Google by the sea: Free digital training for Amble businesses
Amble will be the next stop on Google’s coastal towns tour, offering local businesses and residents free digital skills training with its pop-up ‘Digital Garage’.
An event on 27th October at Amble Development Trust, Fourways 2, 6 Dilston Terrace, Amble, NE65 0DT will deliver workshops from 10am until 4.30pm, with a particular focus on helping tourism and hospitality businesses, attractions and cultural institutions train their staff on the digital tools needed to attract even more visitors.
Google has partnered with Visit England, The British Hospitality Association, The National Coastal Tourism Academy and UKinbound to ensure small businesses have the right skills to help boost awareness of the touristic appeal and offerings on British coasts.
With most travel bookings starting with online research, digital skills have become essential to understanding a customer’s purchase journey. For example, studies show that 84% of leisure travellers haven’t decided on an accommodation provider when they start planning a trip. Since they still have an open mind about where they’ll go and who they’ll book with, businesses have an opportunity to use digital tools to make an impression, and inspire potential customers about their destination.
A recent survey by Columbus Direct found that four in five Brits admire the coast for its ‘beautiful, unspoilt beaches and coastline with lots of natural beauty’ yet more than half of them have not visited the British seaside in the past three years.
This shows a real opportunity for hospitality businesses and tourist centres to use the power of online tools to find new visitors, take advantage of the recent boost in ‘staycations’ and even think about how to encourage more overseas visitors.
Google’s Digital Garage employs experts to provide one-to-one free mentoring and workshops to anyone interested in learning or furthering their digital skills. This can range from restaurant owners to B&B operators, to staff from larger hotel chains. Or anyone from Amble who wants to improve their digital skills in order to succeed online. Anyone interested in signing up can find the full schedule and registration page here.
