Visit Moray Speyside

After five years of championing Moray Speyside as a world-class destination, Visit Moray Speyside (VMS) will not continue beyond 2025, following a ballot result of 203 votes against versus 69 in favour. Since 2020, VMS has played a key role in growing tourism to a record £187m annually, supporting 3,000+ local jobs and boosting visitor numbers by 25%. Campaigns like Your Next Adventure Starts Here put Moray Speyside on the map, while important partnerships helped businesses save thousands. CEO Gemma Cruickshank expressed pride in VMS’s achievements and deep disappointment at the outcome: "We were a small team, but we made a big difference. While this chapter closes, I hope the region’s incredible tourism sector continues to thrive." Read more here - https://lnkd.in/eginBzXS Discussions are now underway regarding VMS’s assets.

With a crucial vote ahead, its great to see local businesses backing the future of tourism in our region. Read more - https://lnkd.in/eqeBNcYB #VisitMoraySpeyside #SupportLocal #TourismMatters #VisitScotland #ScottishTourism #Findhorn #MoraySpeyside

The Dowans Hotel is setting new standards in hospitality excellence. Their achievements highlight a commitment to offering unforgettable experiences in one of Scotland's most picturesque regions, Moray Speyside. https://lnkd.in/ek-NVrfz

One week left to cast your vote in the Visit Moray Speyside renewal ballot! The deadline to vote is Thursday, 20th March—don’t miss your chance to have your say. Since launching in 2020, we’ve worked tirelessly to support local businesses and grow our tourism industry. Thanks to these efforts, Moray Speyside’s visitor economy has reached a record-breaking £187 million, attracting over 877,000 visitors to the region! Here are just a few of our key achievements: ✅ Secured over £550,000 in funding for businesses during the pandemic, ensuring support when eligibility was uncertain. ✅ VMS worked with Moray Chamber of Commerce and the Cairngorms Business Partnership to deliver Moray Speyside Check & Protect, a free to use ‘check-in’ app giving businesses an easy, reliable way to adhere to the COVID-19 customer recording rules. Check & Protect was introduced in summer 2020, well before the Scottish Government app. It recorded 178,000 check-ins across more than 100 venues across Moray. ✅ One of our members was included in Pete Irvine’s Scotland the Best Guide after Pete presented at a Moray Speyside Tourism conference - an incredible achievement made possible because Visit Moray Speyside made it happen! ✅ Ran successful marketing campaigns, including Sky Ads and Growth Fund, exceeding our targets. ✅ Partnered with Expedia, generating £250,000+ in revenue for local businesses who participated in the campaign. ✅ Secured £45,000 to keep public toilets open for visitors and residents. ✅ Saved businesses over £20,000 on energy bills through our energy broker service. ✅ Launched key initiatives like Taste of Moray Speyside, Moray Golf Pass, and Tourism Network Meetings. ✅ Secured funding for businesses, including windows, solar panels, and EV charging points. ✅ Worked with Moray Council to secure rural tourism infrastructure funding, ensuring camper van charging and waste disposal points were installed during COVID. These are just some of the highlights from the past five years. Let’s continue this momentum—make sure to cast your vote! “Most people only look at what’s in front of them. To get where you want to be, you have to look at the hill after next.” #VisitMoraySpeyside #TourismMatters #SupportLocal #VoteForMoray

What a great line up of events! Click below to find out what is on and sign up now 👇

Moray businesses urged to take action on Tourism BID levy to boost local economy and jobs Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJg7mxeN #aberdeenbusinessnews #unionmedia

This incredible competition takes place on the 9th of March but entry spots are filling up quickly! Click below to find out more and sign up 👇

Visit Moray Speyside is committed to supporting local businesses, especially during challenging times. With rising energy costs putting pressure on many, we launched a new initiative in partnership with eyebright Ltd to help our members reduce their bills and improve efficiency. So far, this programme has delivered a total of £20,000 in savings across the region, providing businesses with expert guidance, funding opportunities, and practical solutions to navigate the complex energy landscape. Head to The Scotsman for the full story https://lnkd.in/emz6eSjA If you're a member of Visit Moray Speyside, I urge you to seize this opportunity and contact us immediately (info@morayspeyside.com). Let's collaborate to fortify our businesses, ensuring they're more resilient, efficient, and sustainable.

🚨 Join Our Exclusive Online Teams Call – Your Vote, Your Future! 🚨 The future of Visit Moray Speyside is in your hands! As a levy-paying business, your vote in the upcoming BID ballot is crucial to ensuring continued support for our region’s tourism industry. 📅 Date: Wednesday, 5th February ⏰ Time: 3:00 PM 📍 Where: Microsoft Teams (link provided upon emailing info@morayspeyside.com) During this session, we’ll be discussing: - The new model of Visit Moray Speyside, now including licensed food & drink businesses - Budget and expenditure, ensuring transparency on how BID funds are used - Our future plans, including upcoming projects and strategic direction - Addressing concerns and tackling online negativity This is your chance to ask questions, share your thoughts and gain clarity on what the BID means for your business and the wider region. If you're a Visit Moray Speyside levy payer, we encourage you to sign up and join the conversation. Your input is invaluable! To register now email info@morayspeyside.com. If you can’t attend but would like to discuss any concerns, please reach out to our CEO, Gemma Cruickshank, or any of our Board members. #VisitMoraySpeyside #Tourism #BIDBallot #YourVoteMatters

We’re inviting all accommodation providers across Moray Speyside to take part in our Levy Payer Survey. This is your chance to share your views and help shape the future of tourism in our region. Your feedback is vital—it ensures we can better understand your needs and represent your interests in our plans for 2025 and beyond. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, and your input will make a real difference. Click here to complete the survey 👇 https://lnkd.in/etfkNr6D