The Islands’ Partnership is encouraging businesses from Scilly to enter the official 2015/2016 Cornwall Tourism Awards and SouthWest Tourism Awards.

After a record year in which the SouthWest tourism awards schemes attracted 425 entries with over 100 winners and 19 going on to become national finalists, including the Hell Bay Hotel, the 2015/16 cycle has now re-started and top hospitality businesses across the region are invited to enter by the deadline of midnight on 12th June.

New categories this year include an award for Spas and Wellbeing, Active & Sporting experience, and Artistic, Cultural and Learning Experience. In recognition of the importance of attracting overseas visitors, there’s also a new award for International Visitor Experience. These are in addition to existing Dog Friendly, Pubs and Restaurants, B&Bs, Hotels, Attractions, Business Tourism, Holiday Parks and Self Catering categories, and generic awards for Customer Service, Accessibility, Tourism Information and Sustainability.

Any business across the islands interested in taking part is very welcome to contact the Islands’ Partnership for assistance or advice in completing the application.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of Scilly’s economy and entering awards such as these enables businesses to showcase their talent and thank those who contribute to their success,” says Islands’ Partnership’s Executive Director, David Jackson. “In the last two years, we’ve seen a number of Scilly businesses win awards, testimony to the increasing quality of the islands’ visitor experience. Last year, five businesses from Scilly entered the Awards, three of which were Commended – Scilly Seal Snorkelling, Ruin Inn and Peninnis Luxury Camping – and of course Hell Bay Hotel is up for a VisitEngland award on 11th May.”

Entry is free, the programmes being funded by a range of sponsors and partners, and all entrants receive feedback.

Further information including case studies on how to enter the awards can be found on the Cornwall Tourism Award website. The deadline for entering is midnight on 12th June.

For a flavour of the award ceremonies themselves, enjoy these short films from last year’s Cornwall Tourism Awards and the Southwest Tourism Awards.

The Islands’ Partnership, supported by the Council of the Isles of Scilly’s Life Long Learning team, is to host an interactive Retail Workshop at Tregarthen’s Hotel. The aim of the workshop is to bring together Scilly’s retail owners and/or managers in order to enhance collectively our visitors’ shopping experience as well as help deliver greater financial returns for retail businesses themselves.

This special evening, on Tuesday 2nd June, will be led by retail expert, Tammy Barclay, who has a strong pedigree as a buyer most recently for Rick Stein’s Deli & Gift Shop in Padstow. Retailers across Scilly, as well as businesses with a retail element, have been invited.

“There will be two distinct sessions within the workshop – one focussing on buying; the other on selling – and each very interactive,” says David Jackson, Executive Director, Islands’ Partnership. “There will be additional opportunity for general Q&As and a discussion on the challenges faced by Scilly’s retailers, not just on St Mary’s but on the off islands too. Tammy will offer practical advice on product buying, creating a unique retail proposition, sourcing new stock, identifying good suppliers and taking risks, as well as looking at display principles and shop layouts, window displays, seasonal ranges, refreshing ranges and how to maximise sales of best-selling lines,” he explains.

The IP is hoping to build on the success and goodwill of the Scilly Christmas festival which brought retailers together offering a fantastic experience for visitors and locals alike. “We’d like to harness that enthusiasm for the entire season and beyond,” says David.  “Together we believe retailers can be a stronger force and by sharing new ideas and best practices everyone has the potential to maximise their sales and profitability for the coming season.  We hope everyone who signs up will enjoy a day of retail inspiration.”

Attendance for the day’s training is just £25 for Islands’ Partnership members per person (standard rate is £40).  Anyone interested in signing up should contact the IP by calling 01720 424036 or emailing enquiries@islandspartnership.co.uk. Booking closes on 8th May.

Walk Scilly 2015 has once again been hailed a resounding success for the Isles of Scilly, increasing the islands’ coffers by an estimated £200,000.

This year, there were 24 walks – three more than last – with six new guides and more than 500 individual walkers taking part. Many walkers came to Scilly specifically for the festival and advance bookings were substantially up on previous years, with many walks sold out prior to the week-long event kicking off on April 11^th.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Channel Crossing low tide walk from Tresco to Bryher was the first walk to sell out, quickly followed by the historical walks on the uninhabited islands of Samson and Tean. Indeed, a further walk to Samson was arranged for the last day of the festival to soak up demand. The three supper boats laid on were also very popular, perhaps due to the Folk Festival not coinciding this year – missed by a few of the regular Walk Scilly walkers!   

