Cumbria Tourism Viewpoint Magazine Autumn 2023

High-profile campaigns launch

DMP starting to take shape

We are looking forward to updating you about the development of the county’s new Destination Management Plan (DMP) at a special event on 1 November

We have officially launched two high-profile marketing campaigns to support you over the coming months

As well as a new winter marketing campaign to build momentum for seasonal bookings, we ve also teamed up with Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire and Avanti West Coast to launch a major marketing push encouraging people to ‘Go Car Free

It s been designed to dispel misconceptions about the ease and accessibility of greener travel options and give visitors practical ideas and inspiration to consider new places to explore and things to do when they step off the bus or train

Amid the cost-of-living crisis, a key part of the campaign will highlight the affordability of public transport, alongside more active travel options to explore like walking and cycling

With rising costs also at the forefront of operators minds, our new winter marketing campaign is all about inspiring all-year-round bookings to drive trade through the challenging winter months

Building on the 19 2 million reach of last

year s seasonal campaign, the CT team is continuing to use insights from the latest Cumbria Visitor Survey to help us to shape and develop activity, based on people s travel experiences, habits and motivations

The campaign will offer practical support to help you with your own targeted winter marketing, alongside our new online Advent Calendar, PR and digital activity, promotion of large-scale events, a virtual Christmas Market to promote homegrown suppliers and more

• Turn to page 5 to find out more and get involved.

Although the creation of what will become a critically-important strategic document for our visitor economy is being led by Cumbria Tourism, the new DMP will really be a joint plan developed by a wide range of businesses, public sector organisations, communities and charitable bodies.

Aimed at shaping collective priorities and resources, it will support the county’s future growth as a great place to live, work, visit and study – balancing a wide range of factors including our local communities, landscapes, heritage and accessibility/inclusivity, alongside economic investment and impact.

Cumbria’s new evidence-based DMP will be officially unveiled at the beginning of 2024, to coincide with CT’s 50th anniversary year, but will continue to be reviewed and refined in the years to come Book here now for the DMP stakeholder event.

You can also find out more at our Autumn Members’ meeting on 16 November.

Award-winning ways

We were thrilled to bring home a top honour from the Simpleview Europe Awards 2023 in Liverpool, scooping the 'Best Organic Social Media Campaign'

The campaign was run on our visitor facing social media platforms – with a combined following of 320,000 people – to highlight our Dogs Love Cumbria guide, which is now live and available to view online and in print

Meanwhile, we have been nominated in four categories at the upcoming Prolific North Marketing Awards, including the category for ‘Best In-House Marketing Team

Our other nominations are for: Best Tourism & Leisure Campaign, Best Use of Data & Insights and Best Response to Change

All three come off the back of the successful Culture in South Lakes campaign that we ran throughout 2023 on behalf of Westmorland and Furness Council, to showcase the area ’ s worldclass cultural attractions Fingers crossed for next month s final in Manchester!

Finally, it’s fantastic to see such a strong showing of CT members shortlisted as finalists for

this year s In-Cumbria Awards Cumbria Tourism has also been shortlisted in the ‘Flying the Flag for Cumbria category

Watch our latest video

We’ve created a short video to give you a whistle-stop tour of the work Cumbria Tourism has been doing on behalf of you – our members – over the past 12 months

Thank you for your ongoing support. Our work to support the industry and promote our world-class destination simply wouldn’t be possible without you Click on the picture to view the full video

MyCumbria website gets a new look

Have you taken a look at our new-look MyCumbria website?

