The Infotel Blog, Online Hotel Reservation Specialists

Infotel retain ISO Accreditation

2009-06-05T05:35:00.001-07:00

Having successfully retained their Investors In People accreditation in April, it seems that the sky’s the limit for Infotel Solutions Ltd who have this week also had their ISO accreditation renewed.

Following scrutiny from the ISO Officer, the surveillance visit went extremely well and once again Infotel have matched the requirements for quality.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 161 countries, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system.

ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. For more information visit http://www.iso.org/iso/about.htm

Devon tourism 'worth £2.3bn'

2009-06-05T01:09:00.000-07:00

Hotel groups and other tourism businesses in Devon help to generate around £2.3 billion for the local economy, according to new figures.

The new report from Visit Devon has revealed that the area recorded a ten per cent increase in UK visitors over 2006 and 2007, while the organisation predicts the figure will rise this year.

It also found that visitors from both the UK and overseas spent 26 million nights in the area during 2007, while day visitors accounted for 20 million trips to the region.

Nicola Poultney, Chief Executive of Visit Devon, said the figures highlighted the popularity of the area amongst all types of tourists.

She added: "As the data is from 2007 it doesn't really yet show us the effect the economic downturn has had on tourism to the region but all signs indicate we had a great Easter weekend, with accommodation providers and attractions reporting visitor numbers were up."

Demand for Bath tourism guide increases

2009-06-04T01:06:00.001-07:00

Hotels in Bath may see a boom in trade after a surge in demand for the city's latest visitor guide has been noted.Bath Tourism Plus printed 80,000 copies of the guide, which details recommended accommodation, shops, restaurants and attractions, in January and has so far received 6,000 requests for the booklet, 18 per cent more than in the same period last year, reports the Bath Chronicle.The Bath Visitor Guide underwent a revamp for its latest edition and it now boasts new branding and photography of the city's sites.Jane Hull, the firm's travel and trade conference manager, told the publication: "We were delighted with the end result and have received positive feedback from our members and customers."Northumberland Tourism has recently launched its own guide, featuring days out and attractions in the region. It is available for free in Tourist Information Centres across the county and details outdoor activities and National Trust and English Heritage properties nearby.

Welsh golf tourism on the rise

2009-05-28T01:15:00.001-07:00

The number of people heading to Wales for golfing holidays appears to be increasing, new figures have suggested.

According to research from the country's government, the financial impact of golf tourism in 2008 was up by 13 per cent from statistics for 2007, with revenue generated from the sector standing at almost £30 million.

Visitor numbers to golfing venues in Wales were also found to be higher in 2008 than 12 months earlier.

Alun Ffred Jones, the country's heritage minister, said: "These figures are excellent news for the golf tourism industry in Wales and shows that the Ryder Cup effect is taking hold throughout Wales and is proving to be a huge boost for tourism.

"I'm delighted to see that Wales has a high level of satisfaction for all aspects of a golfing break – from the welcome to the quality of the course."

Hotels close to Liverpool could be boosted by recent news that Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa's 72-par course has joined the PGA EuroPro Tour and will host its first event from August 19th.

London Eye 'top tourism attraction'

2009-05-27T01:10:00.000-07:00

The London Eye is considered the top attraction in the UK, according to a new survey.

Cumbria's Lake District and Blackpool Tower were ranked second and third in the poll, which was conducted by Best of Britain and Ireland 2009, while Sherwood Forest and Giant's Causeway in Country Antrim completed the top five.

"The London Eye is the world's highest cantilevered observation wheel and has become a must do for all visitors coming to London. The views on a clear day reach for miles and you can always see something new. It is one of the best ways to see London," Louisa Myers, UK marketing manager for Visit London commented.

Liverpool Docks, Brighton, Alton Towers, the Yorkshire Dales and the Norfolk Broads were also included on the list, which could see the number of people taking hotel breaks in these regions boosted.

Research by tourism body Visit England released at the first Best of Britain and Ireland trade show revealed that one in five people who went abroad for a holiday last year will consider a domestic trip in 2009 to save cash.

London attracts 26m visitors in 2008

2009-05-26T02:13:00.001-07:00

Hotels in London could be busy this year if booming tourism numbers from 2008 are any indication of this year's visitor levels.

