With an inspiring range of industry speakers, this FREE event aims to explore how to work with travel trade to reach UK and international tourism markets, how your business can benefit from this lucrative market and the new collaborative approach being taken by the East Scotland Tourism Partnership to tourism.

Taking place at Perth Concert Hall in the Norie Miller Studio, this event is open to all tourism businesses across Dundee & Angus, Perthshire and Fife; from accommodation providers to visitor attractions, big or small, this session will provide a valuable opportunity to share industry experiences and best practice amongst like-minded businesses.

Registration for this event opens at 9.00am with breakfast and refreshments on arrival.

Join in the conversation online using #TTReady – share with other businesses and tell us you are coming along!

Programme

09.00 – 09.30 Registration and breakfast

09.30 – 09.35 Welcome

09.35 – 10.00 Developing your international tourism markets
Rona Wallace, Travel Trade Manager, VisitScotland

Looking to develop or grow your international markets? This session with VisitScotland will explore how to develop your international tourism markets and action plan through:

•market analysis to allow you to understand international visitors

•effective routes to market and how best to work with the travel trade

•explore the importance of inbound marketing and using social media to reach your international visitor

10.00 -10.20 New approach to regional destination tourism development
Alan Graham, Business Development Team Leader, Perth & Kinross Council

The East Scotland Tourism Partnership is made up of four local authorities – Angus, Dundee, Perth & Kinross and Fife, working together with VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise on a collaborative approach to maximise the opportunities presented by the V&A Museum of Design Dundee. By working collaboratively and creating an integrated approach – the partnership aims to increase the volume and value of tourism into the region, increasing the length of stay, visitor spend and repeat visitation.

10.20 – 10.40 Working with destination management companies (DMC)

What is a DMC? What role do they play in travel distribution? How to work with a DMC and the benefits for you as a business. Hear from one of the major DMC’s based in Scotland and get a better understanding on how to maximise opportunity for growth without the headache of multiple contracting.

10.40 – 11.00 Working with online travel agents (OTA)
Niall McCandlish, Area Manager for Scotland and North England, Expedia

Come along and hear how Expedia and other OTAs distribute accommodation inventory, how Perth City, Perthshire, Fife, Dundee & Angus are performing online and what businesses can do to maximise their potential when working with an OTA.

11.00 – 11.20 Networking and coffee break

11.20 – 11.40 Cruise market opportunities
Rob Mason, Head of Cruise, Forth Ports

Cruise passengers arriving in Scotland topped over 500,000 for the first time in 2016 following a record-breaking season in 2015 when more than 500 cruise ships visited Scotland, generating an estimated £54.6 million for the economy through passenger spend.

The East of Scotland has seen a rapid increase in the cruise calls with Dundee increasing from three cruise ships in 2014 to around 15 cruise calls in 2017. Hear about trends for the cruise market trends and the business opportunities as part of this briefing.

11.40 – 12.00 Coach market opportunities
Jeremy Tinsley, General Manager, Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT)

The East of Scotland are working with the CPT to raise awareness of the area with UK and international coach operators. In 2015, Perth was awarded Coach Friendly Status – this award demonstrates a commitment to understanding the needs of coach drivers and passengers on arrival. The award also raises the profile of the destination to the wider coach tourism industry and enhances the quality of the experience for visitors through improvements to signage, coach stops and parking, coach and passenger facilities. Come along and hear about how Coach Friendly Status can benefit your business.

12.00 – 12.30 Industry Q&A

Hear from businesses; The Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa and Kingsbarn Distillery, who are already engaged with travel trade who will share their top tips and advice about working with travel trade.

12.30 Event close