LDS Tourism Services Thank VIP Hosts

‘Silly Season’ has officially begun. For the last few weeks everyone at LDS Tourism has been working flat-out accepting deliveries of leaflets, servicing holders, talking with clients and generally making preparations for Valentine’s Day and the half-term break. Next up: Mothering Sunday and Easter!

As regular readers know, we like to highlight the many wonderful local businesses that host our Visitor Information Points (VIPs). Although our time is limited, we patronise these establishments as frequently as possible and feature them here following a visit.

One establishment we can highly recommend is Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre in Holt, near Wrexham. Diana and I popped in there last week to do some shopping and found their shelves bulging with home-grown and regionally sourced fruit, vegetables, dairy products, cooked meats and baked goods - not to mention locally brewed beers in the Wine Department. The gardening section was well stocked with quality plants and we were able to browse through a range of greeting’s cards, items of clothing and fascinating knick-knacks before retiring to the Strawberry Fields Restaurant for a spot of delicious, home-cooked lunch. In addition to this, the staff were all friendly and helpful, without exception, and the light and airy open-plan feel of the store made shopping a positively pleasant experience.

We also found time to visit the Glan Yr Afon Inn, a 16th century pub in the small village of Dolphin, near Holywell - which is currently celebrating its 450th anniversary. Here we were greeted warmly by the staff and enjoyed a tasty meal in their attractively decorated restaurant next to a roaring log fire.

Moving on to clients, our congratulations go to Knowsley Safari Park following the announcement that they pulled in their greatest number of visitors for 35 years, despite the recession and poor weather of 2009. Over 530,000 people flocked through the gates last year, making it their best annual attendance since the attraction opened in 1972. You can read all about it in a recent article published on the St Helens Star website.

We hope everyone is busy over the coming weeks. If you would like your leaflets and brochures displayed in our VIPs over Easter, please get your stock to us as quickly as possible. You are invited to contact us on 01244 671859 if you need to discuss your campaign.

Shop at Bellis's Country Market

Garden Centre at Bellis's Country Market

The Glan Top and Tails

Main picture: Homedade Quiche at Bellis's

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Images © LDS Tourism Services Ltd, 2010

Deck the Stands with Lots of Leaflets

December is always a busy month for the LDSTS management team, but it does at least present us with endless opportunities to mix business with pleasure. Now the Christmas cards have been mailed out to clients, copious contracts signed and new projects initiated, we are having great fun attending festive networking events and industry get-togethers. There have been several recent highlights and no doubt there will be plenty more before the close of 2009.

Diana and I had a scrumptious meal at Helsby Arms on 4th December. Renowned for its real food and ale, not to mention regular Tweetups (gatherings of people who use Twitter), this lovely, traditional old pub is host to one of our Tourist Information Points (TIPs). During our visit we were able to spend time chatting with co-owner, Carole Currie - a friendly, bubbly lady, with tons of innovative ideas - and tuck into a Famous Helsby Arms steak, Guinness and mushroom pie served with hand cut rustic chips from a menu choc-full of mouthwatering dishes. Wonderful stuff!

I was also able to take my mum along to the first day of the Continental Christmas Market in Chester City centre on 5th December. Attractive wooden chalets had been erected outside the TIC on Town Hall Square, within which were displayed an assortment of European trinkets, clothes, foods, wines and beers. I purchased a long, multi-coloured woollen scarf from a lively market trader before we escaped the crowds and made our way over to the picturesque village of Dodleston for lunch at The Red Lion, an 18th century inn on the Cheshire/North Wales border – which, incidentally, is another TIP host. We always make a point of supporting those who support LDS.

Jenny, Hayley and Diana popped into The Mersey Partnership’s Christmas Members’ Meeting at the Palm Sugar Lounge inside the Chaophray (a Thai fine dining restaurant) on the 8th. They thoroughly enjoyed the evening – especially the delicious nibbles and free drinks – and were extremely impressed with the bird’s eye view of the City and the 60-metre high Liverpool ONE Wheel. They returned clutching tickets (kindly supplied by the organisers) for rides on the 40-gondola wheel. Watch this space to discover what they thought of the experience.

Next year promises to be another exciting twelve months for LDSTS and clients. Be sure to look out for us at the Great Days Out Fair at Bolton Arena on 13th February 2010. Diana and Hayley will be manning the Cadw stand and Jenny and I will be there representing the Company.

If you have any questions, queries or comments regarding leaflet distribution, social media marketing or anything else relating to LDS Tourism Services, please feel free to drop us a line or ring up for a chat.

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Image: Liverpool ONE Wheel © LDS Tourism Services Ltd, 2009

Cruising Llangollen Canal

Over the bank holiday weekend I was fortunate enough to enjoy a lovely day out on a canal boat. We hired the Dydd Un for the day from Llangollen Wharf as a birthday present for my Father-in-law.

We started out bright and early driving over to Llangollen and the weather could not have been any better. It was fairly quiet when we arrived ready to collect the boat but by the time we were on our way it was becoming much busier. As we were waiting for other members of our party to arrive we were able to explore the boat. Heading down the stairs there was an indoor room with a little kitchen area and a small toilet. From there you head out to an open area with seating down the side of the barge, perfect for spotting the wildlife as you gently pass by.

The route suggested is approx 10 miles heading down towards the Trevor Basin, over the Pontsyclle Aquaduct and back again. On our way we moored near the Telford Inn for a delicious lunch in the sun.

It was a perfect family day out and I would recommend it to anyone. We soon got to grips with the steering and there are plenty of helpful people to lend a hand for when we went a little off course. The views in the part of North Wales are stunning and they were made even better by the gorgeous weather.

LDS Tourism Win Cadw Contract

We may be entering an “age of austerity” (according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit) but life remains as hectic as ever at LDS Tourism Services. Our distributors have been out and about in the snow and ice, servicing our displays and delivering orders to Tourist Information Centres throughout the region. Indeed, new leaflets continue to arrive by the hour, keeping our staff very busy indeed.

Hayley and Diana attended the Great Days Out Fair in Bolton Arena last weekend on behalf of Cadw, the Welsh Assembly government’s historic environment service. The day was a great success with over 200 attractions and destination marketers taking part – not to mention outstanding entertainment from the cast of the West End’s smash hit musical, Mamma Mia. We will certainly recommend that Cadw exhibit at this event again next year!

Incidentally, we can now reveal that LDSTS will continue to work with Cadw, having won the contract to market their literature throughout North Wales and North West England for the next three years (at least). Some time over the next couple of weeks we will set up a bilingual Cadw Hotline for all enquiries relating to their leaflets and brochures – watch this space for further details!