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NITB monthly update


The Northern Ireland Tourist Board produce a monthly report to outline what is happening across Northern Ireland. The latest report can be accessed here Discover monthly report


Information directly related to Derry~Londonderry is shown in the extract below and will be updated monthly. 
Derry~Londonderry (July/August 2012)
 
General News
Lottery boost for groups to take part in 2013 celebrations
·         Communities who want to celebrate Derry-Londonderry’s debut as the UK City of Culture next year are being invited to apply for a share of a £1.35m pot.
·         The Big Lottery Fund and Arts Council of NI are offering grants of up to £10,000 to groups wanting to play a part in the 2013 celebrations.
The Foyle Camera Club and the Holywell Trust announce new photography competition for residents of and visitors to Derry-Londonderry
·         Entrants to the Walls 400! Amateur Photographic Competition 2012 are invited to submit photos of the City Walls which best reflect the theme ‘Derry’s Historic City Walls – a monument of national significance’, by the closing date of 28 September 2012. The winning entries will be announced on 30 November and will be displayed in a public exhibition in the Walled City
 
New Developments
Derry-Londonderry arts centres set for move and upgrade
·         Two cultural centres are to be upgraded and moved. Plans are now under way to relocate the Verbal Arts Centre and the Void Gallery to more central locations as part of developing attractions beyond the UK City of Culture 2013.
New Branded Exterior for the Tourist Information Centre
·         Colourful windows at the Tourist Information Centre were branded with NITB’s 'ni 2012: our time our place' creatives. 
·         This initative was part funded by NITB, Derry City Council and Culture Company 2013.
 
Accommodation Update
City Hotel Derry in £500k expansion
·         The 146-bedroom hotel on the banks of the Foyle River plans to add 12 luxury suites onto its top floor as part of the project and is due to be completed by December, in time for the City of Culture year in 2013.
Events
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Familarisation Trip
Week long Maiden City Festival held in Derry-Londonderry, 4-11 August, celebrated dance and drama, plays and performances, exhibitions and entertainment. This year’s focus was to ‘Celebrate Diversity’.8
·         NITB provided sponsorship for this festival through the Events Funding Programme.
Foyle Cup, 16-21 July
·         Now in its 20th year, the Foyle Cup boasted a record breaking number of teams - a total of 162.  
·         NITB provided funding for this event through the Events Funding Programme.
Peace Camp, 19-22 July
·         Peace Camp is director Deborah Warner’s co-commissioned installation artwork for the London 2012 Festival and City of Culture 2013 appeared from dusk until dawn at eight coastal locations in the UK, including Downhill.
·         NITB identified and supported this installation as a Tier 1 event as part of the ni2012 campaign.
Clipper Familiarisation Trip
·         Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau organised a familiarisation trip on 5 July for an ROI media group, as part of the Clipper Festival. The packed itinerary took in the sights as well as the sounds of the city- the Undertones put on a great show at the Legenderry Concert! 
·         International Media Visit Walled City
·         An international golfing media group descended upon Derry-Londonderry during the Irish Open, from the 28 June-1 July, giving the city the opportunity to show all that it has to offer. 



Derry~Londonderry (June 2012)
 
General News
A £450,000 Public Realm Scheme at Queen’s Quay, Derry-Londonderry is completed
The completed works include a cycle path, pedestrian walkway, street furniture, planting and lighting.
 
Recreation Strategy in action in Davagh Forest
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Michelle O’Neill, visited the site of a proposed multi-purpose trail to be developed by Cookstown District Council within Davagh Forest.
The trails are receiving funding support of £240,000 through the Department’s Rural Development Programme.
 
New Developments
£10m whiskey distillery planned for Derry-Londonderry
A new whiskey distillery is to be opened in Londonderry by the company behind the city’s St Brendan’s cream liqueur operation.
Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Launched
The Faughan Valley Scheme is a working partnership between RAPID, Derry City Council and the Woodland Trust. The project vision is to "create a vibrant, natural and cultural diverse landscape within the Faughan Valley that the whole community appreciates, and is engaged with, making it a sustainable landscape for living.' This will see a £2 million pound investment over the 4 year project.
 
