Date: Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 November 2022    Location: EICC, Edinburgh

Price: £200 (exclusive of VAT) for full 1.5 day conference applies to STA members, HIT colleagues, THTDP 2022 scholars, or £50 (exclusive of VAT ) for online ticket. £300 (exclusive of VAT ) for all others.

Scotland’s Tourism Industry Conference is back for 2022. With a packed programme, the event is designed to celebrate, empower and further propel our industry into the future in line with the national ambition to be leaders in 21st century tourism.

The landscape our industry operates in has changed significantly over recent years, prompting huge change, unprecedented challenges but also new opportunities.

A collaboration between the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) and HIT Scotland (Hospitality Industry Trust), the Industry Conference will run across two days. It will bring together an exciting range of speakers to deliver important insights, advice and inspiration to navigate and flourish in this new world and to embrace the new opportunities and responsibilities it presents. This year’s event will also feature an exhibitor hall as well as a complimentary evening reception offering the ideal chance to catch up, connect and have fun.

The biggest conference of its kind in Scotland, the much-awaited event of the year is the perfect opportunity for the community to re-connect with industry peers, make new connections, gain invaluable and actionable learnings from expert speakers, share knowledge and be inspired.

This is an unmissable event for anyone at any level who works, supports or is interested in the tourism industry.

DAY 1

• 8:00am – 9:15am: Registration, morning coffee and exhibition 

• 9:15am – 11:00am: Session 1 – New World: Future Outlook

  Welcome: Jennifer Reoch, Conference Host

  The Economic Outlook: Philip Bartlett, NatWest Group

  Travel Insights – Scotland is Calling / what’s making the headlines and driving engagement: Gordon Clark, Forward Keys & Vicki Miller, VisitScotland

  ‘Brilliant staff, missing recycling bins and other learnings from BVA BDRC Mystery Visits’: Jon Young, BVA, BDRC

  ‘What are they saying about Scotland on TripAdvisor?’: Justin Reid, TripAdvisor

• 11:00am – 11:30am: Morning break and refreshments

• 11:30am – 1:15pm: Session 2 – New World: Scotland Outlook 2030 and Global Trends

  Scotland Outlook 2030 – Next Steps: Marc Crothall, STA and new Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group

  ‘What’s trending globally?’: Daniel Levine, Avant-Guide Institute

  Q&A panel discussion: Daniel Levine, Vicki Miller & Justin Reid

• 1:15pm – 2:30pm: Lunch and exhibition

• 2:30pm – 3:45pm: Session 3 – New Opportunity: Being Entrepreneurial and Technology Solutions in Hospitality and Tourism

  The Metaverse – Technology to Stimulate Innovation in Tourism Engagement: Graeme Stevens, New Frontier

  ‘Monetising Online Audiences’: Nik Wyness, Tank Museum

  ‘Bringing a brand to life: measuring and optimising the impact of ‘Real Life’ experiences and events: Greg Klingaman, VP, EMEA at AnyRoad/ex-Diageo Global Retail Director

• 3:45pm – 4:15pm: Afternoon break and refreshments

• 4:15pm – 6:15pm: Session 4 – New Opportunity: Food and Drink Experiences and Local Community Partnerships

  Innovations & Trends in the World of Food, Drink & Hospitality: Dr Jane Milton (Food Expert), Toby Wand (ScotHot), Iain Stirling (Arbikie Highland Estate) & Daniel Levine

  ‘Neighbours not up in arms’: Jonny Kinross (Grassmarket Community Project), Scott McArdle (Virgin Hotels) & Kat Brogan (Mercat Tours)

  ‘A community delivering for Scotland’: Emma Guy, SCOTO & Mountain Bike World Championships 2023

  ‘Reaching for the Sky – a whole new perspective on tourism at New York’s most transformational experience’: Fabio Monterio, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in New York

• 6:15pm – 8:30pm: Ministerial address and evening reception with HIT Scholars presentation

