Fáilte Ireland North West - Web Skills Workshop

Writing for the Web

1/2 Day Workshop

Date: Tuesday, 18th November 2008
Venue: The Clarion Hotel, Sligo
Time: 9.30am - 1.30pm
Cost: €50.00

Who Should Attend?:
These workshops are aimed at operators of tourism SME's who have participated in the Web-Check and/or web build stages of the e-business development support initiative. Also aimed at operators of tourism enterprises who wish to further enhance their e-capability and develop their own skills in self-managing their website.

Course Objectives: By the end of this workshop, delegates will be able to:

• Identity the importance of careful planning in preparation of content for effective website presentation.
• Examine the essential elements of crafting suitable text in formats appropriate for the web.
• Acknowledge the necessity for maintaining updates and keeping content current and relevant.
• Understand the importance of keeping abreast of and ensuring compliance with legal aspects associated with the display of web content.

Further details
For further details of the workshop and to book contact Alex Keys at Fáilte Ireland's e-business support team on 01 8847879 or email webdevproject.registration@failteireland.ie

Bear Essentials quoted as Top Shop in Irish Independent

On Thursday, 23rd October 2008, Greenbox Nework member Bear Essential was named as Top Shop for Good Buys in the Irish Independent.

Click here to go to Bear Essentials website and read article:

http://www.bearessentials.ie/uploads/IrishIndependentTopBuy.pdf

Well done Anke!

Georgina Campbell's Award Winners 2009 - Features Greenbox Members

On October 16th 2008, Georgina Campbell’s Ireland…… ‘the Guide’ 2009, was launched together with the announcement of the winners of the 11th Annual ‘Awards for Excellence’ at a lunch held in Bord Bia's (the Irish Food Board) head office in Dublin 2.

Click here to read more about guide and/or to buy it. Firmly established as Ireland's longest running independent hospitality Awards, these accolades are much sought after within the industry and can be seen adorning many of the top establishments around the country.

Congratulations to those from the Greenbox region who recieves awards under the following headings:

NATURAL FOOD AWARD 2009 sponsored by Fáilte Ireland: Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, Co Donegal

A pleasing dining room overlooking the lovely gardens and Lough Swilly provides a fine setting for upbeat traditional cooking at the Wheeler family’s Rathmullan House. Menus are based on the very best of local and artisan foods – and, working closely with organic gardener, Dennis Hawke, chef Ian Orr creates dishes around fresh produce from their own restored walled garden... click for more

WATERWAYS HOSPITALITY AWARD 2009 sponsored by Waterways Ireland: The Oarsman, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

This new award introduces a topic very close to the Guide’s heart - we have published a little guide to hospitality along Ireland’s inland waterways for almost a decade, and it has had the support of Waterways Ireland since 2004. Although it is aimed mainly at people who are enjoying this fantastic amenity by boat, many of the recommended restaurants and hostelries are also included in our main Ireland guide, and this award should help to introduce a lot of new visitors to a side of Ireland that is still unknown to many... click for more

GUESTHOUSE OF THE YEAR 2009: Ard na Breátha, Donegal Town

Although in what has become a mainly residential area on the edge of a thriving town, Albert and Theresa Morrow’s welcoming guesthouse is tucked into a quiet corner of a busy working farm and is indeed, as they say on their brochure, ‘a place worth finding’... click for more

RTE Television - At Your Service

See link below to the RTE Television programme " At Your Service" featuring Ian Wasson who recently appeared as an environmental expert promoting the EU Flower:

http://www.rte.ie/tv/atyourservice/prog7.html

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of Sustainable Search Word Trends

Two more links that are worth checking out

Link 1: Google Adwords Article - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of Sustainable Search Words

http://unicyclecreative.com/wordpress/archives/216#more-216

Link 2: Green Meetings

http://www.thegreenmeeting.com/2008/10/tripadvisor-survey-finds-jump-in-green.html

Basic Tips for for Environmentally Friendly Meetings

Hi All

We thought that these tips were interesting. They are from a website called Meeting Strategies Worldwide. Have a read and let us know what you think:


You have the power to make a difference. Just start by adopting a few common sense policies that will not sacrifice the attendee experience. In fact, it will probably enhance their experience. Attendees can feel good about participating and knowing what is being done on their behalf.

Ask for:

all catering plates, cups and glasses to be china or glass (non-disposable). If plastic, they must be washable (biodegradable or compostable is better). NO Styrofoam under any circumstances.

condiments to be served in bulk containers, not individual servings, to save packaging. This includes sugar, creamer, butter, cream cheese, etc.

all napkins to be cloth whenever possible. Use coasters instead of cocktail napkins.

separate recycling bins for attendees to use at all catered functions, registration, and especially on the exhibit floor.

all handouts to be printed on two sides using post-consumer recycled paper.

recycled-content promotional products when deciding on pens, bags, shirts and caps. There are beautiful awards made of recycled glass.

the hotels are not to change the sheets and towels daily unless requested by the guest.

the hotels not to replace the amenities daily unless they are gone. Use of soap and shampoo dispensers would be optimal.

the hotels' housekeeping staff to shut blinds and turn down the heat/air conditioning during the day in rooms while attendees are gone.

information about the facilities' recycling program for all areas.

all leftover food to be donated to a local food bank.

Reduce:

the amount of handouts. Make them available on the web site.
the size of the registration brochure and make the rest of the information available on-line.

These tips are just a starting place, but the impact of even these few changes can be dramatic. It has been our experience that most hotels and meeting facilities are willing to work with you-they benefit as well.

Holidaymakers Rate Environment Highly

Check out the below link for more stat on holidaymakers view of environmental holidays:

http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1131915.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=_rs~s~ms~T_

Travel Trends for 2008 - Going Green

Hi Everyone

Please see link below for a piece of research conducted on green travel:

http://www.travel-advocate.com/2008/10/01/travel-trends-for-2009-going-green/

Thanks, Karen.