Events will highlight industry’s key role in Scots economy
SCOTLAND’S tourism and hospitality sector will be in the spotlight next month as the ScotHot trade show brings thousands of industry professionals, manufacturers and suppliers under one roof.
The event, at Glasgow’s SECC from March 4 to 6, features everything from workshops and competitions to new product launches and networking opportunities, all designed to help those in the industry improve their business.
The show again coincides with Scottish Tourism Week, which will aim to highlight the importance of the sector to the Scottish economy.
Organised by the Scottish Tourism Alliance, and now in its eighth year, the week runs from March 4 to 13 and will feature a host of seminars, conferences and networking events geared towards helping achieve ambitious tourism revenue growth targets of £1 billion by 2020.
Key events taking place during Scottish Tourism Week, whose patron is HRH the Duke of Rothesay, include The Signature Conference: ‘preparing to welcome the world – tourism, a natural fit for Scotland’. Taking place at Glasgow Science Centre on March 5, the conference will feature a range of tourism industry and motivational speakers.
The conference will be followed by the Flavours of Scotland industry dinner at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow, which will be hosted by Fred MacAulay and attended by tourism minister Fergus Ewing.
In addition to the main events, Scottish Tourism Week will also feature a number of events across the country, including a conference and networking lunch and Taste of Scotland dinner at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort on March 8, and a parliamentary reception at Holyrood on March 12.
Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said the week-long programme aims to raise awareness of the importance of tourism to the Scottish economy.
“Given the importance of the key strategic messages being announced during Scottish Tourism Week, the STA aims to encourage as many people within the industry to attend the Signature Conference and Industry Dinner in Glasgow as possible,” he said.
“No matter how large or small your business is, the programme of events is designed to offer something for everyone.”
Images – Tourism minister Fergus Ewing flanked by the Scottish Tourism Alliance’s Marc Crothall (left) and Stephen Leckie launch the tourism growth strategy last year.