Data released by Visit London highlights that more than 26 million visitors headed to the capital last year, spending some £10.5 billion.

It is thought that this increase in visitors, which was 550,000 more than the previous 12 months, was prompted by the fall in sterling's value against the euro and dollar, in addition to more people taking domestic holidays due to the recession.

However, the number of overseas visitors dropped by three per cent in 2008, down to 14.8 million.

Visit London Chief Executive Sally Chatterjee said: "It is more important than ever that we continue to promote London to both domestic and international audiences."
It was recently reported that London is set to benefit from an extra £400,000, which will be added to its £2 million tourism campaign in a bid to attract even more visitors.

Plans unveiled to boost Yorkshire tourism

2009-05-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

Hotels in Leeds and other areas of Yorkshire could benefit from plans to launch a new marketing campaign highlighting the region as a tourist destination.

The Yorkshire Tourism Board (YTB) announced at the industry event Y09 that high-profile TV commercials will be launched alongside online, cinema and press advertising.

It is hoped the scheme will boost the area's tourism economy, which is already thought to generation over £6 billion of revenue for the region every year.

Gary Verity, chief executive of the YTB, said the new campaign would "turn heads both here and overseas".

He added: "We want to make sure more visitors are coming to Yorkshire and spending their money in Yorkshire."

A new brochure was recently published to highlight the region's stately homes, castles and gardens.

The guide includes over 40 venues and includes details about what each of the attractions has to offer potential visitors in the coming months.

Scotland targets domestic tourists

2009-05-21T01:20:00.001-07:00

A new campaign which could boost the number of British residents heading to Scotland for a hotel break or similar holiday has been launched.

The £1 million Perfect Day campaign has been designed to highlight the country as an ideal option for a "staycation" in the coming months as people are put off from heading abroad due to high exchange rates.

Cinema and TV adverts have been created to support the initiative, while over 250 businesses are taking part to raise awareness of the scheme.

Jim Mather, minister for tourism, said: "It is vital that we continue to look at new and innovative ways of attracting new visitors to our great country.

"This is the biggest domestic tourism drive VisitScotland has ever launched and we want to showcase the best of what Scotland has to offer to tourists right across the UK."

Bournemouth euro plan 'a neat ploy'

2009-05-20T01:30:00.000-07:00

New plans which will see visitors to Bournemouth and Poole given the chance to use euros in the towns have been praised by an expert.

Jeremy Cook, chief economist of currency exchange broker World First, said the scheme is a "neat ploy" which could help hotel chains to attract those looking for a break "that little cheaper".

He added that the current economic climate has changed the way many people are viewing holidays.

"For most people the £2,500 package holiday is a luxury too far in these testing times and with the general gloominess around work places, people still need a break," he explained.

"Commercial breaks are full of adverts to 'see England' and 'enjoy Wales' and for most people this is the exact time to do exactly that."
Last month, figures from VisitEngland revealed that 90 per cent of Britons are cutting back on their overall spending, with many planning to take a holiday on these shores in the next 12 months.

Wales 'enjoys good start to the season'

2009-05-19T04:24:00.001-07:00

The Welsh tourism industry has enjoyed a good start to the holiday season, new figures have suggested.

Research by Visit Wales found that 41 per cent of businesses increased their guest numbers over the Easter period compared to 12 months ago, while 73 per cent of attractions reported a rise in visitors.

Only 13 per cent of companies reported any falls in interest compared to last year.

Alun Ffred Jones, the country's heritage minister, said: "For the first time in this ongoing research there is some evidence that more people are choosing to holiday in Wales, or other parts of UK, rather than going abroad.

"This could be due, in part, to families having less disposable income and as a result of the unfavourable exchange rates."
The release of the positive figures has come after it was announced that 21 hotels in Cardiff have agreed to cut their rates for people visiting the city for corporate events or conferences.

Liverpool attraction set for July launch

2009-05-14T01:07:00.001-07:00

A new tourist attraction which could boost visitor numbers to Liverpool is set to be launched in July.

The BugWorld Experience at the city's Albert Dock will allow people to see the world through the eyes of insects, giving them an insight to their habits and biology.

Visitors will also be able to handle the bugs they learn more about, with creatures including the preying mantis, the death stalker scorpion and a giant centipede to be on show.