Our popular residents loyalty card scheme aims to encourage residents to make the most of all Cumbria has to offer, generating greater footfall and increasing custom for a range of retail and tourism-related businesses

Providing a special offer for this audience is a great way for businesses to entice potential customers to book, and MyCumbria s marketing channels are a useful free promotional tool you can use

We also work closely with Cumbria Community Foundation, which receives 10% of the total MyCumbria income to support their charitable services in our local communities

New funding for visitor events

The organisers of much-loved visitor events across Cumbria have the chance to receive a cash boost thanks to The Lakes Hospitality Trade Show 2024

As part of its commitment to re-directing money back into the local economy, the show will be awarding grants of up to £2,500 to local event organisers to promote their events through CT's marketing channels

Applicants must be planning an event between March 2024 and February 2025 somewhere in Cumbria and will be asked to demonstrate how it will achieve significant visitor impact for the local area

The deadline is Friday 24 November – click here to apply

Keeping track

Working alongside our Strategic Partner Lamont Pridmore, we ’ ve launched our latest Business Tracker Survey to gather realtime’ data about the issues you ’ re facing as we head into the challenging autumn and winter months

This first-hand, up-to-date evidence will not only inform our destination marketing work, but helps us to make Cumbria s case with national politicians, decisionmakers and industry bodies

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous

Take the survey now

CT’s Rob Cowley with the Simpleview award

Your exclusive member discounts

Click the company names below to explore the discounts and financial benefits your CT membership can unlock for your business

n Energy

Honest Energy: Save up to 50% on your energy bills and receive £100 in Amazon vouchers, if you take out a contract or move from an existing contract with them

n Digital, Web and Print

Bucket & Spade: 20% off website & design packages

H&H Reeds: 10% off web, design, print & signage products

LocaliQ: Free 1-hour digital marketing consultancy session

Web Predators: 10% off web design & photography

n Hospitality products and services

Tyl by Natwest: Zero card machine hire fees for 3 months, plus £100 sign up bonus

Out of Eden: 10% discount

Pure Lakes Skincare: 10% discount off all purchases

Regalo Gift Vouchers: 50% off set-up fee (£250 saving)

Sealy: 10% off contract beds

Planet: Discounted PMS and integrated payments price

n Professional Services

Burnetts: 30-minutes of free legal advice

Thomson Hayton Winkley: 10% discount on legal services and free business legal helpline

The Cumberland: A free 1-year CT membership with new commercial mortgages

H&H Insurance Brokers: Competitive quotes for tourism businesses

Lamont Pridmore: A free 1-year CT membership for new clients

M&M Business Support: Up to 1-hour free initial consultation to discuss productivity challenges and cost/time saving solutions

Napthens: Free licensed premises audit, 1hour free funding advice, free transaction due diligence and more

Phil Collier Associates: Free consultation for all members with 3 hours free business support

Realise HR: One-month free HR advice when signing up to a small SME package Robinson & Co: Free initial consultation and/or business review

ViewPro 360: 15% discount on virtual tours and other services until 2024

Top tips for managing your rising costs

Expert view

As interest rates continue to rise, and with inflation stubbornly high, hospitality and tourism businesses continue to experience rising costs

Our newest Strategic Partner Armstrong Watson understands this can put additional pressure on your business’s bottom-line profitability and cash flow. Accounting Senior Manager, MATTHEW HUTTON (pictured) has these simple tips to help ease some of this pressure:

• Maintain close relationships with your suppliers and take full advantage of any special offers available to obtain the lowest unit cost Negotiate favourable payment terms wherever possible

• Seek alternative quotes where necessary to ensure your suppliers remain competitive Shop around for the best deals on your utilities, telephone and broadband bills

• If your business has substantial borrowings, consider whether you have any refinancing options available to manage rising interest costs

• Review the individual margins on all products you provide If certain products are not profitable then consider either repricing or removing them from your offering

• If you have a food and drink offering, make sure you are doing all you can to minimise wastage in the kitchen Review portion sizes and the ingredients used in food preparation to keep your margins as healthy as possible

• Regularly review your stock levels to ensure you are carrying the correct amounts of each product Carrying too much stock ties up cash unnecessarily but carrying too little can lead to loss of potential earnings and dissatisfied customers

Winter marketing campaign: Ten ways to get involved

Cumbria Tourism is forging ahead with a series of high-profile marketing activities to help extend the season, encourage overnight stays and build momentum for forward bookings at a traditionally quieter time of year Read on to find out how you can get involved.