  Ministerial address: Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise

  Welcome to HIT Scholars & overview of The Tourism and Hospitality Talent Development Programme: David Cochrane, HIT Scotland

  Networking with colleagues and MSPs

• 8:30pm – late: Late-night social in Eve (Virgin Hotels Edinburgh)

DAY 2

• 8:00am – 8:55am: Power up business breakfast

  Wake up to tourism: breakfast interview with John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland

• 9:00am – 11:00am: Session 1 – New Responsibility: Protecting our Planet

  Welcome: Gordon Morrison, ASVA

  Scotland Outlook 2030, Destination Net Zero: Janie Neumann, VisitScotland

  Developing a Sustainable Destination: Michael Golding, Visit Inverness Loch Ness

  The Evolution of Climate Action: Shannon Guihan, The Travel Corporation

  ‘Taking an 800-strong hotel business to a Net Zero future’: Alex Flach, Whitbread

  Q&A panel discussion: Above speakers & moderated by Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland

• 11:00am – 11:30am: Morning break, refreshments and networking

• 11:30am – 1:15pm: Session 2 – New Responsibility: Our People

  How to Accelerate your Impact on the World: Mehalah Beckett, Executive Leadership & Team Coach

  ‘Power to the People – Harnessing potential and creating a great working environment at the Scottish Crannog Centre’: Mike Benson, the Scottish Crannog Centre

  How to Stay Mentally Tough: Penny Mallory, Motivational Speaker, Mental Toughness Expert & Former Rally Champion

• 1:10pm-1:15pm: Conference closes

***PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TIMES AND SPEAKERS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

Confirmed speakers:

• Jennifer Reoch – TV and Radio Presenter

• Philip Bartlett – Senior Economist, NatWest Group

• Gordon Clark – Vice President Business Development, Forward Keys

• Vicki Miller – Director of Marketing and Digital, VisitScotland

• Jon Young – Travel and Culture Director, BV, BDRC

• Justin Reid – Director of Media, Destinations, Hotels and Growth, TripAdvisor

• Marc Crothall – The Scottish Tourism Alliance and Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group

• Daniel Levine – Trends Analyst and Director, Avant-Guide Institute

• Graeme Stevens – Co-Founder and Director, New Frontier

• Nik Wyness, Head of Marketing and Engagement, The Tank Museum

• Greg Klingaman – VP EMEA, AnyRoad

• Dr Jane Milton – Food Industry Expert and Founder, Jane Milton Ltd.

• Toby Wand – MD, 365 Events (ScotHot)

• Iain Stirling – Co-owner, Arbikie Highland Estate

• Jonny Kinross – Chief Executive, Grassmarket Community Project

• Scott McArdle – General Manager, Virgin Hotels

• Kat Brogan – Managing Director, Mercat Tours

• Emma Guy – SCOTO

• Fabio Monteiro – Groups and Special Experiences Manager, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

• Gordon Morrison – Chief Executive Officer, Association of Visitor Attractions (ASVA)

• Janie Neumann – Sustainable Tourism Manager, VisitScotland

• Michael Golding – CEO, Visit Inverness Loch Ness

• Shannon Guihan – Chief Sustainability Officer & Head of TreadRight, The Travel Corporation

• Alex Flach – UK & Ireland Development Director, Whitbread

• Caroline Warburton, Regional Leadership Director for the East of Scotland, VisitScotland

• Mehalah Beckett – Executive Leadership & Business Coach, Lead Powerful Impact and Co-Chair, Scotland B Local

• Mike Benson – Director, Scottish Crannog Centre

• Penny Mallory – Motivational speaker, Mental Toughness Expert and Former Rally Champion

Tickets can be purchased via the Scottish Tourism Alliance website

Date: 24 and 25/11/2021    Location: EICC, Edinburgh

Price:  Ticket prices range from £18 – £238

Scotland’s tourism community will come together to reconnect, learn, share knowledge, inspire each other and celebrate our almighty achievements in all that we have done as an industry to navigate our way through the toughest period imaginable.