Jenny Dobson, general manager of the BugWorld Experience, said: "There'll be a real buzz around the place, and that’s not just the Panamanian paper wasps.
"This is a must for all budding scientists, adventurers and travellers. Nowhere else in Britain could they get up close and personal to insects and bugs like this in a fun and educational way."

Green tourism plan for Lancashire

2009-05-13T01:33:00.001-07:00

A new project has been launched which will see Lancashire become a major green tourism destination.

The three-year initiative is based around making the region achieve Green Tourism Business Scheme accreditation by developing sustainable tourism activities and meeting criteria on issues including energy and water efficiency.

Hotel chains across the area could benefit from the plans, which will also see several eco-friendly tourism firms given prizes for their recent efforts to go green.

Mary Wilson, a Lancashire county councillor, said: "These awards are an important step towards achieving our aim of making Lancashire a genuinely green tourism county.

"Sustainability and green issues are becoming increasingly important for people travelling in the UK."

Lancashire tourism bodies recently celebrated after a national poll found that Blackpool Tower is one of the top ten best attractions and destinations in Britain.

The Lake District, the London Eye and Sherwood Forest also featured in the survey.

Bridlington guide 'attracts £20m of business'

2009-05-12T08:48:00.001-07:00

The 2008 issue of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire's (VHEY's) guide to Bridlington attracted over £20 million of business to the town, it has been claimed.

Hopes are high that the latest version of the guide will be as successful, as over 60,000 copies are set to be sent to prospective visitors in the next few months.

The guides include information on the range of holidays available to prospective visitors, from day trips to week-long stays.

Janet Reuben, Chief Executive of VHEY, said: "Bridlington is a fantastic holiday destination that has enjoyed many years of popularity and we believe that the number of visitors is only going to increase.

"The town is benefiting from the large amount of investment that has happened over the past couple of years."

VHEY was formed through a partnership between Yorkshire Forward, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council to promote the local area as a quality tourist destination.

London tourism funding boosted

2009-05-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hotel chains could be among the tourism firms that receive a boost from extra funding being added to London's £2 million tourism campaign.

An additional cash injection of £400,000 is to be provided by City of London, Camden, Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea to strengthen the promotional drive to key international markets.

It is hoped the overall campaign will deliver an additional £60 million in economic benefits to the capital by the end of this year.

The capital's mayor, Boris Johnson, said: "These additional funds to the war chest from our partner boroughs will make a big difference to the results of our exciting campaign and will help boost visitor numbers further.

"It is crucial that we take nothing for granted and continue shouting from the rooftops that London is a fantastic city to visit."

London could also be boosted by domestic tourism in the next few months, as research by Mintel has claimed that 35 per cent of consumers are planning to holiday on these shores due to the economic climate.

Life's a beach in Birmingham

2009-04-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

People who are thinking about enjoying a hotel break in Birmingham over the summer could enjoy sand and sunshine in the city, it has been revealed.

Airline Monarch has partnered with the area's council and a local radio station to create an urban beach environment in the centre of the city.

Covering 577 square metres, the Monarch Beach includes a stage for live music, a bar and café, as well as deckchairs, tables and parasols.

It is hoped that up to 150,000 people will sample the delights of the new attraction when it opens on June 19th.

Councillor Ray Hassall, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said: "This free attraction gives everyone a chance to enjoy a relaxing day on the beach with the sand between their toes, which will be particularly welcome for those who are unable to get away on holiday this year."

Infotel retain Investors In People Accreditation

2009-04-28T06:41:00.001-07:00

Infotel Solutions were delighted to have successfully retained their Investors In People accreditation. Following an assessment by Investors In People Assessor, Tracey Pepper, her reported concluded that:

“It was clearly evident that even in this adverse climate, Infotel continue to put the people at the heart of the business and have proactively involved and engaged staff in coming up with ideas to help the business grow. As a result they have a truly committed and loyal staff that put their own energy, drive and determination into finding solutions to problems and utilising the opportunities for training and development to fine tune their skills in selling and negotiation in order to bring in, or retain business. Staff want to deliver a five star service and also take care of the company and its assets.

I was able to find very positive evidence against all aspects of the Standard and as a result would like to confirm that Infotel Solutions continues to meet the Investor In People Standard.”