1 Access free marketing resources

We will be sharing a range of downloadable itineraries and branded images via our Media Library Monthly themes will be a key focus for social media, blog content and online prize draws to boost engagement

October: #CumbriaAttractionsMonth / Families

November: Food & Drink / Dark Skies

December: Festival & Celebration

January: Health & Wellbeing

February: Romance & Weddings

March: Outdoor Adventure

2. NEW MyCumbria website to boost business

Give your footfall a boost and reach new regional audiences with a special offer on our residents-only MyCumbria card scheme

Make use of the new MyCumbria website and use MyCumbria’s marketing channels as free promotional tools Email Ben on BMelling@cumbriatourism org or find out more here

3 Harness the meteoric rise in stargazing visitors

Cumbria Dark Skies Festival (28 October - 18 November) will be a catalyst for potential new visitors Submit your event and access a range of ‘Dark Skies resources here

4. Showcase your business on our Virtual Christmas Market

From 1 November, you can promote Christmas-themed gifts, produce and monetary vouchers/gift experiences Last year ’ s market was a huge hit, reaching 1,600+ people and leading to 1,300+ clicks through to members gifts and offers Email website@cumbriatourism.org to get involved

5 NEW Virtual Advent Calendar to engage visitors

Profile your business by putting forward a prize for our NEW Virtual Advent Calendar

running throughout December Our prize draws are always incredibly popular and give you the chance to collect valuable opt-in data to help build your marketing database Contact dstearne@cumbriatourism.org to take part

6 Access free training for your business

We re currently adding the finishing touches to our autumn programme of member workshops and webinars Look out for new sessions including GDPR, social media basics, working with influencers and sustainability –all being confirmed in the coming weeks

7 Share your news

Share your latest 2024 developments to help amplify our reach with high-profile journalists, broadcasters and influencers We are already being asked what’s new?’ by national media and will be showcasing 2024 news at a PR showcase with VisitBritain in mid-October Email pressoffice@cumbriatourism org

8. Upload your events for free

Take advantage of the ability to upload an unlimited number of events on visitlakedistrict com

9 Make your online listings stand out

Tell visitors what makes your business special with up-to-date listings (including up to 20 photos) Add social media, TripAdvisor, awards and opening times for maximum impact Contact website@cumbriatourism.org for support

10 Discover winter marketing packages

We ve put together some special winter campaign packages to help with your promotion during the winter months With some great savings to make, book your package now with Dan on dstearne@cumbriatourism org

Adding up to success

7 million page views on visitlakedistrict com

CT’s social media following of 360,000 continues to grow

4 million visitor newsletters sent, with an impressive 34% open rate

275 million people reached through our PR activity

Talent Hub gains momentum

Thanks for all the positive feedback we’ve had about our new ‘Tourism Talent Hub’, developed in partnership with Carlisle College, Lakes College, Furness College, Kendal College and The University of Cumbria.

Not only does the new platform showcase full-time, part-time, seasonal and live in’ opportunities, but it also enables prospective staff to access a wide range of training, including apprenticeships, adult training programmes, skills bootcamps and more

Crucially, you can use the new online platform to find talent for your business As well as advertising job vacancies, you can tap into new opportunities and partnerships, including Sector Workplace Academy Programmes, the Refugee Employment Network (REN) and the sponsorship of overseas workers

There are also opportunities to develop relationships with a range of education providers across the North of England

The project follows in-depth analysis we carried out as part of the recent Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) – revealing a clear need to bring practical resources together in one place to help tackle the industry’s ongoing recruitment challenges

View the Tourism Talent Hub here

Advertise your job vacancies for free

We’ve already advertised hundreds of your jobs so far this year. Upload your vacancies here to ensure your listing is shared with job centres, the general public and partner organisations helping refugees seek work

