Membership for Tourism Businesses

Our Vision and Aim:

Cotswolds Tourism is all about working in partnership across the destination to achieve joined up thinking, planning, marketing and ultimately to increase the value and profitability of tourism in the Cotswolds. Take a look at our Marketing Strategy & Annual Plan to find out more. We have regular contact with VisitBritain and VisitEngland to maximise opportunities for Cotswolds Tourism, with initiatives fed through to members, and regular contact with our local district officers (Cheltenham, Cotswold, Gloucester, Stroud & Tewkesbury) and their TICs. We believe in regular business engagement –  the membership team visit individual businesses to deal with any queries you may have and to explain the membership options that will benefit your business the most.


Click here to find out how to make the most of your membership

Cotswolds Tourism Membership Benefits 2013

Silver Membership Benefits

Entry (including web link back to your own website) on www.cotswolds.com. Please contact Katy McCarthy if you would like to amend your web entry.

Membership sticker to display in your window and an online version is also available to display on your website - please email the Membership team to request the online version.

Membership Card - allowing admission to local attractions to keep you up to date. Click here for a list of participating attractions.

Receive Tourism Matters - the quarterly update for the tourism trade in the Cotswolds. Read previous editions of Tourism Matters here.

Promote your special offers on Cotswolds.com - send through your offers with a closing date and we'll add them to the website, and promote via Twitter & Facebook.

Send your latest news to us for promotion on Cotswolds.com - we can include your events, new menus, refurbishments - just let us know.

Cotswolds Events - send details of your events through to be included in our searchable event listings.

Image Gallery - free use of images for websites & print

Footage - Cotswolds video available for all members to use on their websites



Relevant regular e-updates - You will receive our Tourism Tuesday update every week. If you're not receiving your weekly update, please let us know.

Annual Forum - join us on 26th February 2013 for the Cotswolds Tourism Annual Forum, including guest speakers and tourism related stands.

Networking events - regular networking events are held throughout the year. If you have an idea for an event, please let us know.

Research - as a member you have access to the research conducted by Arkenford - 'The Cotswolds Perception & Awareness Research 2012'. The research identified perceptions of the Cotswolds, including barriers to overcome, alongside identifying target market segments. Also available is the Value of Tourism Report, produced by the South West Tourism Alliance. To request access to either of these, please contact membership@gfirst.co.uk.

PR & Press Trips - through our relationship with VisitBritain and our press consultant, we have a large number of journalists & press coming to the Cotswolds from across the world every year. As a member, your business is considered first for press requests and visits. Take a look at articles from press trips we have hosted in the past.


Discount on banner advertising on Cotswolds.com - Click here for more details

Discount on artwork & design from ArtWorks - click here for more details

Up to 20% discount off brochure distribution with Glide Media – call 01242 576010 to discuss details or complete an enquiry form at  www.glidemedia.co.uk

Click here for details of ordering our brochures from Glide Media.

Green incentives - 'Be a Perfect Visitor' cards (click here for more information) and the Cotswolds Green Scheme. Need some help on running your business sustainably? See our Be Sustainable page.


Bedroom Browser for B&Bs, guesthouses and self-catering accommodation providers. All attractions featured in the Attractions & Events Guide automatically receive an entry in the Bedroom Browser.



Advance notice of Cotswolds Tourism Business Awards


New for 2013 - Free feature on Cotswold TV's local online television news bulletin. If you are interested in this offer then contact Tom Wakefield on tom@cotswoldtv.com

Cotswold Tourism Members also receive negotiated rates for the following options:

Banner advertising on www.cotswolds.com - enhance your presence on Cotswolds.com by displaying a banner advert

    

Advertising in Cotswolds print - receive a discount when advertising in the Cotswolds Visitor Guide, the Attractions & Events Guide and the Gardens Guide

  

Cotswolds Asia Partnership - a campaign specifically aimed at the Asian market - www.china.cotswolds.com and www.the-cotswolds.org. Members of Cotswolds Tourism receive a 10% discount when joining the Asia Campaign.

Cotswolds Chinese Marketing - Please see here for details of our new China marketing campaign. As previewed at our recent tourism forum, we are working with Qing Lin of Join in China to forge a marketing campaign. Features include different levels of participation and a 10% discount for members.  Recommended for businesses ready to join with us in targeting this exciting new market.

Training courses at a subsidised rate. If there is a particular course you would like us to run, please email membership@gfirst.co.uk and let us know.

Website Translations - We’ve teamed up with Ways With Words, a translation company based in Cirencester, to bring you a new member benefit. Ways With Words are offering the following special rates to members of Cotswolds Tourism: Translations into French, German, Italian & Spanish: Up to 500 source words: Flat fee of £50+VAT per language. Above 500 source words: £90+VAT per 1,000 words, per language. Translations into Japanese and Chinese: Up to 500 source words: Flat fee of £80+VAT per language. Above 500 source words: £150+VAT per 1,000 words, per language. To take advantage of the offer, please contact Andrew at andrew@ways-with-words.com, quoting Cotswolds Tourism membership.

Handepay offer - reduced rate credit/debit card transactions, £30 cashback on first successful transaction and 3 months free terminal rental to businesses new to taking card payments. For further information and to sign up please contact Matt Light on 07894 512815.

Barclaycard Global Payment Acceptance are offering members of Cotswolds Tourism a rate of 1.25% across the board for credit card payments for turnovers under £300k and 15p per transaction for taking debit card payments. There is no joining fee or minimum billing rate and you will also receive a discount on your terminal rental. Please contact Angela Ellis at Barclaycard directly if you are interested in this offer on 07557 564622 - you will be required to give your Cotswolds Tourism membership number on application. Click here for more information.

Eviivo Frontdesk setup and training fee for Cotswolds Tourism Members (who sign up within 4 weeks of renewing or new membership & are Serviced Accommodation providers)

Gold Membership Benefits

Gold members receive all benefits included in the Silver membership package, as well as more exposure on www.cotswolds.com, including:

Enhanced entry on Cotswolds.com including 300 words, 6 images, editorial promotions three times a year for 1 month periods.
Banner advert for one month on the page of your choice, plus new for 2013 -  One banner advert on the home page for two weeks (both banner adverts subject to availability).



Standard entry on the new Cotswolds 'weddings' website - www.idocotswolds.com Featured product twice a year for one month periods on I Do Cotswolds

Social media package - highlight your business on Facebook, Pinterest and Flickr.

The way forward...

We will continue to look for new membership benefits, so please keep your eye on this page for new benefits.

If you would be interested in receiving  the GFirst Retail Newsletter please click here

We can look into special arrangements for self-catering agencies promoting multiple properties - contact membership@gfirst.co.uk for more details.