Posted tagged ‘VisitScotland’

ILEA AND VISITSCOTLAND LAUNCH

August 11, 2016

ILEA AND VISITSCOTLAND LAUNCH ‘PURPLE PAPER’ FOLLOWING FIRST GLOBAL EVENT SUMMIT

Chicago IL: The International Live Events Association (ILEA) along with VisitScotland Business Events has launched ‘Event Horizons’ a specially created report highlighting the findings of the recent ILEA Global Event Summit 2016 which was hosted in Scotland.

The ‘purple paper’ outlines the key elements of the summit which took place in April 2016, bringing together a selection of leaders from the international events industry for two days of discussions surrounding the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector today.

Findings in the report highlight that unanimously, it was felt that live events remain the most effective medium of communicating to people’s emotions, creating brand positivity and core message affinity – this outlines the real value of events.

Some of the threats to the sector highlighted included; networked digital communication devices, unskilled practitioners, the fear of terrorism and poor economic conditions also. However it was widely ascertained that by promoting the value and benefits of live events, these could all be overcome.

Jodi Collen CSEP, President of the International Live Events Association explained; “Our delegates came together with open minds, ready to engage in discussions and activities, aiming to identify the challenges and opportunities faced by today’s industry. They left with their minds exhausted, yet filled with ideas and inspiration.”

She added; “Our inaugural GES was the beginning of the conversation, where we defined what we need to do as an industry to ensure a prosperous future. We plan to meet again soon, to delve into the specifics of how, as individuals and collectively, we can truly realize our value and achieve our global potential.”

The summit was a collaboration between ILEA, VisitScotland and IMEX Group, with support from technology provider Cvent and Events are GREAT Britain. It was hosted across multiple venues in Scotland, including Gleneagles and the EICC in Edinburgh and preceded by a visit to IMEX Frankfurt.

Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events Visit Scotland added; “It was great to be involved with such a unique event, and to have the chance to show this influential group why Scotland is the perfect stage for live events. The purple paper will act as a crucial outlet to help us meet our shared ambition of keeping the summit’s conversation going within the wider industry, helping to promote the true values and address the challenges currently surrounding live events.”

EVENT HORIZONS: A Purple Paper from the ILEA Global Event Summit 2016: Scotland can be downloaded in full here www.ileahub.com/ilea/communicate/inspiration-central-ideas-you-can-use

Edinburgh wins bid to host ICCA Congress 2020

May 13, 2016

Edinburgh wins bid to host ICCA Congress 2020
High profile team helps to secure prestigious international conference for Edinburgh

Edinburgh, 13 May 2016 – Edinburgh has won its bid to host the biennial International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Congress 2020 in what is estimated to be a £2 million boost to the local economy that will see over 1,200 delegates in attendance.

The team bid partnership comprising the Scottish Arbitration Centre, Convention Edinburgh, Conference Partners, Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and VisitScotland, also gained national high profile support including the UK Prime Minister, Scotland’s First Minister and representatives of the national and international arbitration and legal communities.

The ICCA’s 2020 Congress, which is supported by VisitScotland’s Conference Bid Fund, is the world’s largest conference devoted to international arbitration. The ICCA is a worldwide non-governmental organisation devoted to promoting the use and improving the processes of arbitration and other forms of international commercial dispute resolution. Its activities include convening international arbitration congresses and conferences, sponsoring authoritative dispute resolution publications, and promoting the harmonisation of arbitration and conciliation rules, laws and practices.

In securing the bid win, Edinburgh bet off stiff competition from Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna, St Petersburg, Vancouver and Mexico City.

ICCA President, Donald Donovan, said: “We are delighted to be going to Edinburgh in 2020, and congratulate the bid committee on having prevailed in the face of stiff competition from a strong field of bidders. After recent ICCA Congresses held in Rio, Singapore and Miami, this year’s event in Mauritius, and a 2018 Congress scheduled for Sydney, ICCA looks forward to bringing the Congress to Europe in 2020. We’re confident that ICCA Edinburgh will provide a spectacular platform from which to pursue ICCA’s mission to address the toughest issues facing international commercial and investment arbitration.

