NairnScotland brand agrees merger with popular tourism website VisitNairn as the town's Business Improvement District joins forces to support an even brighter future for the Highland town
A POPULAR tourism website is to be merged with another to make it the go to place for locals and visitors to get information about Nairn.
Iain Fairweather, who established the VisitNairn brand, has taken the decision to allow the website and social media assets to be merged with the NairnScotland brand which was established by the town’s Business Improvement District (BID).
Mr Fairweather started VisitNairn 18 years ago and it became the leading website promoting tourism for the town. VisitNairn also held regular networking meetings where those in the tourism industry could share ideas and experiences.
However, due to a change in circumstances which will see Mr Fairweather move down south to be nearer to family, he has agreed to allow the Nairn BID team via the Nairn Scotland brand to continue his good work.
In a letter to his members Mr Fairweathr said: “Rather than lose the VisitNairn legacy we need to consider succession planning, and there is a need to bring all of the information for tourists about Nairn into one place, to make it easier and simpler for visitors to find out what they need to know. Nairn BID is playing an increasingly important role in promoting Nairn tourism and the recent promotional video had great exposure on Sky TV and on social media.
“We have often talked about how we might better integrate our efforts and have been continuing these conversations recently. They now have the technical and marketing skillsets, and funding, that can take things forward under the new Nairn branding without losing altogether the VisitNairn identity.
We have agreed that they will merge much of the VisitNairn content under the NairnScotland brand but will retain the VisitNairn domain name and Facebook page.”
Lucy Harding, manager of Nairn BID said: “Iain has built up a fantastic resource in VisitNairn and we are delighted that he trusts the Nairn BID team to continue his legacy. What he has established over the last 18 years is remarkable and we are delighted that all this hard work not just from Iain but his members as well will not be lost.”
Ms Harding added: “As Iain says, it makes sense to have all the information about our great town in one place and we’ll be working with a team of experts to ensure that the merger is successful.
“BID members will be listed free of charge on the VisitNairn website and those who are not members will have the opportunity to become opt-in members for less than they currently pay for the VisitNairn listing. Iain also mentioned the networking and Nairn BID has something similar, a Promote Nairn sub-group which people are invited to get involved in.”
“We wish to thank Iain for his years of dedication to the tourism scene in Nairn and wish him very well for his retirement.”
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