Liquid Academy Live and the STA Spotlight Stage will cover the big issues
THERE will be plenty for tourism and hospitality professionals to get their teeth into at this year’s ScotHot, with the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Liquid Academy/Drink Think looking to tackle the big trends and topics affecting Scotland in 2023.
The STA Spotlight Stage will see prominent members of the Scottish tourism industry speaking on some of the challenges Scottish tourism faces as it looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics are set to include the tourism industry’s net zero ambitions, recruitment challenges and how to grow and stay connected with an audience through social media.
There’ll be an overview of current trends in food and drink as well as wider hospitality, advice on building the best customer experience and discussion of mental health in hospitality – and how employers can provide support to their staff.
Alongside the Spotlight Stage, the Scottish Tourism Alliance will also be hosting events including a half-day food tourism conference titled Power of Food Tourism and an evening reception for delegates and exhibitors called the Scottish Tourism Month Industry Social.
Elsewhere, Liquid Academy/Drink Think’s Liquid Academy Live will delve into some of the biggest drinks trends of 2023, including a look at the craft beer sector, the booming Scottish market for white spirits and a focus on Scottish and international rum brands.
Each session will include sampling as well as the chance to hear from producers directly.
There will also be a Scottish Bartenders Networking Summit, featuring ‘Bloody Marys, bacon rolls and Jamaican Blue coffee and croissants’.
As well as food and drink, the summit promises an open discussion about the future of professional bartending in Scotland and will feature an all-star panel of top Scottish bartenders.
Meanwhile, SLTN will be teaming up with Liquid Academy to host a separate publican panel, taking an in-depth look at some of the biggest issues facing the on-trade this year, including staff recruitment and retention, government support (or lack thereof) and how operators are responding to the cost of living crisis.
Then, SLTN and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association will join forces for a debate on what is set to be one of the biggest – and most controversial – subjects of this year: the Deposit Return Scheme.
With the scheme scheduled to go live in August, operators still have many questions on how it will affect their businesses, so the panel will be a chance to delve into the upcoming scheme and for audience members to voice any concerns they might have.
Liquid Academy managing director, and bar industry veteran, Scott Gemmell will host each of the sessions across the two days, bringing the energy and enthusiasm he is famous for.
