The Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) Scottish chapter is on course to recruit its 50th member by the end of the year and promises a series of ‘hot industry topics’ to be debated in 2019.

Top of the list for the Scottish events professionals who have swelled the ranks of SITE north of the Border this year is ‘Brexit’ and how the fallout from the politics of leaving the EU is set to affect the meetings and incentive travel industry, with the potential impact on skills and staff.

Other areas scheduled for discussion include the ‘Tourist Tax’ – a proposal being assessed currently in Edinburgh – as well as promoting greater awareness and opportunity of incentives to domestic suppliers and debating whether commissions is a sustainable charging model for the industry.

The organisation is also exploring ways of hosting a ‘mega fam trip’ to showcase Scottish partners, partnering with airlines and train companies to bring in potential buyers.

Emily Shields (Royal Yacht Britannia) is President of the Scottish Chapter, and will resume her role for 2019, with Zahra McDonald of The Balmoral acting as Vice President.

Shields said she was “particularly pleased” that new regional ambassadors had been recruited to SITE Scotland’s board, showing that the organisation was reaching out to new areas of the country.

The full board members are as follows: 

Events                                     Elaine Elder, The National Museum of Scotland

                                                Kane Savage, The Waldorf Astoria

Marketing                                Laura Henry, Marketing Edinburgh

                                                Lizzie Fisher, Borthwick Castle

Membership                            Fiona Fraser, K&N

                                                Suzanne Ezzi, Lateral City

Regional Ambassadors           

Ross McKinnon, Amazing Days (Glasgow and Loch Lomond)

Alan Rawlinson, Visit Inverness (Highlands and Islands)

Tracey Smith, Fonab Castle (Perth, Fife and Angus)

Secretary                                  Gillian Rae, Spectra

The next event will be in Glasgow for a showcase event on Tuesday, 29th January and Thursday, 7th February is the date for SITE’s AGM which will take place on Fingal, Scotland’s first floating hotel and Britannia’s sister ship in Leith, which will be officially opening in the New Year.

Visit here for Twitter updates on SITE Scotland’s activities and plans.