Feedback from walkers has been excellent, too; one lady from Surrey writing: “Thank you for planning such an excellent week. All the walks, talks and events have been most interesting and enjoyable.  I will certainly recommend this event to others.”

“We’re delighted that Walk Scilly went so well again this year particularly as more and more people are booking to come to Scilly specifically for the festival,” says Islands’ Partnership Executive Director, David Jackson. “The weather did challenge us as some walkers were delayed arriving on the islands, the kayaking and snorkelling had to be cancelled and, of course, the views were not quite so spectacular. But nonetheless the feedback and lovely comments received by those who took part was warmly welcomed by the Islands’ Partnership team who worked very hard to pull it all together. Just as importantly, from an economic standpoint, we believe that the Walk Scilly income from the walks, boats, accommodation for those who came specifically for Walk Scilly, as well as the economic trickle from retail, restaurants and refreshments has brought in an estimated £200,000 to the islands’ economy.”

Bookings are already being taken for next year’s Walk Scilly, the dates of which have now been confirmed for Saturday 9^th to Friday 15^th April 2016.  “This is a week later than previously planned, designed not to coincide with the Easter holidays as we have done for the last two years, and also to try to have the weather a little more on our side,” David notes. “Next year, we are looking forward to significantly enlarging the event and adding in more to do over and above walking, including more music and entertainment in the evenings, and further opportunities to island hop. There was also a desire this year for participants to purchase Walk Scilly merchandising, something which will be considered for 2016.”

St Mary’s has been named the third best rated island in the UK and Channel Isles in the 2015 Travellers’ Choice™ awards for Islands, announced by TripAdvisor.  The annual awards are based on the numerous reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers across the globe. The winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions on islands worldwide, gathered over a 12- month period.  St Mary’s came third after Jersey and the Isle of Wight.  The top 10 also included four Scottish Isles, the Isle of Man, Anglesey and Guernsey.

David Jackson of the Islands’ Partnership, which is responsible for marketing the Isles of Scilly as a destination says: “We’re delighted to hear that St. Mary’s has been recognised by visitors themselves as one of the best islands in the UK. As the largest island in the Isles of Scilly, St. Mary’s offers the perfect mix of white sandy beaches, fabulous local food and drink, wonderful wildlife and great hospitality, topped off by a stunning landscape, every inch of which is an area of outstanding natural beauty.”

Due to the high demand for Walk Scilly tickets this year, the Islands’ Partnership has organised a further walk for this Friday afternoon – 17th April – to Samson. The walk will be led by Chas Wood and  will explore the pre-historic and post-medieval sites on both the South and North hills of Samson.  If members have visitors or guests interested in knowing more or wishing to book, they should pop into the Tourist Information Centre or call 01720 424031.

The Islands’ Partnership has today launched the Isles of Scilly Photography Competition 2015, offering amateur photographers living, working and visiting the islands this summer the opportunity to win a short break for two to Scilly.

The launch of the competition follows the immensely successful Photography Competition in 2014, which attracted more than 800 entries including the eventual winning photo, “Puffin”, by Steven Burbidge.

This year’s competition is open between 1st April and 31st August. Photographers wishing to submit entries must be keen to capture the essence of Scilly and willing to have their talent showcased in Visit Isles of Scilly’s marketing materials.

The outright winner for 2015 will win a three-night break for two on a Bed & Breakfast basis at the 4* Sylina Guesthouse on St. Mary’s and two return tickets courtesy of Isles of Scilly Travel on the Scillonian III passenger ferry.  All the details can be found on the Visit Isles of Scilly website.

“We are delighted to be hosting another Photography Competition this year,” says David Jackson, Executive Director, Islands’ Partnership, the destination management organisation for Visit Isles of Scilly. “The standard of entries last year was immensely high and we are grateful to have had so much choice to feature in our Visit Isles of Scilly 2015 Guide, our Visit Isles of Scilly website and various promotional materials throughout the year.  We look forward to receiving many more entries this year, inspired by the new categories. I should also like to thank Sylina Guesthouse and Isles of Scilly Travel for their kind and generous donations for the winner’s prize.”