Tanya Beresford, Director of Infotel Solutions said “As a company, we invest a lot of time and effort into ensuring that our staff receive the highest possible level of support from both Managers & Directors. As part of our continued commitment to our staff, we last year recruited an in-house Training Manager to cater for the needs of both the company as a whole & individual staff requirements. The appointment of the Training Manager has proved invaluable & we feel that the positive feedback from Tracey reinforces this”.

Infotel first opened its doors in 1989 to provide simple, comprehensive telephone based information services using computers to match guest criteria and now offer a global service for booking accommodation, conferences and travel online or via their contact centre. Having organically grown since 1989, brands now include Infotel, Findmeahotelroom.com & Findmeaconference.com with other ‘Findmea’ brands in the early stages of development.

Infotel makes the headlines

2009-04-02T01:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, we've finally hit the headlines! Below is a snippet from our local Spalding Today newspaper - read on to find out how we've supported the Midsummer Ball & click through to the Spalding Today website for more information...

Organisers of a popular annual fundraising ball have launched a website.
Gosberton-based Infotel Solutions has put together a website for the Spalding Midsummer Ball Committee containing information on sponsors and photographs from last year's event, which raised more than £27,000 for charity.The money, the committee's biggest ever total, was split between Action Medical Research and Macmillan Cancer Support.The same two groups will benefit again this year, as well as Holbeach and East Elloe Hospital Trust, and the website will offer organisers the chance to draw in advertisers online as well as recognise the support of its sponsors.
Infotel director Tanya Beresford is on the ball committee and offered the expertise of her firm, the reigning Lincolnshire Free Press Business of the Year.

For more information visit http://www.spaldingmidsummerball.com/

Doing our bit for Comic Relief

2009-03-13T03:47:00.000-07:00

To get into the spirit of Red Nose Comic Relief Day, Infotel staff were given the option of dressing as gangsters or dressing down with a colour theme of red. Take a look at some of the results below, and if you call in, listen to the 'Mob Hits' playing on our hold music! Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday Jax!

2009-03-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

A very Happy Birthday to Jackie Dickson, a long-standing Senior Sales Executive within the Infotel Sales Department. Jackie received lots of lovely presents from everyone here at Infotel. Have a great birthday Jax!

It's snowing!

2009-02-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

Snow mania hit the Infotel offices this lunchtime as staff braved the subzero conditions to build a snowman. Buoyed up by salad sandwiches, Mark took on the role as Head of Snowman Development and enlisted help from Emma & Kim (pictured), Luke, John & Tom. Take a look at the result.

Great hotel deals for Paul Weller forestry concerts

2009-01-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

Tickets are now on sale to see The Modfather of Soul, Paul Weller, at Forestry Commision sites across the country. For quality, discount hotels conveniently located near to the events, click on the links below:

Thetford Forest, Near Brandon, Suffolk, Friday 5th June
Delamere Forest, Delamere, Cheshire, Friday 12th June
Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Near Edwinstowe, Notts, Fri 19th June
Westonbirt Arboretum, Near Tetbury, Glos, Saturday 20th June
Cannock Chase Forest, Near
Rugeley, Staffs, Friday 26th June
Dalby Forest, Near Pickering, N Yorks, Saturday 27th June

Great hotels available for Paul Weller gigs

2009-01-16T07:45:00.001-08:00

Need a crib this winter?

2008-12-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

Poor Sebastian, still down on his luck he really is in need of some festive cheer - and a hotel. Should have called Infotel! Take a look for yourself

Don't be left out in the cold this Christmas

2008-12-17T01:32:00.000-08:00

Meet Sebastian, once a rich banker who, down on his luck due to the economic climate has lost his home and has resorted to sleeping anywhere.... he really should have called Infotel

Possibly the hottest party in town…

2008-12-09T04:12:00.000-08:00

Celebrate New Years’ Eve the Elton way! Forget Big Ben, fireworks, dinner parties & crowded clubs with overpriced admission; see in the New Year with thousands of others as Elton John plus very special guests put on an almighty show at the O2 Arena.

With the London Underground providing a 24 hour service & Infotel able to offer fantastic and affordable hotels in London , you’d be mad to miss the hottest party in town