Images of some of Scotland’s most famous world-changing innovations, including the television, telephone and Dolly the sheep, are being used to lure more business visitors to the country.
Dolly – the world’s most famous clone – and other examples of major breakthroughs in science, technology and other walks of life north of the border are helping VisitScotland to promote Scottish hotels and meeting venues at today’s Conference and Hospitality Show (CHS) in Leeds.
The national tourism body’s events team is leading a delegation of representatives from businesses including Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness, the Fairmont St Andrews hotel in Fife and the Carlton and Waldorf Astoria hotels in Edinburgh.
Blair Estate in Ayrshire, venue marketing partnership Meetings Perthshire and South Queensferry-based Sodexo Prestige Venues and Events are also part of the VisitScotland-led trade mission.
Visuals on the Scottish stand depict examples of Scottish innovation in a nod to the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design north of the border.
Visitors are being invited to take selfies with a traditional piper and pose with one of VisitScotland’s #ScotSpirit social media campaign picture frames, allowing them to be part of a global marketing drive.
Now in its seventh year, CHS is expected to attract more than 600 trade buyers, including top event organisers from across the UK.
VisitScotland’s Midlands and north England market manager, Theresa Ring, said: “The north of England market is a hugely important part of Scotland’s £1.9billion business events industry.
Attending the Conference and Hospitality Show gives Scottish venues and event organisers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with buyers and bring potentially lucrative conferences and other events to Scotland.
“The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a great way to engage with buyers, and we are looking forward to showcasing some of our country’s top venues in Leeds.”
The innovation, architecture and design theme, showcasing the country’s most impressive buildings and creative industries, aims to continue the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014 and other past marketing ploys.