Visitors to the Peak District and Derbyshire can now count on an even better on-line experience when looking for fresh ideas and inspiration before or during their visit.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the area’s official tourist board, has launched a brand new, easy-to-navigate website offering a wealth of information – everything from where to stay to what to do – whether they’re at a desk or on the move.

The simple-to-use new platform – unveiled this week to invited guests at Cromford Mills  – helps holidaymakers track down all the details they need to make their visit extra-special, including a wide variety of activities, events and the best places to eat and drink.

Visitors can now cherry pick their own individually-tailored itineraries thanks to a new planner tool, as well as tracking down a host of special offers on everything from accommodation to eating out.

Tourist board members and local businesses and organisations highlighted on the responsive new website can also expect a broad range of benefits, including:

• Improved search engine performance, driving even more people to browse the site
• A link to availability from online travel agents, allowing members to promote special rates and seasonal offers
• A new tool telling visitors ‘What’s Nearby’, revealing how close accommodation and other businesses are to key attractions

While the website has a clean, contemporary look to herald the start of a new year, the address remains the same – www.visitpeakdistrict.com – to ensure continuity and avoid confusion.

The tourist board’s user-friendly new website builds on the success of its previous one, which scored its best-ever results in 2016. More than 1.3 million people visited the site, which hosted around 1.8 million browsing sessions throughout the year – an increase of 20 percent on 2015.

Most visited pages were the home page, events, accommodation, walking and historic houses and castles – and there was a marked rise in the percentage of people using the site on mobile devices such as phones (more than 38 per cent) and tablets (almost 23 per cent).

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said: –

“People are right at the heart of the best practice we have drawn on to develop our new website, so that visitors can access the information they need quickly and easily, whether they’re researching on a desktop computer before their visit or using a mobile device while they’re here.

“It’s specifically designed to build on the success of our previous website, and to be more mobile-friendly, to reflect the changing ways our visitors are accessing information about, and special offers in, the Peak District and Derbyshire throughout the year.

“As well as improving our on-line relationship with holidaymakers, its new features will also bring benefits for all our members, businesses and organisation showcased on the site – by attracting even more people to browse, take advantage of key promotions and check how close they are to some of our leading attractions.

“We’d love to hear from more businesses who would like to be part of the success of the new site as it attracts even more visitors to come and stay and spend more money to boost the economy in our world-class destination.”

Chesterfield based business, Cathelco, are supplying two of their systems for the latest Quantum class cruise ships to be built for Royal Caribbean Cruises by Meyerwerft in Germany.

The marine growth prevention and impressed current cathodic protection systems will be installed on the fourth and fifth vessels in the series which are scheduled to go into service 2019 and 2020.

Cathelco systems are already installed on the Quantum of the Seas which entered service in 2014, followed by the Anthem of the Seas in 2015 and the Ovation of the Seas which began operating last year.

The systems are designed to prevent bio-fouling in sea water pipework serving the main engines and ancillary systems. This involves fitting pairs of copper and aluminium anodes in the seachests which are wired to a control panel. In operation, the copper anodes produce ions which create an environment where barnacle and mussel larvae do not settle or breed, but are carried through the system to discharge. At the same time, the aluminium anodes produce ions which create an anti-corrosive coating on the internal surfaces of pipes.

Adam Rogers, Sales Manager at Cathelco, said:-

“The systems on these ships are some of the largest that we produce and are ideally suited to treating large volumes of sea water.”

Both of the new Quantum class ships will also be installed with Cathelco systems to protect the underwater hull surfaces against corrosion.

In operation, the reference electrodes measure the electrical potential at the hull/seawater interface and send a signal to the control panel which automatically raises or lowers the outputs to the anodes. In this way, the hull receives the optimum corrosion protection at all times.

Cathelco have also received an order to supply equipment for the first in the series of Project Edge vessels which are to be built for Celebrity Cruises in France.

Businesses are calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to use her promised Brexit speech tomorrow to offer clarity on key issues of concern.

Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Theresa May will use the speech to give the clearest indication yet of the Government’s plans for Britain’s exit from the EU.

The Government has been under pressure to spell out its negotiating stance but has consistently declined to show its hand before Article 50 is triggered and negotiations begin.

Last November, East Midlands Chamber, with support from regional MPs, led a delegation of regional business leaders to Westminster and used the event in the heart of Government to unveil an eight-page report setting out what regional businesses want to ensure Britain prospers after it leaves the EU.

The report – Shaping a Great Future for the East Midlands: Leading Balanced and Sustainable Growth in a Post-Brexit Economy – called on the Government to

• expand its trade missions programme
• ensure meaningful consultation on priority markets
• secure the best possible transitional agreements for trading with EU countries
• ensure future immigration policy enables businesses to meet their skills needs
• give clear guidance on tax and customs issues
• maintain stability in terms of regulations
• guarantee funding for programmes currently co-funded through EU investment, and
• maintain access to the European Investment Bank.