All new roles are shared on the @lakedistrictjobs Facebook page too. We are regularly being asked for jobs with ‘live in’ accommodation, ‘part time’ or ‘seasonal’ roles, so make sure you tag these options

Inspiring future stars

We are continuing to work with a range of partners to help inspire college and university students, and the team has been on the road over the last 12 months showcasing our industry at 30+ careers fairs and events throughout the county, from Whitehaven and Carlisle to Penrith, Barrow, Kendal and the South Lakes

We ve also developed 30+ partnerships with schools, colleges and universities in Cumbria and beyond, alongside key organisations like the Cockermouth-based Centre for Leadership Performance

For introductions to your local college or university or to put your business forward to support future careers activity/work placements, contact Rachel Tyson, Head of Partnerships & Projects on rtyson@cumbriatourism.org or Molly Hill, Partnerships & Projects Coordinator on mhill@cumbriatourism org

Putting the spotlight on Degree Apprenticeships

By Dr ANGELA ANTHONISZ (pictured), Principal Lecturer at University of Cumbria

Degree Apprenticeships are a critical part of the skills and talent development for the visitor economy infrastructure in Cumbria, providing forward-thinking employers with a unique opportunity to invest in their staff, helping them to build the competencies and knowledge needed to be a future manager in the industry

The three-year apprenticeship delivered at the Ambleside campus was developed in 2019 with a first cohort coming from several local employers including Langdale Hotel, Gilpin

Hotel & Lake House, Mountain Goat, Lakeland Arts and Lake District Country Hotels

Since then a number of other businesses such as the Westmorland Family, Castle Green Hotel and Rogan & Co have recognised the fantastic opportunity the programme provides for employees to help them obtain a degree at no cost to themselves while they gain industry experience to

progress their careers

For employers, the programme ensures staff are well trained and making that investment ensures that good employees are retained within the business in the long term It’s also a fantastic opportunity to recruit, develop and retain the managers of the future, by promoting the fact that you can support students through the course

Now recruiting for January 2024, apprentices can apply to join the degree programme where they will be supported by their business and the University to study one day a week to complete a BA (Hons) in Applied Management and obtain management status with CMI or ILM

Welcoming university students to Windermere Lake Cruises

Be ready for new f ire safety laws

Expert view

Did you know the current fire safety law is being amended from October 2023?

NPG Fire Safety Ltd has a team of competent fire risk assessors, fire safety trainers and fire and security engineers who work across Cumbria and Lancashire Managing Director NIALL GRAHAM (pictured) told us what the main change will mean for fellow CT members.

The main change is that all businesses and nondomestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings must now have a fully documented fire risk assessment Considering the number of holiday lets and small companies in Cumbria, these changes will affect thousands

Since 2006, the current threshold for documenting a fire risk assessment is if you employ more than five people, are licensed under an Act, or have been served an Alteration Notice from the Fire Authorities However, from next month, this threshold is being removed

The result is that ALL small businesses, blocks of flats/HMOs with communal spaces and holiday lets will now require a documented fire risk assessment, regardless of their size Find out more about the upcoming changes here

The Responsible Person , typically the business owner or employer, has a duty to ensure that any fire risk assessment compiled is ‘suitable and sufficient

If the Responsible Person doesn’t feel confident about compiling their own fire risk assessment using the available guides, they must appoint a competent person to assist them in undertaking one, which generally means utilising the services of a competent fire risk assessor

Competency is not currently defined in the legislation, but using assessors who are on a risk assessor register with one of the leading fire industry accrediting bodies will be a good place to start

You should also check that they have appropriate experience in undertaking fire risk assessments at your type of business and have Professional Indemnity insurance to cover the advice they provide www.npgfiresafety.co.uk

Find out more at webinar

To help unravel what the updated fire safety requirements mean for you, Cumbria Tourism is running a free webinar on Wednesday 4 October featuring advice and guidance from the Professional Association of Self Caterers, alongside a professional Safety Consultant & Fire Risk Assessor Book now!

