Formula for business tourism success revealed
Scotland’s most influential conference and meetings organisers will today come together to discuss the country’s £1bn business tourism sector in the first conference of its kind to be held in Scotland.
Developed by VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise and in conjunction with an industry steering group, the Glasgow Science Centre will today welcome the crème de la crème of Scotland’s business tourism industry.
Renowned speakers in the sector including Bob Wendover of the Professional Conference Management Association (PCMA) and Corbin Ball, recently voted in the top 25 of the most influential people in the meetings industry, will pass on over 60 years of experience with unique insights to the future of business tourism never presented before in Scotland.
The conference will be chaired by one of business tourism’s most experienced professionals - Martin Lewis, editor of Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine who will guide delegates through the latest trends and developments and how Scottish business can benefit.
Fergus Ewing, Tourism Minister said: "Business tourism is crucial to the Scottish economy and contributes significantly to its growth. We’re in a strong position and more than able to compete on the global stage when it comes to attracting major conferences to these shores, which in turn strengthens Scotland’s credentials as a place to invest, study, live, work and visit.
"New developments such as the Conference Bid Fund have levelled the playing field, now more than ever is the time for the business tourism industry to realise the full potential we have at our disposal and drive this area of our economy forward."
Neil Brownlee, head of VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit said: “This is an excellent opportunity to bring together the business tourism industry to hear from some of the most renowned speakers in the field and to ultimately allow businesses to flourish and support not only their business bottom line but also the Scottish economy.
“VisitScotland’s role within business tourism is to create the business ripple effect, growing the Scottish economy beyond tourism through attracting business events and making connections across the wider business community which are well beyond tourism. Events like this help to put us firmly on the front foot and deliver these goals.”
Eddie Brogan, tourism director at Scottish Enterprise said: "Business tourism is hugely important to Scotland and an area where Scotland punches above its weight. However, we need to maintain this position and capitalise on the investment that is currently taking place at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and at our other business tourism hotels and venues.
“This event offers access for our businesses to some of the biggest players in the industry, attending both as speakers and as delegates, to ensure that we stay up to speed with what our business tourism customers are looking for now and for the future."
Business Tourism Scotland: Conference 2012 on Monday 19 November at the Glasgow Science Centre aims to be a highly informative, participative and business focused day for all members of the business tourism community in Scotland. A high level Industry Steering Group has worked closely with Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit and the Convention Bureaux to create a forward-thinking day which will offer an insight into the future of the business tourism industry and also provide practical takeaways that will be of immediate use to the way business can be done.
Business Tourism
Business Tourism is a key driver of growth and collaboration for Scotland, not least as the “bridge” between tourism and inward investment. This is in addition to the economic impact of meetings and conventions which can range from £1m in spend by a gathering of only 500 delegates to over £10m in spend for a convention with 5,000 delegates. Business tourism makes a strong contribution to the economic vitality of Scotland’s key tourism destinations, with a particular focus on the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen; and principle resort destinations such as Gleneagles, St Andrews and Perthshire.
Business Tourism is pillar of the strategic model therefore, because:-
· The attraction of major conferences and exhibitions helps reinforce Scotland’s credentials in our growth sectors such as life science and energy and markets Scotland as a destination for inward investment
· Business tourism visitors are potentially key influencers in terms of inward investment and trade decisions.
· Business tourism supports a wide range of small, medium and large companies across Scotland that are not necessarily involved in the leisure market e.g. conference centres, catering companies, unique venues, charitable status venues, civic venues, academic venues, florists, design agencies, audio visual companies, coach companies and so on.
· Business tourism is less seasonal than leisure tourism, bringing visitors to the country outside the traditional leisure season
· Business tourism visitors spend up to 1.9 times more than leisure visitors in local shops, restaurants, bars, taxis and other discretionary expenditure.
· Business tourism visitors have a high propensity to return as leisure visitors.