A Hectic Spring For LDSTS

Spring has most definitely ‘sprung’ for LDS Tourism Services. Our packers and distributors are working flat out and brochures continue to arrive by the wagon-load. Never have we been quite so busy before – but we’re not complaining!

We have successfully completed distribution of the maiden issue of What’s On in Chester & Cheshire - previously known as Welcome to Chester. In fact, we recently updated our contract with Chester City Council and will continue delivering this classy guide to selected outlets at the end of each month. Look out for an article about us in the May issue!

Chester Zoo is on course for another outstanding year. The attraction will host Sensory Awareness Days on 12th- 13th April and 6th-7th September, to enable visitors with sensory disabilities to make the most of their visit. Braille leaflets will be handed out and animal talks will be given by a British Sign Language interpreter.

While on the subject of Chester Zoo, we were delighted to hear of a gorgeous new resident on Penguin Island. Aero (so named because the keepers decided on a chocolate theme during Easter) is a Humboldt Penguin chick. He was incubated for 46 days by parents Warty and Hislop and weighed just 85 grams when he emerged from his egg. It is hoped that he will soon be joined by 20 other chicks between now and the middle of this month, so now would be a great time to pay a visit to the zoo.

Paula Bardell-Hedley, our Director of Research & Marketing, has become a member of The Tourism Society on behalf of the Company. The society is all about providing a forum for professionals involved in the tourist industry and offers an opportunity to network and develop acquaintances within it. The Society’s Annual Conference will take place in St Helens on 19th-20th June this year, which will be a great opportunity for members in the North West to meet up and exchange ideas.

Finally, we would like to congratulate our friends at the Holyhead Breakwater Railway Company for winning Best Visitor Attraction in the Anglesey Tourism Awards 2008. Well done!

Organised Chaos

We’ve had a hectic couple of weeks and one of the busiest autumns anyone can remember. In fact, in terms of new publications arriving, it must be the busiest on record!

We’ve been dashing from one appointment to another while attempting to collect stock whenever we happen to be passing a pick-up point. Our friends at the Breakwater Railway Company have just produced a splendid new leaflet with lots of photographs and fascinating information about the area; Mentor Môn has published a colourful A5 Holyhead/Holy Island leaflet while Sefton and Wirral Councils have designed an impressive new range of brochures - to name but a handful. All these and more are available to TICs via the form on our website.

Will, our Warehouse Manager, has had his work cut out with all this literature arriving – especially when 15 pallets of Pure Taste turned up during the week. Our forklift is capable of lifting 800 kilos but the bulky magazines weighed far more than that – so it was a case of rolling up our sleeves and handballing the boxes off!

Incidentally, the Visit Chester & Cheshire run went smoothly this month with the magazines arriving good and early from the printer.

We’re expecting 2008 to be the best year yet for LDS with lots of new projects underway and more 'exclusive display' contracts in the pipeline. Watch this space for exciting announcements!