New rules on single-use plastics

The Government is introducing a ban on certain single-use plastics from 1 October

A ban on certain single-use plastics was introduced in 2020 for three items – plastic stirrers used for drinks like tea and coffee, the provision of plastic cotton buds to customers, and the display and provision of plastic straws to customers (unless they specifically ask for one)

From next month, this ban is being extended to include:

• Single-use plastic plates, trays and bowls, regardless of the type of plastic (including recycled, compostable and biodegradable plastics) or how much plastic the item contains There are a couple of exceptions, so it is worth checking the guidance carefully

• Single-use plastic cutlery used to consume food, including sporks and chopsticks

• Balloon sticks – sticks attached to the nozzle of a balloon to enable children to carry them

• Ready-to-consume food and drink in polystyrene containers, including boxes for takeaway food like fish and chips and burgers, trays provided at food stalls, and polystyrene cups used to serve tea, coffee and soup Again, some exemptions apply

The ban will be enforced by local authority inspectors with the power to inspect premises, obtain samples of the items in which the food and drink is being provided and impose fines for non-compliance

Making EV work for you

Are you curious about the advantages of electric vehicles for your business? From cost savings and environmental benefits to improved performance and tax advantages, there are many factors to consider. CT has partnered with Lloyd Motor Group to promote the adoption of more eco-friendly modes of transport throughout the county. Corporate Sales Executive, JONATHAN JEFFERY, answers some of the most common queries to provide an insight into the benefits of making the switch.

What are the advantages of electric vehicle (EV) running costs?

Electric cars are cost-efficient and cheaper to refuel, allowing further travel for less

How do EVs contribute to a greener environment?

EVs release fewer emissions, ideal for eco-conscious individuals

Are there tax benefits for EVs?

Yes, EVs have a 2% Benefit-in-Kind rate until 2025, providing significant savings

Do electric vehicles run out of charge quickly?

Although range depends on many factors, such as vehicle size and driving styles, many fully-charged electric cars are capable of between 100-300+ miles of range

Are electric vehicles cheaper to maintain?

In comparison to non-electric vehicles, yes, because they have no need for oil changes, they don t have combustion engines, and

there are fewer moving parts that require maintenance

How many charging points are there?

At the end of August 2023, there were 48,450 electric vehicle charging points across the UK – a 42% increase on August 2022

How long will it take to charge my electric vehicle?

Charging times vary according to factors such as the size of the vehicle s battery and the type of charger you decide to use The higher the kW (kilowatt) rating of a charger, the faster it can charge your vehicle

For more advice on how making the switch could benefit you and your business, contact Jonathan Jeffery@lloydgroup co uk

Jonathan can provide your business with a free consultation to learn about tax benefits and sustainability, allow you to experience electric in a non-sales environment and help you to discover how electric fits in to not just your business, but your personal life too

Driven to succeed

CT’s Strategic Partnership with Lloyd Motor Group continues to grow We will be out and about attending events and visiting members across the county throughout the autumn, in their latest demo BMW 225e plug-in hybrid to help showcase some of the options available

We will soon also have two EV charging points at CT’s offices in Staveley, which will be available for all to use

Is wasted food eating into your profits?

Cumbria Tourism has teamed up as an official partner of ‘The Guardians of Grub’, to help the county’s tourism operators rise up against the 1.1million tonnes of food thrown away by the hospitality industry every year

Guardians of Grub estimate that around 18% of the food purchased by the sector ends up in the bin That equates to £3 2billion of wasted food nationally – an average of £10,000 for every outlet

Guardians of Grub offers free, practical tools to help time-poor businesses protect both your profits and the planet, including a cost-saving calculator here to find out how much money you could save

Get started with a 15-minute cost savings skills course here, which will teach you and your team the essentials on reducing wasted food

Once you ve completed that, you re ready to take your food waste reduction to the next level The new ‘becoming a champion’ e-learning course here is a deep-dive into all the ways you can make sure the food in your kitchen feeds people, and not bins

Additional resources here include smart menu planning guides, handy checklists, inspirational posters for staff, bin labels, stock control sheets and more

Andrew Robinson, Head of Business at Lloyd South Lakes BMW, with CT’s managing director Gill Haigh

Unleashing the potential of Artif icial Intelligence

Expert view

Artificial Intelligence (Ai) has emerged as one of the most discussed and transformative technologies in recent times It’s become deeply ingrained in our daily lives, from the applications we use on our smartphones to the tools that assist us at work.

