VisitScotland is linking round 20 Highland tourism companies with international tour operators and Travel brokers by a brand-new pilot digital occasion – Scotland Reconnect 2020.
The primary on-line commerce occasion of its type to be delivered by the national tourism organization, Scotland Reconnect 2020 takes place from November 23 to 25 and affords worldwide Travel brokers and tour operators the chance to attach and do enterprise with Scottish suppliers on-line.
Companies from around Scotland are collaborating, however embrace well-known Highland names comparable to Loch Ness by Jacobite, the Kingsmills Lodge Group, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, Assynt Home, Cruise Loch Ness, Cairngorms Enterprise Partnership, Cawdor Fort Ltd, Speyside Wildlife and Skye Join.
Patrons from the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Scandinavia, Australia, and Brazil have signed as much as Scotland Reconnect 2020, in addition to London-based inbound operators representing the Japanese and Chinese language markets.
Along with facilitating some 4000 enterprise conferences, there may also be dwelling webinars, spherical desk discussions and breakout periods, an internet presentation hub and digital experiences demonstrating what Scotland can supply consumers’ shoppers, together with trad music periods with Gary Innes from high trad band Manran, whisky tasting experiences with Glengoyne Distillery and The Whisky Expertise, in addition to storytelling with Mercat Excursions.
Lord Thurso, VisitScotland’s chairman, will open and shut Scotland Reconnect 2020 and members signed as much as the occasion may also be capable to hear from international tourism audio system and participate in spherical desk discussions when VisitScotland’s head of engagement Denise Hill is in dialog with Tom Jenkins, chief government of the European Tour Operators Affiliation on the impression of Brexit on the German and US markets, and Joss Croft, the CEO of UK Inbound, appears forward to 2021 and considers what companies have to do to deal with present points and challenges in international tourism.
VisitScotland’s senior tourism perception supervisor, Chris Greenwood, may also run periods on international traits and Covid-time shopper behavior. Accountable journey, a theme of rising significance amongst travelers across the globe, may also characteristic on the agenda, as will the promotion of initiatives together with Scotland’s 12 months of Coasts and Waters 2020.
Chris Taylor, VisitScotland’s regional managing director, mentioned: “This yr has been extraordinarily difficult for tourism companies not solely within the Highlands however proper throughout Scotland.
“The Highlands has at all times been high of the customer vacation spot listing and Covid-19 won’t change that. Demand for 2021 / 2022 is constructing and the Highlands stay precedence for our worldwide markets.
“I’m delighted that Scotland Reconnect 2020 has been created utilizing our new online platform to make sure that companies can proceed to interact and convert that persevering with curiosity into visits. We look ahead to reconnecting worldwide consumers with our superb Highland tourism companies, to show the sturdy tourism product this area has to supply, to a safe enterprise for the long term as we hope for the restoration of our worldwide markets in 2021 and past.”
Joyce Arbuckle, director of gross sales for Inverness’s Kingsmills Group, mentioned: “Scotland Reconnect 2020 looks like a pivotal second for us, after the longest and hardest of years for our trade. Fortunately, the Highlands has fared higher than many by this troublesome time and we’re vastly grateful for that. Scotland Reconnect 2020 will enable us to plan for restoration in 2021 and the past.”
Jill Hampton, the account supervisor for Scotrail, added: “After a troublesome yr we’re delighted to be a part of this digital occasion to reconnect with companies throughout the globe to showcase what an incredible nation Scotland is. We look ahead to our stunning nation being absolutely reopened for enterprise and this occasion will probably be an amazing alternative to assist worldwide and home consumers plan and organize their journeys for 2021 and past.”