Delivered and hosted by the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), HIT Scotland (Hospitality Industry Trust) and Scotland Food & Drink, this two day hybrid event has been shaped around the pillars and priority areas of Scotland’s Future Tourism Strategy, ‘Outlook 2030‘ – our passionate people, our thriving places, our diverse businesses and our memorable experiences.

The event will bring together an exciting range of industry relevant speakers to deliver the most important insights, advice and inspiration we need as we move through the pandemic towards recovery and to what has become a very different landscape.

Conference is a ‘do not miss’ for all working at every level, in every part of tourism, from bars, restaurants, hotels to visitor attractions, food and drink businesses, inbound tour operators, the adventure sector, self-catering businesses, transport, suppliers and more; tourism is everyone’s business and almost every sector has been touched by the impact of the pandemic on Scotland’s tourism industry.

This is our opportunity to recover together and hear from the people who can guide us along the best possible path, propelled by renewed energy and inspiration to do so with the ambition that we all hold for the future of Scotland’s tourism industry.

Food tourism, a key driver for Scotland’s tourism industry recovery is the flavour for our conference social event this year. Join us in the EICC’s Cromdale Hall immediately after the first day’s conference programme, as guests of Scotland Food & Drink.

We’ll join around 250 food and drink producers and colleagues from our vital supply chain for informal networking, drinks, canapés and some light entertainment; a much awaited event and a great opportunity to catch up, connect, re-connect, unwind and have some fun after a day of insights.

Scholars from the Tourism and Hospitality Talent Development Programme will collect their certificates on the afternoon of the 25th.

Visit the eventbrite page to see the various ticket options, which include the option to watch online, if you’re unable to make it in person.

Day 1 agenda here

Day 2 agenda here

Dates: 25/03/21 01/04/21    08/04/21 15/04/21 22/04/21 29/04/21

Price:   Free Location: Online

With the roll out of the vaccination programme and the lifting of restrictions on the horizon, join us for The Recipe for Recovery webinars which will cover a variety of topics to ensure Scotland’s hospitality industry has the skills, tools and knowledge to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic. The webinars are designed to support all hospitality sectors including suppliers.

The free to attend webinars, hosted by TV & Radio Presenter Jennifer Reoch, launch on Thursday 25th March and the full list of dates and speakers is below.

Thursday 25th March - Motivation & Inspiration

• Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive, EICC

• Roy Brett, Chef Patron, Ondine

Thursday 1st April - Health & Wellbeing

• Jennifer Kempson - Money, Mindset & Prosperity Educator

• James Lemon, Founder, Otolo

• Gordon McIntyre- Founder, Hospitality Health

Thursday 8th April - Preparing for Recovery

• 王伟 (Wit Wang), Assistant Director of Rooms, W Suzhou Hotel, Jiangsu, China

• Alicia Denning, Resort Manager, Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand

• Kate Nicholls - CEO, UKHospitality

Thursday 15th April - The Environment

• Andy Pag, Innovative Eco-Adventurer

• Gordon Dewar, CEO, Edinburgh Airport

Thursday 22nd April - Future Trends & Innovations

• Jonathan Humphries, Head of International Hotel Development & Asset Management Specialisations, Glion Institute of Higher Education. Chairman & Co-Founder HoCoSo

• Mike Callachan - Director, Hungrrr App

• Sophie Harding, Futures Director, Mindshare UK

Thursday 29th April - Motivation & Inspiration

• Penny Power, Founder of Ecademy & Pioneer behind LinkedIn

• Alan Halliday, McDonald’s Franchisee

• Dale MacPhee, General Manager, The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian

• Chris Wayne-Wills, CEO, Crerar Hotels

To find out more about our speakers, and to see a recording of the webinars which have taken place, click here

To register for any of these free webinars, please click on the button above.

Please note HIT events are photographed & filmed and the images & footage may be used by HIT Scotland for publicity purposes. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed please advise HIT or the events team at the time of booking.