Outer Hebrides in the spotlight at Scotland’s largest travel trade show

Tourism businesses from the Outer Hebrides are taking part in this year’s flagship event for the travel trade, VisitScotland expo, helping to raise the profile of the region and drive business to exhibiting companies through targeting the tourism trade directly.

Organised by Scotland’s national tourism organisation, VisitScotland, expo is Scotland’s only business to business event for the travel trade that is entirely Scottish. Exclusive to businesses with a Scottish tourism product, expo 2010 takes place at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow on Wednesday 14 – Thursday 15 April.

“Cala Hotels Ltd”

Businesses from the Outer Hebrides attending the show include Cala Hotels Ltd based in Stornoway, Isle of Barra Beach Hotel and the Isles Hotel Group based in Benbecula.

Now in its 30^th year, VisitScotland expo provides the perfect opportunity for the tourism industry to meet a wide range of Scottish tourism businesses face-to-face. expo is very much a commercial show, with many opportunities to make new contacts and discuss business opportunities.

Maryann MacIver, Islands Manager for VisitScotland, said: “VisitScotland expo provides local businesses with a fantastic opportunity to engage with tour operators and suppliers from all over the UK and overseas. Last year we saw an increase in both UK & international buyers, despite the global recession, and almost a quarter of the 200 exhibitors were attending for the first time. In this current climate it is crucial we work together to grow tourism and I am delighted to see this commitment from these hoteliers in the Outer Hebrides.”

Kenneth MacKenzie, Director of Cala Hotels Ltd based in Stornoway, said: “VisitScotland expo provides us with a great opportunity to show influential buyers exactly what the Outer Hebrides have to offer. We have been attending the trade show for the last 20 years, and look forward to continuing to showcase our islands to buyers from across the globe.”

“10%. Evaluation”

This year, over 200 suppliers of tourism products from all over Scotland are exhibiting at expo, including hotels, transport operators, restaurants, and visitor attractions.  In addition, many exhibitors are returning to expo to capitalise on the huge return on investment trade fairs such as this offer. Over 800 buyers from diverse markets throughout the world including Europe, the USA and the Far East, as well as the UK and Ireland are expected to attend VisitScotland expo this year.

The buyers and decision makers include large tour operators as well as new niche and independent tour operators, key wholesalers, group travel organisers, conference and event organisers, wedding planners, travel agents and travel writers. They are selected by VisitScotland specifically on the grounds that they will engage with Scottish suppliers of tourism products and go on to sell these within their programmes, promoting Scotland to their customers.

Last year, the number of buyers attending expo from the UK increased to nearly 400, while the number of international buyers also increased by around 10%. Evaluation of the show indicated that 63% of UK and 58% of international buyers intended to add new suppliers to their existing programmes, and that 32% of UK and 58% of international buyers intended to expand their current programmes to Scotland. Almost a quarter of exhibitors at the show were there for the first time, highlighting the value to buyers of attending in terms of seeking out new products.

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