But what exactly is Ai, and how can we leverage its capabilities to shape a brighter future? JOSH HOLMES, Head of Digital at Newsquest Media Group/LocaliQ, takes a closer look

n Understanding Ai: Ai refers to the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence These tasks span a wide spectrum, including natural language comprehension, pattern recognition, decisionmaking and problem-solving Ai can be broadly categorised into two types: Narrow Ai (or Weak Ai), which specialises in specific tasks, and General Ai (or Strong Ai), which possesses human-like intelligence Currently, we are in the era of Narrow Ai, where Ai systems excel in well-defined domains, with no current risk of a world-wide Terminator-style take over!

n Ai in action: Ai is not a distant, futuristic concept; it s already integrated into our daily routines Applications like Microsoft Word have incorporated Ai for years, aiding in grammar checks, spell checks, and even offering style suggestions Recent developments, such as Chat GPT have brought Ai into the limelight by demonstrating its conversational and creative abilities

n Ai for small businesses: Embracing Ai may seem daunting, but grasping its potential is crucial for future competitiveness While not every aspect of an SME s operation may benefit from Ai immediately, it's essential to identify areas where Ai can make a substantial impact, especially in automating repetitive, time-consuming or monotonous tasks

n Automating processes with Ai: A practical approach to integrating Ai is by visualising

your business processes as flowcharts

Almost every task in an organisation follows a process, and the objective is to pinpoint stages within these flowcharts that can be automated to save time and resources

n Using Ai chatbots for customer service: Thanks to advancements in Ai language models, chatbots have evolved significantly SMEs can employ them to handle basic customer queries, even beyond regular working hours, via their website or other

platforms These chatbots can collect crucial customer information, providing insights that can be compiled into an email or report for the customer service team to address promptly the next day

Artificial Intelligence is not merely a buzzword; it s a transformative force that SMEs can harness to enhance efficiency, improve customer experiences, and drive future growth Understanding its potential and strategically implementing it will be key to staying ahead in a rapidly-changing business

Access vital tourism insights for free

Cumbria Tourism’s research function, supported by Lamont Pridmore, helps make sense of complex market trends and insights around visitor audiences and business performance

So how can you make the most of this vital market intelligence for the benefit of your business?

• Download regular tourism research updates via our Media Library on www.cumbriatourism.org using your member login

• Keep your finger on the pulse by accessing T-STATS, a real-time destination tracking system containing insights on everything from national indicators (e g exchange rates and inbound visitors) to local data like petrol prices, the weather and enquiries at tourism information centres In return, we just ask for one monthly figure – your visitor numbers – which remains anonymous

• Participate in our monthly Accommodation Occupancy Survey: It s confidential to take part and you will receive a complimentary annual report, worth £65+VAT, detailing occupancy rates county-wide by business type, location, size and quality rating

n Contact Helen Tate to find out more: htate@cumbriatourism org

Josh Holmes

Going global!

