Cream of conferencing sector lined up for annual event
More than 200 business tourism professionals are expected to descend on Glasgow this month to hear from some of the most powerful personalities in Europe’s business tourism and conference sector.
The impressive line up of speakers for Scottish Enterprise’s Business Tourism Conference boasts award winning management expert Steve McDermott and conference industry specialist, Sally Greenhill.
Joining keynote speakers Steve and Sally will be other major players in the industry such as Mark Gallen from MG Training, Jayne Hillner of London Heathrow Marriott and David Hornby, former commercial director of Visit London who will lead practical workshops on topics such as ‘Selling in a downturn,’ ‘Motivating your team’ and ‘Maximising business benefits from major sporting events.’
As well as sharing secrets of their success in the business tourism sector, speakers will help delegates develop potential in their relevant fields and look at practical tips for surviving the economic downturn.
The final workshop of the day, led by former Visit London director, David Hornby, has been carefully devised to support the Scottish business tourism sector in securing more business and maximising benefits from major sporting events in preparation for the forthcoming 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Conference, which is taking place at the Radisson SAS in Glasgow on 18 November, is delivered by Scottish Enterprise in partnership with VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit and sponsored by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
Lynne Pringle, senior tourism manager at Scottish Enterprise, commented: “We are delighted to have secured a top line up of speakers and industry leaders for the annual business tourism conference. It is undoubtedly a highlight in the industry calendar and there are high expectations from delegates who come along to not only network but to hear and learn from the very best in the field.
“This year we have designed a full day of speakers and workshops which will give delegates the edge in preparing to survive the current difficult economic times and also step up a gear in readiness for economic recovery.”
Speaker line up:
Welcome address from Crawford Gillies, chairman of Scottish Enterprise
Martin Lewis the conference chair and editor of Meetings & Incentive Travel Magazine
Keynote presentation from best selling author, broadcaster and award winning management expert Steve McDermott.
The British Meetings and Events Industry Survey 2009 by Sally Greenhill, Managing Director, The Right Solution.
Workshop sessions
Selling in the downturn with Mark Gallen, Principal Training Consultant, MG Training.
Motivating your team with Jayne Hillner, General Manager, London Heathrow Marriott.
Minimising Costs Through a Green Approach with Emma Wellman, Sustainability
Advisor, EC&O Venues and Ben Goedegebuure, Director of Sales, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC)
Working with Customers with Reduced Budgets with Judy Rae Head of Corporate Events, Glasgow Science Centre and Scott Robertson, Director of Sales, Heritage Portfolio
Is the 8 Hour Conference Package Dead? Creative solutions for changing customer needs with Peter Rand MBE, Director of Industry Relations, Zibrant
Maximising the Business Benefits of Major Sporting Events, David Hornby, formerly Commercial Director of Visit London