Since the result of the EU Referendum last June, the Chamber has said that business, the creator of jobs and wealth and driver of the regional and national economy, should play an important role in exit negotiations.

Scott Knowles, the Chamber’s Chief Executive, said:-

“Getting the right messages into Westminster, and making sure our regional MPs are all attuned to the needs of the local business community, are vital to making sure that Britain prospers in a post-Brexit global economy.

“Taking a strong contingent of local business leaders to the heart of Government to deliver their message to MPs gave a very clear indication of just how strongly they want to be involved in negotiations and decisions that will impact them and ultimately affect their ability to be the creators of jobs and wealth and drivers of the regional and national economy.

“We hope to see some indication that Mrs May is listening to business and that she is committing to place the needs of business high on the agenda once Brexit talks begin in earnest.”

Scott added:-

“We know from our own Quarterly Economic Surveys that businesses in the East Midlands are doing well at the moment and are driving the economy but that they have concerns about their EU workforces, immigration generally and trade prices and their impact on inflation.

“Mrs May has an opportunity now to start laying some of those concerns to rest and set out Government plans for Britain outside the EU, where business is ready and waiting to meet whatever challenges lie ahead.”

Workers on Dunston Business Park will be able to take advantage of new catering facilities when the Chamber moves to its new office.

Commerce House, formerly St Andrew’s House, has a modern kitchen and refectory which will be opened up to workers from neighbouring offices.

Chamber member The Lovely Catering Company, Chesterfield, will be providing the café service and use the commercial-standard kitchen as a base for its outside catering business.

Hot and cold food, sandwiches, snacks and other refreshments will be available at the ‘Café at the Chamber’.

Scott Knowles, the Chamber’s Chief Executive, said:-

“We were in two minds about whether to utilise the kitchen and refectory at the new office or remove it – although it seemed a bit of a waste to rip out something which on the surface was perfectly functional.

“There seemed to be a shortage of proper café facilities in the area so we offered the kitchen to one of our members, Neil Parkin at The Lovely Catering Company, and are delighted that he will be able to put it to good use by providing a café not only for Chamber staff but also for our new neighbours.”

Neil said:-

“Our corporate catering service, Lovely Buffet, has grown rapidly over the past couple of years and we were looking for additional space and facilities. We have been a supplier to the Chamber and members for many years now and have a great working relationship.

“I’m pleased we have the opportunity to provide a much-needed cafe service on the Dunston Business Park for staff and public, and to further expand our corporate catering business. We are really looking forward to it.”

The Chamber is planning to move from its current office on Canal Wharf, Chesterfield, to Commerce House, Millennium Way, at the end of February.

It will occupy two floors of the three storey building and is looking for a tenant for the upper floor.

In 2017 Herbal Likör brand Jungfrau returns to sponsor ultimate snow sports and music festival Snowboxx, for the third year running.

Chesterfield Champion and the UK’s leading independent drinks brand development business – Global Brands – owns, markets and distributes Jungfrau Likör.

More than 3 in 4 millennials (78%) would choose to spend money on an experience or event over a material purchase. Therefore it is important for brands to connect with their audience through meaningful experiences, especially hosting events in their area of interest.

Recognising this, Jungfrau has invested more than ever in a huge, experiential marketing campaign, #discoverthelegend, to entertain and engage with their target audience of millennials. The campaign appeals to those wishing to encounter new, fun experiences to share with friends.

Jungfrau plan to deliver an impressive experiential campaign at Snowboxx, tying their activities seamlessly into the festival which boasts a series of snow parks, pistes and late-night parties. Taking their #discoverthelegend campaign to the peaks, the brand continues to pursue its relentless and enthusiastic search to deliver the most amazing life experiences for its thrill-seeking consumers.

To kick off the campaign, Jungfrau continues to host a series of ‘Après Ski Snow Parties’ at universities across the UK in December and January. These events give the key student market a taster of what’s in-store for the festival in March. The events are designed to transport attendees to the Alps, as each venue is decorated with snow machines and CO2 cannons to create a complete Jungfrau wonderland.

Further to this, Jungfrau is hosting the ultimate competition giving one lucky entrant and a friend the chance to win an all-expense paid VIP trip to Snowboxx. The innovative competition is linked to the ‘Après Ski’ events as Jungfrau utilises ever-popular interactive app, Snapchat, as a means of entry. Using the app appeals directly to millennials and encourages them to interact with the brand during each event. All campaign activity will be heavily supported on social media, meaning touch points are clearly linked and key target markets will get a great sense of the brand.

Christian Sarginson, Senior Brand Manager at Global Brands, says:-

“Snowboxx is the perfect fit for Jungfrau and that’s why we continue to collaborate year after year. Jungfrau takes pride in engaging with our consumers and creating real, memorable experiences for them. We are lucky to work with a great team at Snowboxx who put on a fantastic festival, and can’t wait to bring the #discoverthelegend campaign to the UK and to France!”

The supporting events, competition and festival action create a crossover of activity to show consumers what they can expect from Jungfrau now and in the future.