Leisure Media Issue 3 2009 - Leisure Opportunities

Esporta has unveiled a discount membership packagefor people who have been made redundent, along withother initiatives to help customers fight the recessionaddition to its standard purchase option.This made the properties more accessibleto potential clients, while at the sametime generating income for the companyduring a time of slow property sales.Elsewhere, holiday village operatorPierre et Vacances hopes favourablemortgage interest rates will encourageBrits to consider leaseback propertyinvestments abroad this summer and ismarketing a range of options.TOURISM INITIATIVEWith predicted increases in the numberof UK residents holidaying at home andthe number of overseas visitors to Britain,London mayor Boris Johnson and theLondon Development Agency (LDA)have taken a different approach to makingsure the capital benefits this summer.The 'Only in London' marketing campaignaims to emphasise the unique nature ofthe city's attractions to overseas tourists,and if successful, could net up to £60mfor London's economy.LDA chair Harvey McGrath says:"We’re providing additional fundingfor VisitLondon as part of the mayor'sEconomic Recovery Action Plan, andattracting additional visitors to London isa highly cost-effective way of providing avital boost to London's economy."The LDA's plan to invest money tomake money is shared by Whitbread,operator of Premier Inn and Beefeaterrestaurants. At a time when some are cuttingback, Whitbread has unveiled a newemployer-led apprentice scheme, coupledwith the creation of 1,000 jobs through theopening of 12 hotels, four restaurants andover 100 Costa Coffee shops this year.Not all companies are experiencinggrowth, however, and the long-termimplications of redundancies can havea negative effect according to DavidReadman of Employment Practice andLaw: "Before implementing redundancyprocedures, consider alternativesseriously,” he says, “Flexible workingarrangements, for example, enableemployers to retain valuable, experiencedstaff. However understandable, employersshould not undertake redundancy for anyother reason than the necessity of losingunsustainable jobs."'Turning the Corner', a new schemefrom Barclays Commercial Bank, isbased on the belief that having fullawareness of the relevant HR issues andinvesting in the right training for staffwill pay dividends in the long run. DavidMarks, the bank's managing director forEngland and Wales, says the bank appreciatesthe concerns businesses have,and reiterates Readman's assertion thatthe necessary guidance is there.RADICAL OPTIONSIn some cases, the only option left is themost radical, as Stirling Albion FootballClub has recently found.Faced with growing concerns overthe future of the Scottish LeagueDivision Two club, an audacious bid toacquire the business in its entirety hasbeen launched by the Stirling AlbionSupporters' Trust.The trust is aiming to recruit an additional20,000 members, each paying a£40 fee, to raise enough capital to buyout the current chair, Peter McKenzie.Paul Goodwin of the BuyStirlingAlbioncampaign appreciates it’s a bold move totake, but says that the options are rapidlyrunning out. "We have to be veryclear that if this campaign doesn't comeoff, there’s a very serious danger we maycease to exist as a League club."However radical the campaign maybe, it serves as a potent example that inthe current climate, risk-taking is moreaccepted and that courage, innovationand determination are crucial. ●ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 37