We kicked off a packed autumn of high-profile marketing activity on the world stage earlier this month with the Destination Britain North America 2023 travel trade event

Cumbria Tourism was part of a strong contingent of CT members who headed stateside to collectively promote our destination to key North American markets

The visit, organised by VisitBritain, enabled us to meet key travel organisers from across the US and Canada in San Francisco and was a chance to launch our new travel trade guide showcasing the vast array of products bookable to the trade

The US trade mission will be followed up in November with a similar visit to India –Destination Britain India’ – which we will be attending alongside another group of the

county’s tourism operators

CT has engaged with 600+ operators, press and consumers at key events over the past year Looking ahead to this autumn and into 2024, upcoming events include the Group Leisure and Travel Show, Britain & Ireland Marketplace and the British Tourism & Travel Show

We’re also continuing to work with VisitBritain to host international journalists and influencer visits, which both promote the wider destination and profile individual member businesses Most recently, this resulted in a series of travel segments featuring Cumbrian companies on Good Morning Arabia , which has an audience of more than 40 million

Filming for Good Morning Arabia

CT's Francine Bult promoting Cumbria on the world stage

Expert view

The high winds and heavy rain brought by storms can have a lasting impact on businesses which are hit by the worst of the winter weather

Carlisle-based H&H Insurance Brokers operates across the North of England, the Scottish Borders and Wales, and is one of Cumbria Tourism’s Strategic Partners.

STUART TORRANCE, who leads their in-house claims team, outlines five top tips on how to minimise the impact of potential storms as we look ahead to the winter.

1. Keep on top of maintenance: A wellmaintained building will weather any storms better than one which is in poor structural condition Make sure you keep on top of jobs throughout the year, including fixing loose tiles on roofs, securing loose fence panels or gates, and making sure any overhanging tree branches have been dealt with It’s worth remembering that, when assessing any storm claim, a loss adjuster will take into consideration the general state of the building

2. Secure any moveable items: Make sure any items which could potentially be blown away by high winds are tied down or moved to a safe place This includes outdoor furniture, children’s play items and even potted plants

Office space to rent

If you re looking for low-cost hot-desking options, we have work space available at our Staveley HQ from £15+VAT a day

Whether you need something on an individual basis or just short-term, our hot-desking’ spaces can be booked either by the day or in multi-day blocks

Contact Sarah Davies on sdavies@cumbriatourism.org

Storm advice

3. Park in a safe place: Either in a garage or building, and away from fences, trees and walls which could fall on your vehicle(s)

4. Keep up-to-date with weather warnings: Follow the media for the latest weather warnings and have a plan in place in case a storm hits and you lose power It’s useful to have access to an emergency pack with a torch, medicines and important documents, as well as a fully-charged mobile phone

5. Stay safe: When a storm hits, the most important thing is to stay safe Once it’s safe to do so, gather together essential information including taking photographs and videos of the damage and make a note of the extent of it If you have more than one property, then record which premises are affected and where

Contact your insurance broker as soon as possible to report any damage to get the claims process underway

www.hhinsurancebrokers.co.uk

Coming together

It’s fantastic to see our new mentoring/ buddy scheme helping new CT members ke useful new connections with similar inesses for support and advice rested? Contact Sarah on: vies@cumbriatourism org

Don’t forget you can use our membersy Facebook group to ask questions and advice/feedback from other tourism rators facing similar challenges

There is also a WhatApp group for inesses interested in sharing ideas and t practice around sustainability Contact mma at GProcter@cumbriatourism.org e added

Dates for your diary

You can book online for all of our free events at: www cumbriatourism org/ upcoming-events

4 October New Fire Safety regulations

Venue: Webinar

12 October

Working with Social Media Influencers

Venue: Webinar

1 November

Destination Management Plan Stakeholder Event: feedback

Venue: The Inn on the Lake, Glenridding

9 November

Getting to Grips with Social Media for your Business

Venue: Cumbria Tourism, Staveley

16 November

Autumn Members' Meeting

Venue: The Villa, Levens

2024

Cumbria Tourism’s 50th Anniversary Year

January

Launch of the Destination Management Plan (DMP)

28/29 February

Lakes Hospitality Trade Show

Venue: J36 Rural Auction Centre

21 March

Spring Members' Meeting

Venue: TBC

Watch this space for upcoming webinars on GDPR, winter marketing tips, sustainability and more

Stuart Torrance