TBID stands for Tourism Business Improvement District, and is an extension of the BID (Business Improvement District) found in some towns across Scotland, and we believe there is a better business model.
A better business model
Visit Moray will operate like many DMOs* throughout the country, on a participatory level. It will be funded by commercial offerings such as listings, adverts, sponsorships and content collaborations. Unlike the TBID*, you only pay for what you use. There will NEVER be any obligation to pay a fee. Our core work to promote the region will be an underlying benefit that comes free of charge to every business that benefits from visitors. If you want more visibility, then you can buy in to our specialist services.
Our DMO will be a voluntary ‘opt-in’ service/membership, whereby you can opt out if you choose.
BIDs place a legally enforceable levy on eligible businesses. The existence of a BID is decided on by a ballot. Such a TBID was formed in Moray in 2020 after the existing, publicly-funded ‘Moray Speyside Tourism’ lost its source of funding.
Remember, the BID regs require only 25% of the liable properties to cast a vote (irrespective of which way). Therefore, if 400 properties are liable, only 100 need cast a vote, with just 51 of those voting ‘YES’! Your vote counts, do not abstain!
A TBID specifically comprises of businesses that operate in the tourism sector, such as accommodation. Much to the consternation of those who feel it’s an additional expense they could do without, payment is enforced by sheriff’s warrants in cases of non-payment. And if the vote is successful, ALL eligible businesses are forced to pay. We are currently seeing some businesses being visited by sheriff’s officers days before the ballot for Visit Moray Speyside’s second term closes.
The VMS TBID levy for the second term is mainly set at 1.8% of the property’s rateable value (RV). However, properties with an RV between £2,000 and £13,999 are levied a fixed £250 a year (this equalling up to 12.5% of RV), whilst properties with an RV above £194,501 are levied a fixed £3,500/yr. The latter equalling only 0.05% of RV for the highest RV property (distillery with RV of £6.9million) in the area!
The current categories of business in the Visit Moray Speyside TBID are:
- Activity and outdoor centre
- Guest house
- Bed and breakfast accommodation
- Heritage centre
- Bowling alley
- Holiday complex
- Brewery/distillery with visitor centre or shop
- Hostel
- Bunkhouse
- Hotel
- Caravan Park
- Information centre
- Caravan site
- Food and drink businesses if they are licensed
- Inn or restaurant with rooms
- Caravan and camping site
- Museum/gallery
- Castle and visitor centre
- Self-catering accommodation
- Castle
- Serviced apartments
- Chalets
- Tourist shop
- Exclusive-use venue
- Visitor centre/visitor attraction
- Golf course, golf club and clubhouse
- Youth hostel
If you are one of these businesses, and the TBID is voted in, you will be liable for a levy enforced by law. The only way to stop this is to Vote NO.
*DMO – Destination Marketing Organisation; TBID – Tourism Business Improvement District