Accommodation Update
Conway Group win £6m contract to build hotel in Derry-Londonderry
Conway are contracted to build and fit out the new Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre restaurant at Crescent Link and will have 60 bedrooms and the restaurant will seat 200.
The hotel and restaurant are due for completion in November 2012, ahead of the 2013 City of Culture celebrations.
 
Events
Derry-Londonderry host the first Irish venue to stage North Atlantic Fiddle Convention
The four day event, held 27 June–1 July, blended the academic study of world fiddle music with a festival of folk violin styles and was expected to bring approximately £3million into the north-west economy and up to 40,000 visitors.10
Peace One Day concert attracts big crowd at Ebrington Square
Thousands of people packed Ebrington Square on 21 June for the Peace One Day Global Truce Concert. Actor Jude Law hosted the night of music which marked the start of the London 2012 festival.
 £4.6million investment towards a temporary venue to host major events during UK City of Culture 2013 celebrations announced
The main venue for hosting the major events during 2013 will be the proposed temporary structure, also known as the Vital Venue which will provide a covered facility capable of accommodating audiences in excess of 2,000 people for the major UK City of Culture 2013 events. The pavilion will also be made available for other community-led propositions and for concerts proposed by commercial promoters.
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
The Clipper Homecoming Festival took place on the banks of the Foyle from 29 June- 8 July. At the centre of the ten-day long festival was the welcoming of the ten strong fleet of magnificent Clipper yachts to the River Foyle, as part of the final transatlantic leg of the world’s longest ocean race including NI’s own Derry~Londonderry yacht.

Derry~Londonderry (May 2012)
 
General News
 
City of Culture 2013 programme officially launched
Culture Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, has launched the Derry~Londonderry City of Culture programme for 2013.
 
Official website launched for 2013 All-Ireland Fleadh in Derry~ Londonderry
Derry~Londonderry's official website for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 has now gone live. The site www.2013fleadh.ie contains initial information for those wanting to know more about the Fleadh as well as interactive features, useful links and information on the city for visitors planning a trip.
 
Events
 
100,000 yacht race fans to descend on Derry~Londonderry festival
More than 100,000 people are expected to breeze into Derry~Londonderry as the city prepares to welcome the Clipper Round the World Yacht Fleet with a 10 day festival.
Two back to back concerts will take place over two nights, 29 June-8 July, featuring The Undertones, Paul Casey and a host of other homegrown talent. Other events taking place include Daredevil Zapcats powerboat stunts, viking boats, a fireworks display, a seafood festival, a creative family zone and a continental market.
 
Recent results on Derry-Londonderry in the Clipper Race
In Race 11, from Panama to New York, although Derry-Londonderry came in last place, overall they are positioned 8th.
 
Pixie Lott joins bill for Peace One Day concert
Pixie Lott has been confirmed to take part in the Peace One Day concert alongside Imelda May, Newton Faulkner, Guillemots and the Wonder Villains on June 21.
 
Earhart festival celebrates 80th Anniversary of landing
Amelia Earhart touched down in a field at Ballyarnett in Londonderry. She took off from Newfoundland in Canada in a bid to become the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.
 
                 
 
New Developments
 
Environment Minister Alex Attwood launches Design Guide for Clarendon Street Conservation Area
The Guide is the last in a series of Design Guides for the City of Londonderry, also known as Derry, following on from the Magee Design Guide launched in 2010 and the Historic City Design Guide launched on the 1 March of this year.
 “The combination of these three guides should improve our appreciation of the unique characteristics that make up this city and help us to ensure that its character or appearance are preserved or enhanced,” Alex Attwood explained.
 
Accommodation Update
 
Work begins on new Premier Inn Hotel5
The £6m investment, 60 room hotel at Crescent Link is scheduled to be completed towards the end of this year ahead of the UK City of Culture celebrations.