Sleepy Sporran Tours earns VisitScotland’s five-star rating

EDINBURGH, Scotland, 2018-Jun-25 — /Travel PR News/ — A local company has achieved VisitScotland’s top quality assurance award to become one of only two five-star tours operating in Perthshire.

Sleepy Sporran Tours, which is run by Trish Simpson and Ian Bell, offers luxury small group tours around Scotland, showcasing some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Following a VisitScotland Quality Assurance visit, the business was praised for its hospitality and efficiency, ensuring visitors can enjoy a high quality experience.

Ian Bell and Trish Simpson, founders of Sleepy Sporran Tours said: “We are delighted and proud to have achieved the five- star rating which marks a significant milestone in our ambitions for Sleepy Sporran. The natural landscape of Perthshire and many local businesses play a vital part in our tour experiences and in 2018 we are looking forward to showing our UK and international visitors just how much this region, and of course, the rest of Scotland has to offer.”

From woody walks and whisky to modern marvels and historic houses, Sleepy Sporran Tours offers a range of tours covering regions such as Perthshire, Fife and Angus.

Owners Trish Simpson and Ian Bell have spent several years researching the local area, discovering hidden gems and planning routes that offer their visitors a different taste of what Scotland has to offer.

As a result of their efforts, Sleepy Sporran Tours is now starting to see an increase in international visitors from America, Asia and Australia.

As well as obtaining a five-star grading, Sleepy Sporran Tours has also achieved a VisitScotland’s Taste Our Best award for the use and promotion of Scottish produce in its ‘legendary’ Sleepy Sporran Picnic lunch, including eggs from their own flock in Blairgowrie and meat sourced from a family butcher in the same Perthshire town.

Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director said: “My congratulations go to Trish and Ian at Sleepy Sporran Tours on the outstanding achievement of a five-star grading and Taste Our Best. It is well deserved recognition of their hard work to create a memorable experience for each and every one of their guests. These awards are a clear indication to visitors that they can expect the highest quality of service and standards.

Sleepy Sporran Tours is a valuable addition to Perthshire’s high quality tourism offering and Trish and Ian have shown real commitment and enthusiasm for the business, continuing to look at ways to grow and develop in the future.”

The VisitScotland Quality Assurance scheme, which has been developed and improved over 30 years, provides visitors with an independent, impartial and trusted guide to standards.

Delivered by a dedicated team of experts who offer scheme members advice and support on how to not only meet visitor expectations but exceed them, the scheme aims to drive standards and encourage excellence whilst helping businesses reach their full potential and secure their success.

To learn more information on Sleepy Sporran Tours visit: www.sleepysporran.co.uk

To learn more about VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance Scheme and Taste Our Best visit: www.visitscotland.org/business_support/quality_assurance.aspx

Notes to Editors

• Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
• VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
• The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
• This will be supported by five overarching strategies: Marketing, Events, Quality and Sustainability, Inclusive Tourism, International Engagement.

• The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
• Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP
• For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
• Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
• For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
• For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com

2018 Year of Young People

• The Year of Young People (YoYP 2018) will inspire Scotland through its young people aged 8 to 26, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally
• Central to YoYP 2018 will be a celebratory events programme that puts young people at the heart of its development and delivery, creating new and valuable experiences for young Scots and the wider public, with links to the inaugural 2018 European Championships.
• Over 200 young people throughout Scotland are currently being recruited to become YoYP 2018 Ambassadors. Ambassadors will ensure that people and organisations in their communities know about what’s happening and will lead on projects and activities to create events and opportunities to celebrate young people.
• The Year of Young People will have six themes which were developed in co-production with young people themselves:
• Participation – looking at how young people can influence public services and decisions which affect their lives
• Education – creating a stronger role for young people in shaping their learning
• Health and Wellbeing – supporting young people to lead healthier, active lives and have opportunities to learn about and improve their mental health and resilience
• Equality and Discrimination – broadcasting the value of young Scots, challenging negative perceptions of young people, and supporting young people to take leading roles in challenging discrimination in all its forms.
• Enterprise and regeneration – celebrating young people’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and the Scottish economy as well as making Scotland a greener and more pleasant place to live
• Culture – celebrating young people’s talent and contribution to Scottish culture and arts.
• Further information on what’s happening and how people can get involved can be found on the new website www.yoyp2018.scot or @YOYP2018 on Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT

Chelsea Charles
Press Contact
Special Projects Communications Manager
Themed Years
Chelsea.Charles@Eventscotland.org
0131 472 2067

SOURCE: VisitScotland

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