Superfast Tourism Guide

Transcription

1 Superfast Tourism Guide Helping tourism businesses make the most of the internet SUPERFAST NORTHERN IRELAND

2 Facebook f Logo CMYK /.eps Facebook f Logo CMYK /.eps Why Superfast? TM Superfast broadband is fast becoming integral to Northern Ireland s economic growth. Superfast broadband uses the latest fibre optic technology, known as fibre to the cabinet (FTTC), to provide faster, more reliable internet speeds with download speeds of up to 80 Mbps, and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps. Here is how superfast broadband can transform your tourism business: Boost your growth Superfast broadband to boost NI economy by over 750 million by 2018* High quality video calls Allow guests to communicate with family and friends using online video & voice services Develop your brand Promote special offers on Facebook and Twitter Work remotely Fibre provides reliable, fast speeds so that guests can keep working during their visit Excite visitors with video Publish promotional and testimonial videos on YouTube Do more at the same time Everyone can enjoy superfast internet speeds all at once! Are you a smart tourism business? This simple guide explains how you can can become a smart tourism business by getting online, and making the most of the internet. Recent research has found that only 16% of accommodation businesses in Northern Ireland are online and bookable, meaning that many guests are missing out on excellent customer service, while the tourism sector is missing out on a huge opportunity! TM Exceptional service To make your guests happy offer free superfast wi-fi *Based on a 40% take up of fibre How to get Superfast? Visit Save time on booking Manage online booking and make it easy for guests to book Did you know that over 90% of businesses and homes are now connected to a fibre-enabled cabinet in Northern Ireland! It s easy to switch to superfast broadband: 1 2 Switching to fibre is much cheaper and simpler than most people think! Check if you can get superfast using the availability checker 3 If you can get it - place an order through your chosen provider

3 Thanks to Superfast Read more stories at nibroadband.com Terry, Belmore Court & Motel, Enniskillen Superfast broadband has made a massive difference to our business! With superfast broadband, guests can enjoy superfast, reliable internet, and make the most of the free wi-fi we offer, allowing them to stay connected throughout their visit. Guests are able to communicate with family and friends online, share photos on social media and watch Smart TV in our 4 star Guest Accommodation. Superfast broadband guarantees the reliability and speed needed to take advantage of online booking, and currently over 50% of our customers currently originate from online booking through our website or online travel agents. This has enabled us to reach lots of overseas customers, with 8-10% of our customers coming from outside the UK and Ireland. We also use social media for a range of purposes. We interact with visitors on Facebook sharing our latest offers, as well as highlighting what s happening in the locality and around County Fermanagh. We use YouTube to give potential guests an insight into what our rooms look like! With superfast broadband we are able to upload photos and videos almost instantly. Faster broadband also means that we are able to easily order supplies online, price match against competitors and as a result cut costs! For us, investing in superfast broadband has been absolutely worth it, and would recommend it to any smart business in Northern Ireland. Debbie, Strandeen Bed and Breakfast, Portstewart Superfast broadband is a great bonus to our business and our guests, especially in the need for immediate response world we live in. Since opening Strandeen 10 years ago there has been a dramatic transformation in the expectations of tourists. The development of mobile technology defines how we manage our business. With around 80% of bookings received online managing our website and social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter are all very important in the day to day running of the business and we are able to do this easily and quickly. From our database we know 75% of our customers are couples in the 50+ age bracket and are active users of technology therefore it is important to ensure we provide our guests with superfast broadband during their stay. Superfast broadband has certainly been a worthwile investment, enabling Strandeen to provide guests with a better more efficient service from their time of booking to their stay. Olga, The Derg Arms, Castlederg Superfast broadband enables us to deliver better service to our customers! Our business uses superfast broadband for multiple purposes in the hotel, we provide free wi-fi for our hotel guests, the cash tills work on EPOS (electronic point of sale) technology enabling data or pricing changes to be made quickly and even the CCTV is carried over the broadband enabling me to remotely monitor the hotel from home ensuring everything is safe and secure. Superfast broadband gives great peace of mind, enables us to deliver better service to our customers. We have even seen an increase in website enquiries from all over the world and ensures the efficiency of the systems for staff, it brings all round benefits to everyone. Get involved Share your superfast story on

4 Offer superfast wi-fi! Offer superfast wireless internet to guests free of charge. What is wi-fi? Wi-fi is a technology that allows wireless electronic devices (laptops and smartphones and tablets) to connect to the internet wirelessly using radio waves. Why do guests want wi-fi? Share holiday photos and videos on social media Stay connected to work Research and review local restaurants and attractions online Video chat to family and friends Download & watch movies on rainy days How can I offer free public wi-fi? Option 1: Using Wi-fi Hotspots You can offer wi-fi access to your customers using wi-fi hotspots (eg. BTWifi). This should be possible with most broadband hubs. Steps: 1. Your current broadband router should provide a wi-fi hotspot for public use 2. Your public wi-fi network name (SSID) will be standard and cannot be changed 3. Guests can use this wi-fi hotspot for free if they have a wi-fi or broadband account with your broadband provider. Otherwise, they can get online by buying wi-fi vouchers. 52% of UK mobile owners use a smart phone (Enders Analysis 2012) Option 2: Setting up Public Wi-fi Offer all guests free wi-fi by installing a new business wireless router that provides a separate wi-fi network for the public. Steps: 1. Purchase a wireless router which provides multiple wi-fi networks (known as SSIDs) for public and private use.(example routers include Draytek Vigor 2860 or 2830n, or Netgear WNDR4300) 2. Set up both private and guest wi-fi networks (instructions included) 3. Access the router configuration panel 4. Go to wireless settings and select the guest wi-fi network (SSID) 5. Feel free to change the guest wi-fi name (SSID) to a relevant name (eg.bayhotel1) 6. Enable Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2) and set a Pre-Shared Key (password) to keep your network secure 7. Share guest wi-fi password with your guests using a keycard so that they can get online 8. To ensure online safety, set up internet content filtering (eg. OpenDNS) 9. Promote your free wi-fi service to customers on your website and at your premises (eg. window stickers) 67% of UK adults use wi-fi when out and about (Ofcom 2012) Need a helping hand? NITB offers a wide range of support to help you get online. Visit Insights Discover how other tourism businesses are growing their business using online solutions Toolkits Download or request easy-to-read guides to online marketing, social media and website analytics Masterclasses & Workshops Develop your ICT skills and grow your tourism business online Customised Training Benefit from a training course that is tailored to your needs 69% of shoppers would visit again if there is wi-fi 43% of people think it is important to have wi-fi access (BT & ICM 2013) (BT & ICM 2013)

5 Follow Northern Ireland s fibre broadband journey at SUPERFAST NORTHERN IRELAND