Failte Ireland - Business Supports Hub User Guide

50+ Free Supports

for your Tourism Business Get Expert Advice on the Business Supports Hub

TIPS FOR DRIVING REVENUE MARKETING ON A BUDGET RECRUITMENT ADVICE BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMMES

Introduction

Get familiar with the Business Supports Hub Did you know that world class supports are available to you and your business through Failte Ireland’s Business Supports Hub?

WHAT’S INSIDE Check out our Schedule of Capability Supports

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Develop HR & People Management Practices

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Boost Sales and Marketing

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Get to Grips with Financial Planning

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On Demand Business Tools

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On Demand eLearning

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The Business Supports Hub has been developed together with industry experts to provide guidance for restaurants, cafés, hotels, guesthouses, pubs, B&Bs, activity providers, visitor attractions, hostels, and camping, caravan, and self-catering accommodation.

Working closely with tourism businesses gives us invaluable insights to the challenges faced by the industry and as a result, we invest in a schedule of programmes and business development in collaboration with our panel of leading experts.

Our targeted best in class supports help business owners, managers and teams enhance their performance, accelerate business growth and future proof their efforts in building back better.

Check out our Schedule of Capability Supports, read top tips on staff recruitment, find smart financial supports, and see how you can execute a successful marketing campaign on a shoestring budget.

Let’s get started…

Business Supports Hub Assets - Our Terms and Conditions of Use Fáilte Ireland is not responsible for the outcome of any business decisions that arise from the use of our supports, guidelines, templates, and resources. Fáilte Ireland (who are the owners of these supports) reserve the right to withdraw the use of these supports from any business that is using them in an inappropriate manner.

How to use this guide Throughout these pages, where you see the download symbol, you can access resources on the Business Supports Hub. You can also click the green buttons throughout to see the various supports available for your business.

Schedule of Capability Supports

HR & People Management

Check out our Schedule of Capability Supports

Develop HR & people management practices

Don’t miss Failte Ireland’s 2022 programme schedule of upcoming webinars and workshops. The schedule is updated regularly so you can plan your team's participation in capability development programmes. Find an overview below, simply click on the schedule for all the information and details on how to register.

Some tourism and hospitality businesses may be struggling with employee turnover in the current climate and the Business Supports Hub resources are designed to help you tackle this issue.

TOP TIP Did you know you can sign up to Fáilte Ireland’s Trade Portal to stay up to date with all the latest supports and free courses? Sign up now and you’ll get details on all the events.

Commercial planning and finance

Operational excellence

 2022 Financial Planning

 Climate Action – Energy Management

 Key Finance Metrics

Sales & marketing  Selling Skills  CRM & Database Management  Marketing on a Shoestring

Digital skills  Email Marketing  Google AdWords  Google Analytics & Conversion  Driving Sales [paid & unpaid]  Managing your Digital Agency  Developing Digital Marketing for Optimal ROI

 Climate Action – Food Waste Management

HR & people management Details of our HR and People Management programmes will be coming soon.

Revenue generation Check out the schedule regularly to see our upcoming Revenue Management and Development Programmes for attractions and hotels.

Keep up to date with the Business Supports Hub Programmes Schedule to see what new courses are coming up with lots of exciting events planned for 2022.

 CHECK OUT THE PROGRAMMES SCHEDULE 4

BUSINESS SUPPORTS HUB | 50+ FREE SUPPORTS FOR YOUR TOURISM BUSINESS

GOOD TO KNOW If you’re new to the Business Supports Hub, the HR and People Management section is a great place to start. You’ll find expert industry advice on recruitment, onboarding, upskilling and staff retention.

Get tips on staff retention and advice on good practices in recruiting and onboarding employees. Help your team leaders and managers improve communications and staff development with expert upskilling policies.

Recruitment toolkit

Staff induction

Successful onboarding is important for staff retention and our planning templates and staff induction supports can help make the process easier.

Employee satisfaction and staff engagement contribute to peak performance and long-term staff retention. Simply click the link to get started.

 Onboarding  Contract Advice  Enterprise Supports  Further Education Options

 Induction Plans  Role Profiles  Training Checklists  Downloadable Templates

 Performance Matrixes  Training Guidelines  Staff Engagement  Buddy Systems

Our recruitment toolkit features checklists to assist you in the recruitment process with advice on creating contracts, and tips to improve induction practices.

Download the Toolkit

Get Onboarding Tips

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Managing teams

Drive Team Performance

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Need more HR support? The Business Supports Hub has even more training and tools to help you with recruitment, onboarding, and staff development. Click the link below to find out more.

HOW TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN STAFF 5

Sales and Marketing

Sales and Marketing

Boost sales and marketing Devoting time to improving your marketing outputs can help increase sales and boost revenue. Our informative videos and downloadable templates feature simple actionable tips and expert industry advice.

Learn how to align your business to a domestic audience, get tips on digital marketing and discover lots of free supports to help you along the way.

Get the Keep Discovering Toolkit

The Keep Discovering Toolkit is a key resource for marketing your tourism or hospitality business and reaching more visitors, with easyto-use templates and advice you can instantly implement.  Social Media Shareables  Inspirational Images  Expert Industry Advice  Campaign Videos Find the Toolkit

TOP TIP if you want advice on promoting your business, start with the sales and marketing section. We have checklists, resources, videos, guides, and downloadable templates so you can double down on your marketing efforts.

How to market on a shoestring

Marketing can be done on a budget. Our ‘Marketing on a Shoestring’ guide will help create the optimum customer experience, boost engagement via social media and measure your results.