Andrew Mackenzie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Arbitration Centre welcomed the news that the ICCA’s 2020 Congress will be hosted in the Centre’s home town and said: “We look forward to showing the international arbitration community what Scotland has to offer and are confident that this conference will put Edinburgh firmly on the map as venue and a seat of international arbitration.

Lesley Williams, Head of Business Tourism at Convention Edinburgh said: “The successful bid to bring ICCA 2020 to Edinburgh is a testament to the solid collaboration between all parties involved with the project. Not only will this high profile conference bring around 1,200 delegates and generate almost £2 million for the local economy, it will play a crucial role in raising Edinburgh and Scotland’s global reputation in international arbitration.

Nicola McGrane, Managing Director at Conference Partners said: “We are delighted with that the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) has chosen Edinburgh to host their 2020 Congress. The partnership working with the bid partners throughout the bid process was crucial to the success of bringing ICCA 2020 to Edinburgh. We believe this team approach has been reflected in our success and highlights the warm welcome delegates will experience in Edinburgh in 2020.

Marshall Dallas, the EICC’s Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled that Edinburgh and the EICC have been chosen to host this prestigious international conference in the face of significant global competition. It is a testament to the hard work from the team and our supporters – overall it is great news for the city and the economy. It seems fitting that the ICCA Congress is being held in a city and nation renowned worldwide for its proud and progressive legal tradition.

Rory Archibald, Business Development Manager at VisitScotland, said: “Winning the right to host the ICC World Congress is another coup for Edinburgh, and is testimony to the capital’s enormous appeal to conference organisers, as a city which boasts cutting-edge facilities as well as incredible history and heritage. Business events is an industry worth nearly £2 billion to the Scottish economy and we are delighted to be supporting this prestigious event through the VisitScotland Conference Bid Fund.

For further information on Convention Edinburgh and its services at www.conventionedinburgh.com @conventions

#EICC #conventionedinburgh #VisitScotland #ICCA #MICE #MICEnews #investEdingburgh

Bringing the Spirit of Scotland to IMEX

April 1, 2016

Bringing the Spirit of Scotland to IMEX

VisitScotland will officially launch its new brand campaign; Spirit of Scotland to the global events industry when it appears at IMEX Frankfurt next month (19-21st April) stand F350. The campaign has been created to drive sustainable economic growth across both the business and leisure tourism sectors.

The new destination brand has been designed to evoke the emotion, spirit and mystic qualities of Scotland and to celebrate the country’s rich natural resources and proud heritage. It identifies ‘Seven Spirits of Scotland’ – warmth, guts, soul, spark, determination, humour and fun – that are experienced by all who visit and encourages people worldwide to engage online with it.

VisitScotland will be attending IMEX alongside its 16 stand partners, all supporting the campaign including; Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre (AECC), Cashel Travel DMC, Convention Edinburgh, Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, GOSFORD House, K&N Travel Associates Ltd, Macdonald Hotels, Scotland Advisor (Der SchottlandBerater), Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC), Spectra in Scotland, Starwood Scotland, The Gleneagles Hotel, The Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, Visit Inverness Loch Ness and VisitAberdeen.

An official briefing will be held on day one of IMEX (Tuesday 19 May) at 16.00 to unveil the campaign, as well as to update press and visitors on all of the major new developments from across the country. As digital marketing will be a core part of Spirit of Scotland, the team will also be encouraging visitors to engage with the new campaign via social media using #ScotSpirit.

The team at VisitScotland will further demonstrate its unique spirit by hosting ScotLunch on day one – a lunch and reception exclusively aimed at association buyers, to highlight its credentials in hosting world class international conferences, plus they will be once again entertaining IMEX’s ‘Future Leaders’ at the  stand on day three, as part of the show’s educational programme.

Following on from IMEX, VisitScotland will be partnering with The International Special Events Society  and the IMEX Group to host the inaugural Global Event Summit. Here a number of senior event professionals from North America and Europe will travel to Edinburgh for three days of high-level debate on topics including; The Uber Economy, The Science of Events, The Cultural Revolution and The Risk Factor.

