HELP- a call to arms!

[mbhandy]

I just sent this off:


Mr. John Beattie
Head of Information and Sales
VisitScotland
Ocean Point One
94 Ocean Drive
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6JH


It has been brought to my attention at the end of January, Mr. Kerr Matthews, who works at the VisitScotland, Dumfries & Galloway Network Office, made negative and derogatory comments about American tourists and people who wear kilts, to a group of tourists in the VisitScotland office. He did this while in his capacity of a representative of VisitScotland. A letter of complaint was sent to the VisitScotland, Dumfries & Galloway Network Office asking for an apology and it has been ignored. This is unacceptable.

As a kilt wearer and someone inclined to visit Scotland on holiday. I am some what shocked and appalled that a representative of VisitScotland, Dumfries & Galloway Network Office would have the audacity to make personal insulting comments about Americans or people who wear kilts.

Both Mr. Matthews’ statements and the fact that VisitScotland ignored the letter of complaint do not leave me with a positive impression of VisitScotland. I have made many trips to the UK and Scotland and have meet many nice people in your countries and would hope the continue to do so.

I live in a Tourist town (Park City,Ut. 2002 Olympics )and understand that some times the tourist get a little difficult but to be rude to their face and at the same time make a derogatory remark about an owner of one of Dumfries business is a bit much. As a Kilt wearer and Small business owner I wear my kilt as respect to my Grandfather (Robert Wallace IV) and an advertising gimmick so people and clients remember me. I might add it seems Mr. Kerr Matthews remembered Mr. Robertson Wellen.

If there is anything you can do to influence the VisitScotland, Dumfries & Galloway Network Office to do the right thing and apologize, please do.

Business Owner and Tourist,
Mr. Bill Edwards
PO Box 1135
Park City, Ut. USA 84060


cc. sent to malcolm.roughead@visitscotland.com,d...itscotland.com

MrBill Edwards <mbhandy@allwest.

[mbhandy]

Just sent this to Marie:


I am out of the office until 15 February 2007, and will respond as soon as possible on my return, if your enquiry is urgent please contact Marie Tolland (marie.tolland@visitscotland.com) who will assist in redirecting your query.

John

Ms Tolland,

It is now 14 Mar 07
I am hoping John meant 15 Mar 07??

Sent him a message Subject: Rude to Tourist

Sincerely
Bill Edwards


Let's see what kind of responce I get.

[IEScotsman]

I can't believe what I'm reading. A representative of their tourism office encouraged people not to "tour"! I wear a kilt. I'm an American. Perhaps my honeymoon plans should be reconsidered...

I just sent individual e-mails to the three addresses provided by Robertson. So far, none of them have bounced back.

[The Wizard of BC]

Would Hamish,dwg69, and starbukjus please post on this thread their reactions to this incident. It would be helpful to have a few more details.

[Pour1Malt]

Would Hamish,dwg69, and starbukjus please post on this thread their reactions to this incident. It would be helpful to have a few more details.

I agree....

as a side note...

yesterday I spoke with Derek (dwg69) on the phone...

he called the Dumfries VisitScotland office to remind them that they had one more day to reply... and that he (nor I) had heard anything from them.....

he was told that one supervisor was on holiday and the boss was out of the office....



I know he recently broke his wrist and is going on a holiday himself soon... not sure if he has been on xmarks much lately...




.

[dwg]

Would Hamish,dwg69, and starbukjus please post on this thread their reactions to this incident. It would be helpful to have a few more details.

First let me say the remarks was made to me and not to Hamish or starbukjus and they where as stated by P1m

I have yesterday and today phoned on numerous occasions to speak to Ms. Holland but she was not available

Derek

[pdcorlis]

Head office bounced back too - maybe we need a new email addy for the states - or maybe they know I'm typing this while wearing a kilt?

[breacan]

Just received this reply from one of my emails,


Dear Mr Snodgrass - thanks for bringing this to my attention.
I have fwd your complaint to my colleagues in our Area Directorate
asking one of them responds to you.

Regards

Ewan Colville
VisitScotland
International Marketing Manager
North America, Asia-Pacific
T:+44 (0)131 472 2016
E: ewan.colville@visitscotland.com

[thescot]

I sent the following email to Donna Black who is purported to be the person to contact for news:

I am preparing an article on Scottish travel for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In researching for the article, I find the following email that was purportedly sent to your office:
********
Dear VisitScotland-

At the end of January, Mr. Kerr Matthews, who works at the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office, made negative and derogatory comments about American tourists and people who wear kilts, to a group of tourists in the VisitScotland office. He did this while in his capacity of a representative of VisitScotland. A letter of complaint was sent to the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office asking for an apology and it has been ignored. This is unacceptable.

As a kilt wearer and someone inclined to visit Scotland on holiday. I am shocked and appalled that a representative of VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office would have the audacity to make personal insulting comments about Americans or people who wear kilts.

Both Mr. Matthews’ statements and the fact that VisitScotland ignored the letter of complaint do not leave me with a positive impression of VisitScotland. Before I plan my next holiday, I will certainly think long and hard whether or not I will include Scotland as a destination.

If there is anything you can do to influence the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Network Office to do the right thing and apologize, please do.

********

the complainant goes on to describe the incident thus:

On Monday, January 29, 2007 three kilties; two from England (Hamish & dwg69,) and one from Virginia in the U.S.A. (starbkjrus,) all wearing kilts, were perusing the Dumfries VisitScotland Office. Dwg69 enquired, to the man behind the counter (Mr. Matthews,) whether many people in Dumfries wore kilts. Mr. Matthews (who is English) replied something to the effect of “The only kilts we see are on loud-mouthed Americans.” The three tourists were quite surprised at the rudeness of the statement …Then Mr. Matthews went on to say, “There is, in fact, one loud-mouthed American living in Dumfries, who owns a guest house, struts around the town in his kilt and even does his shopping in it!”


Can you please comment on this incident and explain whether it is true and accurate, and whether your Mr. Matthews represents the general feeling of Scots toward kilted American tourists. As I am personally planning a visit to Scotland later this year, I would like to know if this is the way Scots feel toward Americans, kilted or no. I personally wear the kilt on occassion, and had planned to bring a couple along for the visit, as had the others planning to accompany me.

Not only will your response affect my article's tone, it will also help me determine whether I--and my group--will visit at all.

I thank you for your timely response.

James Killman
*********************

I am definitely working on the article and planning the trip, and, quite frankly, the response and resolution of this matter will determine the article's tone and whether we go or not.

I am happy that I didn't go ahead and buy the tickets as I started to do last week.

I tend to vote with my feet and my pocket book.

[cavscout]

I'm wondering if an email to our respective Clan organizations in Scotland would be in order as well? I hate to involve anyone who has no leverage but I would imagine some of the Clans carry quite a bit of clout with the tourism board. Any thoughts?