The Wellwood Burns Centre and Museum upgraded to Four Star grading by VisitScotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland, 2019-Aug-29 — /Travel PR News/ — The venue of a Robert Burns Club that dates back to 1826 has received a Four Star grading from VisitScotland.

The Wellwood Burns Centre and Museum, home of the Irvine Burns Club, was upgraded from three stars by the national tourism organisation’s Quality Assurance (QA) Scheme in recognition of its excellent standards. The QA Scheme is a benchmark for quality across the tourism industry and operates across accommodation, visitor attractions and food sectors.

Located in the heart of Irvine, the attraction has undergone a major refurbishment and installed new external signage, as well as upgrading its website and enhancing the visitor experience. These changes played a key role in the museum receiving a Four Star grading.

As the home of the Irvine Burns Club, the museum offers a range of exhibits, artwork and information relating to the life and work of Scotland’s National Bard. Members of the club also volunteer their services to give visitors guided tours and more information about Burns’ life in Irvine and the historic club.

Following the visit, particular praise was given to the members of the Irvine Burns Club. Their expert knowledge and passion play an integral role in offering visitors to the attraction a unique and exciting experience.

As well as being experts on Burns, the members of the club also have an excellent knowledge of Irvine and the surrounding area’s tourism offering. The museum has also become a member of VisitScotland’s iKnow Partner programme, outlining the museum’s commitment to providing visitors with local knowledge.

Robert Burns moved to Irvine in 1781 as a 22-year-old farmer and stayed until the spring of 1782. While in Irvine, his introduction to the Scots poetry of Robert Fergusson provided the inspiration to write poetry in his mother tongue.

Bill Nolan, Honorary Secretary of Irvine Burns, said: “Irvine Burns Club was delighted and honoured at being awarded a Four-Star grading for our Wellwood Burns Museum. “Receiving an enhanced grading for a museum that is totally run by volunteers is testimony to the imagination and effort that we put into improving this ‘Wellwood Experience” for our visitors. Museums and their Collections are there to be enjoyed and we have set ourselves very high standards. Burns is an international Scottish icon and we are happy to tell visitors about the significant role that Irvine played in transforming the life of the young farmer who came here as an Apprentice Flax-dresser but left Irvine less a year later determined to become an Apprentice Poet.”

Gordon Smith, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: “Congratulations to everyone at the Wellwood Burns Centre and Museum on this fantastic achievement. It is a testament to the hard work and passion of the Irvine Burns Club who have made this attraction into a wonderful visitor experience.

“Our Quality Assurance Scheme is world-leading and provides a trusted, independent and impartial source of information for visitors. It is about much more than just a star rating – it is about the entire visitor experience and investing in the business to make it as economically sustainable, and profitable, as it can be.”

For more information about the Irvine Burns Club and the Wellwood Burns Centre, go to https://irvineburnsclub.org/index2.php

For more information about VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance Scheme go to www.visitscotland.org

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.
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• 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 http://www.visitscotland.com
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Scotland’s Themed Years

• Following an industry consultation, the Themed Years will now take place every second year to enable more time for planning and opportunities for collaboration.
• 2020 has been designated as a year in which Scotland’s Coasts and Waters will be showcased and celebrated with a programme of activity designed to support the nation’s tourism and events sectors.
• The year, led by VisitScotland will sustain and build upon the momentum of Scotland’s preceding Themed Years to spotlight, celebrate and promote opportunities to experience and enjoy Scotland’s unrivalled Coasts and Waters, encouraging responsible engagement and participation from the people of Scotland and our visitors.
• A year-long programme of events, activities and ideas will shine a spotlight on the impact our waters have had on Scotland, from the formation of beautiful natural features to the creation of our national drink – whisky.
• Join the conversation using #YCW2020
• 2022 will be the Year of Scotland’s Stories – a celebration of our rich literature, film, oral traditions and myths, and legends.

Contact:
Hamish Hutchinson
Call 0131 472 2283
mailto: hamish.hutchinson@visitscotland.com

Source: VisitScotland

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