
VisitAberdeenshire will attend The Meetings Show in London on 13-15 June, as part of the organisation’s ongoing strategy to grow Aberdeen’s £60m meetings industry.
VisitAberdeenshire, the destination management organisation for Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire, will talk with meeting industry professionals from the UK and Europe during the three-day event in a bid to further stimulate the conference market in Aberdeen.
Jenni Fraser, business development director of VisitAberdeenshire says, “Aberdeen has always had a strong representation in the business tourism market thanks largely to the oil and gas industry, but as the energy sector slows, it presents us with a real opportunity to attract discretionary business tourism to the region. This is where businesses have the choice of where they want to host their meetings and events, and they choose to come here. 90% of the buyers main reason for attending The Meetings Show this week is to source new suppliers, and with the majority of international buyers coming from Germany and France, we have a real opportunity to tap into a new sector of the meetings market, especially as we have regular direct flight routes to Paris and Frankfurt.
“The average international delegate will spend £143 per night during their stay in the region, and with conferences attracting anything between 60 and 1,000 delegates, it shows the significant economic impact this sector can have on the region. The economic benefits of business tourism are felt much wider than the conference venue, and include hotel rooms, restaurants, taxis and other local suppliers.
“This year we are attending 10 key industry trade shows based around the world to further develop our business tourism product, and introduce the Aberdeen region to new corporate markets. Aberdeen is one of the most competitive meeting destinations in Europe thanks to the quality of the growing accommodation capacity, with over 1,000 new hotel rooms being added since 2014. In addition to our excellent accommodation offering, the region is home to top event venues which can be easily accessed by the strong international links to hub airports throughout Europe.”
The Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre will join VisitAberdeenshire at the show, and Louise Lonie, sales and marketing director of Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre says, “This will be the fifth time we’ve taken part in the show, and the team can’t wait to spread the word about our new venue opening in 2019. With many key developments currently underway in the region, Aberdeen is gaining a reputation as an increasingly attractive destination for conferences and events.”