based escape? For a truly unique experience, try eco-nature holidays at The Old Barn. A family business born in 2017, this modern barn conversion offers a carbon-neutral stay in the heart of rural Argyll.
This self-catering property is part of a Victorian barn conversion. Strikingly modern and comfortable, its history remains in its cosy sloped ceilings and charmingly rustic exterior. With room for up to 7 guests in four bedrooms, The Old Barn is both family and pet-friendly. Its rural Argyll location makes it the perfect place for a nature-based getaway.Â
Owners Peter and Sai are passionate about environmental conservation; the property has a wonderful, expansive garden that serves as a haven for local wildlife, as well as a natural 'wildlife garden' with a hide for birdwatching. The Old Barn partner with tree-planters Ecologi to ensure each of their guests' stay and travel is 100% carbon-neutral.
For bookings or more infââââormation âplease click here.â To find out about Ecologi and becoming a carbon-neutral business, click here | |
Property & Quality in Tourism Qualification Offer!Are you Safe, Clean & Legal�
|
|
Two leading companies; one great offer. Properly & Quality in Tourism's Safe, Clean & Legal⢠qualification can save you time and money, improve your revenue and assure guests to book with you.
The accreditation is suitable for accommodation providers who want to provide guests with reassurance of standards, but for whom quality (star) ratings may not be relevant or applicable. It demonstrates your commitment to upholding standards and provides reassurance for potential guests that you are a safe bet to book with.
You can sign up with no obligation. Their app is easy to use and designed to help you get your qualification without the frustrating waiting times and nasty in-person inspections.
|
Are You a Pet-Friendly Stay?Study Shows 95% of Dog Owners Want to Take Their Pet on Holiday |
|
It may sound daunting but this is excellent news for us, as it puts Scotland right at the top of the list of perfect holiday destinations for guests with pets! With our gorgeous beaches and green spaces to roam, Scotland ticks all the boxes.
So what do you need to take into consideration when weighing up the pros and cons of being a pet friendly stay? Here are a 4 things to think about.- Bigger pool of potential customers: as of 2021, 33% of UK households own a dog. If 95% of dog owners want to take their pet along, that means you could be limiting 1/3 of your potential guests!
- Fewer businesses to compete with: although recent months have seen an increase to meet the soaring demand, pet-friendly lets are still in the minority. This puts any pet-friendly let at a significant advantage.
- Is your property suitable? Unfortunately not all accommodation suits the needs of pet owners. You'll want to take a number of things into consideration, including space, proximity to dangerous roads, and whether the accommodation has appropriate furnishings.Â
- Increase in cleaning fees and deposit: this sounds like a con, but is actually a pro! Pet owners expect to need to pay a little more in order to bring their pet along. It is common to ask a set fee, such as ÂŁ25/pet. This increases your revenue with little effort required. Concerns over potential property damage may be remedied by asking a larger deposit.
You can read more about the study here.
|
|
"Private House Stays is a wonderful organisation to partner with.  All the staff are professional and take the time to get to know us as a business. We love the personal service and that they concentrate on promoting businesses that are unique and different. We are looking forward to forming a last lasting relationship with PHS going forward."
It's always nice to know what people are saying about our brand, and about the brand that is carrying your name. For a more complete list of testimonials from the members of Private House Stays please click HERE | Update: Short-term Lets Licensing Regulations - Highland Council Votes Against |
It's a step forward in the fight against new short-term lets licensing: The Highland Council has voted against the Scottish Government's proposals by 20 votes to 18. The motion passed urges the government in Edinburgh to abandon is planned licensing scheme for self-catering properties, and instead adopt the ASSC's (Association of Self-Caterers) suggested mandatory registration scheme. The motion dismissed the SNP's plan for licensing as "Not appropriate for the Highlands"; it was described by Councillor Gordon Adam as "Unfair, costly, and especially unfit for purpose in the Highlands".
The backing of the Highland Council will be a valuable asset in the ongoing battle against new short-term licensing fees. We will continue to update you on the situation as it develops.
Read more about the Highland Council's vote and how key organisations have responded here.
|
| We Would Love to Hear From You
Do you have any suggestions, compliments, or complaints? We would love to hear from you! We would love to improve in our Quality, Service, and Accommodation, and you can help us do that.
Thank you for being part of the Private House Stays club. We appreciate you, and we look forward to seeing you again soon. In the interim, drop us a note. We'd love to hear from you!
| | | Looking For That Perfect Holiday?
| | |
For your convenience, you may contact Cassie on +447990595895 or via email
| | General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliant âBy accepting this email you agree that you have given Private House Stays consent freely, specifically, informed, and unambiguously. We assure you that the information you provide us will be used only for purposes indicated when you subscribed to Private House Stays Newsletter and other specified updates.
Copyright Š 2021 Private House Stays Limited All rights reserved. | | |
|