Scotland’s Tourism Industry Conference programme now LIVE secure your place today!

The STA, ASVA and HIT Scotland (Hospitality Industry Trust) have been working closely together over the last few weeks to build a conference programme like nothing we’ve ever delivered before.

We are now delighted to be able to share the details with you; we think you’ll find an absolutely jam packed two days programme with more than 30 of the best and most relevant speakers to give you absolutely everything you need and more!

Day 1 kicks off with insights presented by NatWest Group Economist, Philip Bartlett and we’ll look at how this will impact and influence tourism and traveller behaviour in our follow on keynote session with travel journalist Simon Calder and Euromonitor’s Head of Travel and Tourism Research, Caroline Bremner; we’ll welcome Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade Tourism & Enterprise to deliver the Ministerial address, followed by a panel session to discuss what policy is needed for recovery and growth, featuring some of Scotland’s leading business figures. Throughout the day we’ll hear updates on live recovery projects. In the afternoon we have record breaking adventurer Mollie Hughes to inspire and energise us in the afternoon followed by a session exploring the new outdoor and adventure strategy.  A look at what’s coming down the track for tourism with the UCI World Championships follows and we’ll have a keynote session with sustainability expert Jo Hendrickx sharing top tips and advice on how business and destinations can work smarter and better as we move towards achieving our Net Zero target.

Food is always the flavour of the day at our conferences; we’ll be welcoming Peter Martin from Peach 2020 back again to tell us what’s cooking in terms of food trends and business innovation.  Marc Crothall will interview James Withers, CEO Scotland Food & Drink and Charlie McAlpine, CEO Bonnie & Wild on the importance of supporting local and connecting food and drink experiences to tourism.

We’ll end the first day’s programme with an insight into the magic behind James Bulmer’s Wonderland restaurants and his recipe for success before the evening networking drinks and light bites reception, hosted by Scotland Food & Drink.

Day 2 is every bit as bursting with energy and insights as Day 1; bringing your business to life and connecting with your audiences through storytelling is a big part of the morning; our mindfulness, health and wellbeing session delivered by Giles Ingram, CEO, and Tim Owen, Head Gardener at Abbotsford will provide a light, inspiring uplift for us all after the last 19 months, followed by our panel session with senior figures from some of Scotland’s leading attractions, exploring how the pandemic has shaped our landscape and what we need to do to create memorable experiences.

The ‘Memorable Experiences’ theme continues with CEO of ALVA, Bernard Donoghue’s session on how we can make visitors experiences deeper, richer and better to enable our industry to recover and rebuild.

We’ll return from our Day 2 networking lunch to an entertaining and invigorating energiser session with the hugely popular Gavin Oattes, Owner and Director of Tree of Knowledge to equip us with the right type of energy for getting through the best days and the not so great days which we all have in our current climate.  Hotelier of the Year, Sally Beck will follow with a session around the launch of the Hoteliers’ Charter and why your hotel should sign up.  We have another inspiring energiser lined up before Jane Rennie, MD of the Extraordinary Training Company talks about the content and success of the first phase of the Tourism and Hospitality Talent Development Programme and the day will end on a high with an afternoon tea and the presentation of this year’s HIT Scholarships.

We don’t think we need to tell you anymore that it’s a ‘do not miss’ – we are really proud that this year’s event line up really does speak for itself. We can’t wait to see you there!

View our Day 1 and 2 programmes and speaker line up here.

Click here to secure your ticket.