By Gillian McKenzie
A GLOBAL audience of half a billion people, 45,000 spectators a day – the figures associated with the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles are astounding.
And it’s just one in a series of major events coming to Scotland next year, with the Commonwealth Games, the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Year of Homecoming all expected to attract thousands of extra visitors and put Scotland in the spotlight.
While the numbers might be difficult to comprehend, the benefits such events are expected to bring to Scotland’s pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels should not be underestimated.
The trade has been gearing up for 2014 for some time now.
And, as we near the end of this year, momentum is really starting to build.
At the Scottish Licensed Trade Association Chairman of the Year Lunch in Stirling last week, 2014 was the number on everyone’s lips.
Licensees were sharing the stories they’ve entered in the Scotland’s Pubs and Bars – a Story to Tell initiative (the deadline is November 29 so there’s still time to register via www.theslta.co.uk), and incoming SLTA chairman of the year Peter Lederer, chairman of Gleneagles, said he is confident the benefits of 2014 will be felt in Scotland’s pubs and hotels for years to come.
Our trade is renowned for its warm welcome and high standards – entries to this year’s SLTN Awards only served to underline that – and it seems operators are more than ready to grab next year’s opportunities with both hands.