Reach out to international markets

Find out how to align your tourism or hospitality business with international markets as Ireland prepares to welcome overseas visitors once again.

Get Expert Advice

 Define Market Share  Track Performance  Optimise Conversions via Digital  Boost Social Media Sales  Target Domestic/Overseas Visitors Marketing on a Budget

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BUSINESS SUPPORTS HUB | 50+ FREE SUPPORTS FOR YOUR TOURISM BUSINESS

Need more sales and marketing support? The Business Supports Hub has even more resources to help you showcase your business and drive revenue. Hit the link below to get started.

 ELEVATE YOUR MARKETING 7

Financial Planning

Financial Planning

Get to grips with financial planning Scenario planning, cashflow forecasting, loan financing and more are all essential to understanding your company’s finances. The right spreadsheets can save you time, help you make a case for financing with the bank, and give you the information you need to make informed decisions.

Download our easy-to-use tools and useful guides to help manage your company’s financial operations, all of which are specifically designed for each sector of the tourism and hospitality industry. Choose your sector below and find the appropriate tools and supports for your business.

GOOD TO KNOW We have a suite of informative supports to help you with financial planning. Start with our profit and loss scenario analysis tools to help you with key business decisions and forecasts over a 12-18 month period.

Financial planning support by sector:

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Hotels and Guesthouses

Visitor Attractions

Activity Providers

B&B’s, Hostels, Self Catering, Caravan, Camping

Restaurants, Cafés and Pubs

Financial and commercial tools

Below you’ll find the supports related to hotels and guesthouses but if you click on the relevant sector for your business [see opposite], you’ll get the tools you need.

Manage cashflow and costs Discover resources to help establish a regular cashflow and manage costs.

Download Tools

Start Preparing

Business planning Create a vision for your company and define your business plan using our resources.

Find Out More

Tips for meeting with banks Download supports to prepare for bank meetings including checklists for loan applications.

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Get Forecasting

Business liquidity Use our templates to review finances, manage cash flow and calculate working capital needs.

Calculate Capital

Profit and loss scenario analysis Use our scenario analysis tools to analyse best and base case scenarios over 12-18 months.

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Debt financing Get information on the debt financing options using our guidance notes.

Learn More

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The Business Supports Hub has even more training and tools to support your financial planning.

START PLANNING NOW 8

BUSINESS SUPPORTS HUB | 50+ FREE SUPPORTS FOR YOUR TOURISM BUSINESS

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On Demand Business Tools

On Demand eLearning

On demand business tools Find free supports to help you upskill, from sales distribution and human resources to digital marketing and SEO. These practical tools will help you grow your business, create memorable content, diversify your offering, and drive revenue.

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Standards of performance

Ensure best in class service with our performance standards resources.

Improve Performance

Create engaging content

The Business Supports Hub is home to oodles of great resources and our on demand tools cover several key areas of business operations. Bookmark this page so you always have training support on hand.

Optimise sales conversions

Learn how the right imagery and video content can boost your business.

Get Creating

Improve your sales funnel and track visitors to your website, resulting in more bookings.

Start Converting

Pricing, contracting, and negotiating in international markets

Prepare for online sales meetings with international leisure buyers

Find guidance documents and sample rate agreements.

Find Out More

Fundamentals of food and beverage service

TOP TIP

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Inside Food podcast

Get insights from hospitality experts and food service operators in this series.

Start Listening

Diversify your business by checking out more tourism and hospitality business supports.

DOWNLOAD MORE TOOLS 10

BUSINESS SUPPORTS HUB | 50+ FREE SUPPORTS FOR YOUR TOURISM BUSINESS

Appeal to international markets

Get the information you need to drive international B2B sales.

Drive Sales

Breakfast innovation toolkit

Upskill on procurement, lean production, and excellent service for F&B outlets.

Learn More

Introduction to Lean and Six Sigma Improve efficiency by reducing waste, using Lean Sigma principles.

Discover More

GOOD TO KNOW

Map out development programmes for your hospitality team using our suite of certified eLearning programmes. Access these free courses with one simple click and upskill across key areas including HR, sales and marketing and revenue management.

5 hours

Equip your team with the 12 steps to delivering a successful online buyer meeting.

See The 12 Steps

Discover tips for onboarding, coaching, and upskilling in food and beverage services.

Watch Series

On demand eLearning

4 hours

Prepare and monitor budgets

Responsible for making critical financial decisions? This course is for you.

See More Details

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3 hours Introduction to digital marketing

Human resources and people management How to upskill on leadership, team management, and workplace communications.

Sign Up Now

4 hours Revenue management and sales distribution Get to grips with the key principles of revenue management.

Learn More

3 hours Owned media: SEO

Discover a comprehensive overview of digital marketing for tourism businesses.

Get Information

Each course takes between 3-6 hours and after, you will receive a certificate of completion and additional recommendations with online training and 3rd level courses to continue your eLearning journey. Pick a course, register, and start upskilling today.

Educate your team on SEO best practices to ensure the best web results for your business.

Boost SEO

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3 hours Owned media: CRM, email marketing Create the optimum customer journey through the booking process.

Get Involved

Continue your professional development with our suite of enterprise supports.

 FIND FREE COURSES 11

Need more support for your business?

Fáilte Ireland have created an extensive range of business supports with industry experts and sector bodies to support the tourism and hospitality industries.

Visit Fáilte Ireland’s Business Supports Hub or click a support suite below.

HR

Government supports

Business Supports Hub www.failteireland.ie © FÁILTE IRELAND 2022

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Sales and marketing

Operational performance

Financial planning

Schedule of Supports

Learning hub

Inside Food Tourism Business podcast