Friday, July 3, 2020

We're Good To Go

I think all of the industry across Scotland will be well aware of the We're Good To Go scheme by now and should have implemented all of the checklist recommendations.


Once that's been done however you need to ensure that you're reassuring your own customers and promoting your levels of care. It is absolutely critical that for the time being at least "We're Ready to Go" sits in importance with your site wide Book Direct messages. Even more so.

 We suggest the following
  • Create a dedicated page on your own website for We're Good To Go and tweak the text to emphasise the personal measures you've undertaken for staff and guest safety
  • Link to the website page from your emails, your social media and share on group pages and discussion forum everywhere.
  • Consider creating a series of digital postcards that use the logo as part of an ongoing "Safe" destination campaign
  • Consider putting the logo on all your web page hero images
We've created sample text from VisitScotland's email for our clients to use as a template for their pages. and used this as a simple guest facing page for The Priory Hotel in Beauly to link to from their welcome back opening offer to their closed mailing list


The text from VisitScotland is show below with links to signing up for the scheme

VisitScotland | We're Good to Go

We've worked with Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitEngland and VisitWales to develop a new UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark to provide confidence for visitors, communities and tourism businesses alike – as the sector works towards reopening.

The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard and supporting mark mean businesses across all sectors of the tourism industry in Scotland can demonstrate that they're adhering to the respective government and public health guidance, and have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment to check they have the required processes and protocols in place.

The free scheme complements the guidance already issued by Scottish Government to help tourism businesses plan to reopen.

Scotland’s tourism sector has suffered terribly from the impacts of coronavirus. The Scottish Government has been doing all it can to help the sector through these challenging times and we continue to support tourism businesses as they prepare to open their doors again.

Good to Go is a really positive development, developed jointly by the four Visitor agencies across the UK, that will ensure the sector is as prepared as possible to welcome visitors again. I’m pleased to see the establishment of this UK wide self-certification scheme that will enable businesses to demonstrate that they are ready to reopen and give much needed confidence to visitors and communities that tourism can begin again.

Fergus Ewing, Scottish Government Tourism Secretary
Together with the new national tourism and sector guidelines, the Good to Go Scheme will help businesses get ready for the indicative start dates in July. A nationwide scheme gives a consistent approach across all of the UK and will give visitors the reassurance they are looking for.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland

To obtain the mark you must complete a self-assessment through an online platform - goodtogoscotland.com - including a checklist confirming you have put the necessary processes in place. Once complete, you'll receive certification and access to the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark for display in your premises and online.

Businesses across the UK will be assessed according to their respective national guidance once published, including the physical distancing and cleanliness protocols that must be in place.

In Scotland, businesses will align with the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 Visitor Economy Guidelines. An ‘alert’ system ensures that businesses signed up to the standard are notified if there are changes to the official guidance. A call-handling service will provide support and advisors will also carry-out random business support calls to ensure businesses are understanding and adhering to the guidance.

The self-assessment process links to specific guidelines for sectors including accommodation, visitor attractions, restaurants and pubs, business conference and events venues, and tour and coach operators, with signposting to further industry and trade association guidance as required. We are aware that a couple of sector groups are not on the tick box when completing the self-certification. Simply continue as if you weren’t a member and answer further questions before completing the process.

We'll continue to update our Get Tourism Ready section of this website with up-to-date national and sector guidelines.