Welcome!
We’re delighted that you could join us for today’s STA AGM and Autumn Conference.
All the information you’ll need to make the most of your day is outlined below.
STAY UPDATED AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION
WITH THANKS TO OUR EVENT SUPPORTERS
USEFUL EVENT INFORMATION
🧥 Cloakroom: a cloakroom is available for smaller items, free of charge. This can be accessed after the registration desk.
📱 WIFI: Username: delegate / Password: haymarket
♻️ Recycling: please recycle your lanyards and badge at the end of the event in the boxes provided at reception.
📷 There may be videography and photography in progress throughout the event which will be used for communications and marketing purposes by the Scottish Tourism Alliance. If you don’t wish to be featured, please speak with us on the day.
💻 While speaker presentations will be available on our website following our event, the event will not be streamed online or recorded to view at a later date.
AUDIENCE
THE PROGRAMME AND LOCATIONS
All details about where you’ll need to be and when are outlined below.
To find out more about the brilliant individuals taking to the stage today, access our speaker bios by clicking on their names in the programme.
Please note, timings are subject to change.
- 09:15 – 10:30hrs: Registration & Exhibitor Hall Opens (The Atrium)
- 09:45 – 10:15hrs: Scottish Tourism Alliance AGM (STA members only). Non-Members are welcome to network and visit the exhibitor hall during this time.
- 10:30 - 12:50hrs: SESSION 1 (Lennox Suite 3)
- 10:30 - 10:35hrs: Welcome - Marc Crothall MBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance
- 10:35 - 10:55hrs: A Perspective: The Economic & Policy Outlook for the UK & Scotland - Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute
- 10:55 - 12:00hrs: Tourism Data Insights: Future Travel Trends & Consumer Sentiment - Moderator: Vicki Miller, Director of Marketing and Digital at VisitScotland - Presenters and panellists: David Edwards, Director of Scattered Clouds, Caroline Bremner, Head of Travel & Tourism Research at Euromonitor International and Jim Eccleston, Managing Partner at 56 Degree Insight
- 12:00 - 12:15hrs: Scotland Outlook 2030 Update & Next Steps - Marc Crothall MBE, Co-chair of the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Leadership Group
- 12:15 - 12:50hrs: Our Proud and Passionate People: Tourism Rising Stars and Hospitality Heroes - Kelly Johnstone, Chief Operations Officer at Springboard & Chair of The Tourism and Hospitality Skills Group
- 12:50 - 14:15hrs: Lunch, Networking & Exhibitor Hall (Lennox Suite 1 & 2)
- 14:15 - 16:30hrs: SESSION 2 (Lennox Suite 3)
- 14:15 - 14:20hrs: Welcome Back - Marc Crothall MBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance
- 14:20 - 14:35hrs: Ministerial Address - Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade
- 14:35 - 14:55hrs: Innovation on our Doorstep: The Lost Shore "Get Ready to Ride The Waves" - Andy Hadden, Founder & Managing Director at Lost Shore Surf Resort
- 14:55 - 15:25hrs: The Art of Communication Sponsored by Transatlantic Translations Group - Cathy MacDonald, Communication Coach & Consultant at The Art of Communication
- 15:25 - 16:00hrs: AI/Chat GPT: Embracing the Opportunity - Stephen Whitelaw, Digital Marketing Consultant and Social Media Evangelist
- 16:00 - 16:20hrs: Destinations of the Future - Nick Peel, Director of Estate Management and Operational Readiness at NEOM
- 16:20 - 16:30hrs: Reflections & Close - Marc Crothall MBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Stephen Leckie BA CDir, Chairman of the Scottish Tourism Alliance
VISIT OUR EXHIBITORS HALL IN LENNOX SUITE 1 & 2
Head to our exhibitor hall to meet, learn from and network with organisations who supply and support the tourism and hospitality industry.
YET TO MAKE POST-CONFERENCE PLANS?
There’s still time to indulge in some eerie entertainment this evening by joining the award-winning visitor attraction, Mercat Tours. Delegates are invited to book onto one of the organisation’s spooktacular Halloween storytelling experiences which end today.
As well as treating yourself to a five-star tour, an exclusive promotional code will guarantee that 10% of your ticket price will be donated to the Our Stories Your City project.
What to do?
-Head to mercattours.com and select an experience from their Halloween programme here.
-Add code ‘STAMT2023’ to guarantee 10% of the ticket income is donated.
-Enjoy!