Ard Nahoo Health Farm - Article in the Observer

Well done to Noeleen and everyone at Ard Nahoo Health Farm for their recent feature in the Guardian newspaper. Click on the link below to read:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/feb/22/green-holiday-ireland-atlantic-coast

RTE Travel: Ecoescape Ireland

Hello Everyone,

Follow the link below to read an article published by RTE Travel on Ecoescape Ireland: The handook to Responsible Escapism:

http://www.rte.ie/travel/2009/0220/ecoescapeireland.html

Failte Ireland Promotional Opportunity

Failte Ireland is continually trying to find creative and innovative ways to stimulate increased business. Attached you will find details of a unique promotional opportunity with Walkers crisps that we are supporting .

In 2009 Walkers are running a 'Gary's Great Trips' campaign. The promotion will feature on over 900 million crisp packs and will be supported by a substantial marketing campaign. Very simply, consumers will be invited to collect points from their crisp packs, and redeem them on the Walkers website for special offers. In Ireland these special offers are 3 for the price of two in accommodation and separately, 2 for the price of 1 on entry to tourist attractions. There are only 100 places available for accommodation providers and just 50 places available for visitor attractions.

Other key points are below:

The Discover Ireland logo will feature on c.50m packs distributed in Ireland and the UK
The promotion will be supported by gold standard grocery point-of-sale and £4 million media spend across TV, radio, online, press and PR
95% of the UK population was exposed to the multi-media and PR campaign last year!
Participating venues will have a dedicated section on the website communicating the offer & venue location
In 2008, 600,000 people registered with the website, their average dwell time was 4.5 minutes A massive 60% of consumers opted for further correspondence!
Promotion is in market from late May - August 2009, with redemptions running until end December 2009

All information, including an application form and contact details for further information are attached. This is a great opportunity to generate business but places are limited so you need to be quick!

On completion of forms: Email back by 26th February to: natasha@thebigkick.com & hbarnett@thebigkick.com

Please also send a signed copy back to:
· Fax 01727 85797
· Posting to Harriet Barnett at Walkers Gary Great Trips, c/o The Big Kick, The Old Station House, Orient Close, London Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1JD


If you have any important queries please contact either Harriet Barnett on +44 1727 220351 or Natasha Abbas on +44 1727 220354. The closing date for applications is: 26th February 2009.

Request from the Irish Examiner

Dear All,

Please see email below received from Jane at the Irish Examiner:

Name: Jane Alexander
Email: jane@janealexander.org
Telephone: 01398 324314 (UK)
Message: Hello, I\'m researching a feature for the Irish Examiner on alternative ways to celebrate Valentine\'s Day (plus gifts) and wondered if there were any courses or events happening around that time - 14th February - that might fit the bill.
Best wishes
Jane Alexander

Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International has written a small piece about Greenbox's accreditation system. It's very complimentary, here is the extract:

Ireland’s Ecolabel Standard AssessedSustainable Travel International recently assessed Ireland’s Greenbox Ecolabel Standard and associated training course for community business owner participants. We met with Greenbox representatives, and assessed the course and participant knowledge in order to verify the strength of the program. We are happy to announce that thanks to Greenbox, the Northwest border region between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (UK) has one of the strongest regional ecotourism development efforts we have seen. Greenbox was founded upon a regional peace-through-tourism initiative geared toward educating communities about how to develop sustainable ecotourism practices. Through its membership base, Greenbox also offers travelers hundreds of short breaks, green holidays and eco tours. You can now travel to Ireland, and find quality tourism products and services that promote environmental, community and cultural heritage by visiting the Greenbox web site at http://www.greenbox.ie/.

To see the full e-newsletter, please click on the link below:

http://sustainabletravelinternational.qm4.net/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=116094

BBC Northern Exposure votes Greenbox Members as simply the best

PRESS RELEASE

Friday the 15th August, BBC programme Northern Exposure visited Fermanagh. Orchard Acre Farm was voted one of the best 3 destinations in Fermanagh. The Eco Barn is a Flag ship project of the Greenbox. Teresa the proprietor is an active Greenbox member and Winner of the Inspirational Award 2007.

Lawrence rolled up those his famous fancy cuffs and got stuck into
a Beauty From Nature course with his lovely wife Jackie. Guided by expert tutor Pauline Corrigan from Florencecourt; a regular tutor on Orchard Acre Farm.

The programme turned the spotlight onto some of Northern Ireland’s best and most unusual places to visit. It’s no surprise that the brand new Eco Barn was selected from the many nominees as it is the only Eco facility of its kind in Northern Ireland designed by local award winning architects Keys and Monaghan.

Jackie remarked on the beautiful and quiet countryside around Orchard Acre. She spent ages in the garden chatting about its extensive range of plants and herbs with Teresa O’Hare owner of the Farm. A lover of gardening herself Jackie went home armed with new ideas and recipes on how to utilise natural ingredients herself at home in England.

Its no secret that the Llewelyn-Bowens love their comfort and they made great use of the modern and ecological facilities of the Barn. They took home information on other courses at the barn including cookery, willow craft and gardening and they promised to keep an watchful eye for more recipes on the Orchard Acre Farm web site.

http://www.orchardacrefarm.com/

RTE Radio 1 - Interview with Greebox

Listen to an interview with Mary Mulvey and Molly Reynolds on the Greenbox and ecotourism which was broadcast on Friday, 15th August 2008

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/morningireland/

Media Coverage of Network Members

Tune in this evening between 5.30pm and 6.00pm to UTV Life to watch Jerome O'Loughlin of Ireland Ecotours speak with Pamela Balentine.

Also, this Friday (August 15th), Teresa O'Hare from Orchard Acre Farm will feature on BBC1 Northern Ireland at 9.00pm.

Northern Ireland: Green and very Pleasant - UK Travel - The Independent

Link to an article below that mentions Omagh Hostel, Boho Ecohire and Inishbeg Cottages:

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/northern-ireland-green-and-very-pleasant-877687.html

The Pat Kenny Show, Thursday, 10 July 08

Make sure you all tune in to the Pat Kenny Show this Thursday morning, July 10th to hear Cathy Mack speak to him about the Ecoescape: Ireland book!

Corralea Activity Centre Featured in the Guardian

An article featuring Corralea Activity Centre in the Guardian on Saturday, June 14th 2008:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/jun/14/top100mountainsandlakes.green?page=all

Ecoescape Book - Press and Media Coverage

Hi All

Here are a few links to some of the coverage received to Cathy Mack's book "Ecoescape Ireland" over the weekend.

http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=230&n2=6&n3=274

http://www.metro.co.uk/travel/article.html?in_article_id=159012&in_page_id=5

http://www.nhbs.com/ecoescape_ireland_tefno_158948.html

http://www.grownupgreen.org.uk/news/?id=1356

Thanks, Karen.

More Greenbox Exposure

Hi Everyone

Check out the link below to see another article on the Greenbox:

http://www.hippyshopper.com/2007/10/ecotourism_holi.html

business training, web, marketing

Ollie here guys
have a look here for some very interesting, affordable and innovative business training:
(if link doesn't work, try the url below)
http://www.improvethroughchange.com/events/

This include direct marketing , blogging for business and maximising your on line presence