Neil Brownlee, Head of Business Events at VisitScotland explained; “IMEX will be a great platform for us to communicate the Spirit of Scotland to the global events industry, through the campaign visuals and concepts but also by bringing it to life through our on-stand hospitality and for those joining us back in Scotland for the Global Event Summit.

During the Global Events Summit, delegates will visit Scotland’s historic capital Edinburgh, staying at the world famous 5 star Gleneagles Hotel & Resort as well as enjoy dinner and further debate on­board the Royal Yacht Britannia, formerly the private yacht of HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

Senior event planners to visit IMEX in Frankfurt en route to Global Event Summit

March 22, 2016

Senior event planners to visit IMEX in Frankfurt en route to Global Event Summit

Senior corporate and agency event planners from many leading organisations in North America and Europe who are members of the International Special Events Society (ISES) will be visiting IMEX in Frankfurt in April this year.

They will be taking part in IMEX before travelling to Scotland for the first ever Global Event Summit. The event consists of three days of high level debates to be held in Edinburgh and Gleneagles, concluding with a gala dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia anchored in the River Forth not far from Edinburgh.

Among the influential event professionals visiting the Frankfurt show will be senior executives from CTMS Travel, AOO Events, Giants Enterprises, XPL, Aerospace Industry Association, 2Heads, Cerbelli Creative, George P Johnson, Calgary Stampede, Penton Media, Shaw Communications, Silhouette Group, Cvent, Viacom, Super Bowl, BC Innovation Council and Elias Events.

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group commented; “The Global Event Summit is an exciting new initiative that will provide valuable insights for all the delegates. We’ve been working with ISES for several years and are delighted to be consolidating our relationship by partnering with ISES and VisitScotland Business Events in supporting this event. We’re also looking forward to giving these highly qualified buyers the chance to visit IMEX in Frankfurt to learn more about the latest developments in the meetings and incentives sector and make the most of their experience.

Jodi Collen CSEP, President of the International Special Events Society said “We are looking forward to bringing some of the best minds from the events industry in the US and Canada to IMEX in April before we move on to Scotland to hold our first Global Events Summit in Edinburgh. We enjoy a very strong partnership relationship with the team at IMEX, and regard IMEX in Frankfurt as the premier show in Europe.

UK AND IRELAND ATTEND EIBTM

November 4, 2013

UK AND IRELAND ATTEND EIBTM
Destinations use Global Event for the Meetings and Events Industry as a Platform to Boost International Exposure

UK and Ireland have confirmed that they will once again be exhibiting at EIBTM (www.eibtm.com) this year. The decision for London & Partners, Visit Scotland and Meet in Ireland to attend the show, supports its strategic business objectives which are to extend its global presence and market the UK and Ireland as a key Meetings and Incentives destination to an international audience.

London and Partners (www.londonandpartners.com) – Stand B35
Barbara Jamison, London & Partners Head of Business Development Europe, commented, “Exhibiting at EIBTM generates about £25m worth of enquiries for London & Partners and our partners. The city has shown that it can deliver events on an unprecedented scale, and a raft of new venues, accommodation and attractions have been developed.

“By exhibiting at the show, we aim to promote London as a top business tourism destination, with a focus on corporate, incentive and association events. It provides a platform to promote the new marketing messages of London, namely, its diversity, innovation, value and the legacy of London. We are also able to introduce partners to market contacts they do not already have whilst gaining market intelligence and competitor information to formulate our overall market strategy.

“We want buyers and visitors to the show to see London as a destination where they don’t have to fly in, have their event and fly straight out again. There are a multitude of attractions to see and activities to do in the city and these can become great reasons to extend a business trip or form part of a social itinerary. London is where people can tap into key markets and network with business professionals that are experts in their field”.

VisitScotland (www.conventionscotland.com) – Stand B60
Amanda Henderson, Meetings and Incentives Marketing Manager, UK & Europe, VisitScotland comments, “Scotland is a destination on the move, offering a globally recognised culture that adds splendour, character and humour to any occasion, and that is supported by a 250-year heritage in hospitality that creates a welcome so deep rooted in the population’s character that its impossible to miss.

“Combine this with a truly breathtaking landscape, a playground of incentive choices – from outdoor pursuits, cultural explorations, geographical delights and world renowned sport – and with an equally enticing contemporary choice of destinations, attractions, hotels and venue’s; Scotland is a country ready-made for the ambitious and demanding event business.”

“2014 is a big year for Scotland, the combination of Homecoming 2014, the arrival of the Commonwealth Games and the return of the Ryder Cup will showcase to the world the many reasons why event organisers choose Scotland. Our world class hospitality, our warm welcome, our abundance of stunning venues, range of accommodation, the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and of course our passion for sport, especially golf, are just some of the many reasons to visit Scotland.”

Meet in Ireland (www.meetinireland.com) – Stand B30
Keith McCormack, Head of Business Tourism and Events, Fáilte Ireland commented,
“Meet in Ireland attends EIBTM each year as the show provides another opportunity to promote Ireland as a MICE destination to international buyers particularly those from our key source markets of US, UK, France and Germany. Our presence at the show gives our Irish trade partners a platform to showcase their business and we pass on as many contacts to our partners as we can.”

“Meeting new buyers who are considering Ireland as an option for their MICE business enables us, as a destination, to convince these buyers that Ireland is the right choice for their group and also gives us an opportunity to introduce new ideas and product to them. Meet in Ireland’s role is to educate buyers on what Ireland has to offer from a MICE perspective and to advise buyers on the best fit for their meeting, conference or incentive programme.”

“EIBTM is an essential event in our annual promotions calendar, it offers a real opportunity for our Irish trade to showcase their products and meet genuine international buyers, it is a win win event for our us as the Tourism Development Authority. The show also provides an opportunity for us to continue to build on our existing relationships with buyers, and also gain knowledge on who our competitors are and what other destinations are doing from a MICE perspective.”

Visit England (www.visitengland.com) – Stand B50

Simon Gidman, Head of Business Visits and Events at VisitEngland, commented:
“Following a hugely successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and a host of major sporting events on the horizon, including the 2014 British Open, the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2017 World Athletics Championships, VisitEngland will be celebrating all things ‘sport’ and showcasing our great event destinations and venues at EIBTM in 2013.”

“As the national tourism organisation for England it is our job to encourage international visitors to our country and given that just over 25% of international spend is by business visitors this is a very important market for us. A recent report suggests that the UK meetings industry is worth an estimated £58 billion to the UK economy and employs over 530,000 people”.

“England is globally recognised as a world leader in meetings and events with a highly skilled and creative industry and after the hugely successful Olympic and Paralympic Games last year, England proved once again that it can host global events at the very highest level. Now we can look forward to hosting more major international events in the years to come whether business, cultural or sporting. England is proud host to the Rugby World in 2015 and getting ready to welcome the World Athletics Championships in 2017″.

“It is also our job to raise awareness of the incredible opportunities for holding business events across the entire length and breadth of our country. Many of our destinations have a proven record of boosting delegate numbers as well as offering excellent facilities and superb value for money. This year at EIBTM VisitEngland has an impressive range of stand partners. These include three of our leading exhibition and convention centres, a number of England’s most exclusive luxury hotels, two of our world class universities, two DMCs and a host of our most successful event destinations. EIBTM provides us with an excellent platform to showcase England as one of the world’s leading destinations for corporate, incentive and association events. Our key messages are around easy access, excellence in key economic sectors – particularly those in the advanced knowledge sectors such as engineering and life sciences – a diverse range of quality venues and our warm English welcome.

“With the arrival of a new heir to the English throne and new developments happening across the country, English tourism has an exciting future to look forward to. At EIBTM we want to give visitors a real taste of what we have to offer!”

EIBTM 2013 will take place from 19th – 21st November, a week earlier than in previous years. The EIBTM Forum will take place the day before the exhibition on 18th November. To find out more about ways to attend, visit www.eibtm.com/attend


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